iOS 10 tips: How to back up your iPhone or iPad before updating

Before updating to iOS 10, you’ll want to make sure you create a backup of your iPhone or iPad, whether that be with iCloud or iTunes. This way, if something goes wrong during the update, you can rest assured all your photos, videos, messages, and other content are safe. One of the most valuable iOS 10 tips we could ever give you is to make sure you back up before upgrading.

So before hitting that update button, make sure you follow these steps first…

How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud

If you have iCloud backups already enabled, you should be good to go. However, before updating you may want to make one last backup to make sure all your messages, photos, contacts, and any new apps you’ve installed are included. To manually make an iCloud backup, or make sure you have a recent backup, just follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on iCloud.
3. Choose Backup in the list of options.
4. Turn ON iCloud Backup if it isn’t already.
5. Tap Back Up Now.

If you’ve never backed up to iCloud, the initial backup may take quite some time (several hours in some cases). So plug in your iPhone or iPad and get comfy. You can however use your iPhone or iPad like normal while it backs up.

If you’re just creating a newer backup, that can sometimes only take minutes depending on what’s changed since the last backup. Once you see an updated time and date under the back up now option, your backup is finished and you’re all set to update to iOS 10.

How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iTunes

If you don’t want to put money out for iCloud storage and your backup is larger than the free limit, you’ll need to backup to iTunes instead.

Even if you are backing up to iCloud, I still recommend creating an iTunes backup every once in a while just to make sure you have a local copy of your backup instead of just an iCloud version. Another plus to using iTunes backups is that if you choose the encrypted option, you won’t have to re-enter all your passwords and credentials. Health data will also remain in tact, which is something to consider.

If you aren’t sure how to back up to iTunes, just follow these steps:

1. Plug your iPhone or iPad into your computer and launch iTunes.
2. Choose your device in the top left navigation.
3. Under the Backups section click on the Backup Now button.
4. You may see a popup about transferring apps and purchases. These choices are up to you but I would encourage you to back up both apps and purchases to iTunes.
5. Wait and let iTunes back up your iPhone or iPad. Don’t disconnect until the backup is complete.

Once your backup is complete, you’re ready to update to iOS 10.