This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Backing Up With iCloud
Until Apple launched iOS 5 and the iCloud service in 2011, creating and maintaining a complete backup of your iOS device on your primary computer required you to use the iTunes Sync process. This option (which is still available) meant that you needed to manually connect your iOS device to your primary computer via the supplied USB cable, and then run iTunes on your computer.
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To use the now antiquated iTunes Sync process requires using the USB cable that came with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch in order to establish a link between your primary computer and your iOS mobile device. To do this, follow the instructions offered on Apple’s website by visiting http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766.
iOS 6 Still Offers Wireless iTunes Sync
Today, in addition to using iCloud to wirelessly sync your iOS mobile device and app-specific data, you have two additional options available. You can use the iTunes Sync process or the Wireless iTunes Sync process. If your primary computer and iOS device connect to the same wireless network, you can manually sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch wirelessly. The USB cable connection between your computer and your iOS device is not needed.
NOTE
You can still connect your iPhone (and in some cases your iPad) to a computer via the USB cable to charge your iOS mobile device, without syncing.
Using the Wireless iTunes Sync feature, your wireless iOS device should be plugged in to power and must be linked via Wi-Fi to the same wireless network as your primary computer. After the wireless connection is initiated, you can begin the wireless backup process from within Settings on your iOS device. However, iTunes must be running on your primary computer, and the iTunes Sync over Wi-Fi Connection option that’s available when using the iTunes software on your primary computer (a Mac or PC), must be selected.
NOTE
The Wireless iTunes Sync feature enables you to create a full backup of your iOS device and sync app-specific data. The related backup files get stored on your primary computer’s hard drive, just as they would if you used the traditional iTunes sync process. This feature does not, however, utilize iCloud.
To create a backup of your iOS device using the Wireless iTunes Sync feature, follow these steps:
- On your primary computer, launch iTunes.
- Before you can use the Wireless iTunes Sync process for the first time, connect your iOS device to your primary computer via the supplied USB cable. When the connection between your device and computer is established, on the left side of the iTunes screen, under the Devices heading, click on your iOS device’s name.
- Near the top center of the main iTunes screen, click the Summary tab to see details pertaining to your iOS device.
- On the Summary screen, use the mouse to add a checkmark to the Sync With This iPhone [iPad] Over Wi-Fi option that’s displayed under the Options heading (as shown in Figure 6.7).
Figure 6.7. To use the Wireless iTunes Sync feature, it must be turned on from within iTunes on your primary computer and on your iOS device. On your primary computer, click the Sync With This iPhone [iPad] Over Wi-Fi option. iTunes version 10.7 is shown here. The screen looks slightly different if you’re running iTunes 11 on your computer.
- You can now disconnect your iOS device from your primary computer. The USB cable is no longer needed.
- Make sure that your primary computer and your iOS device are connected to the same wireless network using Wi-Fi on both the computer and iOS mobile device.
- From your iOS device, launch Settings.
- Tap on the General option.
- When the General menu screen appears, scroll down to the iTunes Wi-Fi Sync option, and tap on it.
- If you haven’t already done so, plug in your iOS device to an electrical outlet.
- On your iOS device, tap the Sync Now button that appears on the iTunes Wi-Fi Sync screen (as shown in Figure 6.8). The Wireless iTunes Sync process will begin. The end result is a backup of your iOS device that’s stored on your primary computer’s hard drive (just as if you had used the traditional iTunes Sync process by connecting the devices via the supplied USB cable).
Figure 6.8. Initiate the Wireless iTunes Sync process from within the Settings app on your iOS device, whether it’s an iPhone (shown here), iPad, or iPod touch.
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After a backup of your iOS device has been created using the iTunes Sync or Wireless iTunes Sync process, you can restore your iOS device (or a new iOS device of the same type) from that backup. For example, you can restore an iPhone from an iPhone backup, or Restore an iPad from an iPad backup. You cannot, however, restore an iPhone from an iPad backup (or vice versa).
When you’re reinstalling your iOS device, when prompted, select the Restore From iTunes option, and follow the onscreen prompts.
iCloud Backup: No Cable Needed
One additional and useful feature of iOS 6 is the ability to create a complete backup of your iOS device wirelessly, and have the related backup files stored on online (“in the cloud”). Using this feature, your iOS device can be connected to any Wi-Fi Internet connection. Your primary computer is not needed. Thus, the backup can be created from anywhere, and you can later restore your device from anywhere a Wi-Fi Internet connection is present.
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When you activate the iCloud Backup feature, if you connect your iOS device to your primary computer, the iTunes Sync process does not work. If you want to create a backup of your device using iTunes Sync and have the backup files stored on your primary computer’s hard drive (instead of on iCloud), you need to first turn off the iCloud Backup feature from within the Settings app.
When activated, your iOS device automatically creates a backup to iCloud once per day (when the device is connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection but isn’t otherwise in use). For this to happen, your iPhone or iPad also needs to be connected to an external power source. However, at any time, you can manually create a backup of your device to iCloud from within Settings. This can be done when your device is running on battery.
To activate and use the iCloud Backup feature, the process is the same for an iPhone or iPad.
Follow these steps to activate and use the iCloud Backup feature on an iPhone or iPad:
- Make sure that your iOS device is connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection.
- From the Home Screen, launch Settings.
- Tap on the iCloud option.
- Tap on the Storage & Backup option that’s located near the bottom of the iCloud menu screen within Settings.
- About halfway down on the Storage & Backup screen, tap on the virtual switch that’s associated with the iCloud Backup option. Turn the virtual switch to the on position.
- A new Back Up Now option appears near the bottom of the Storage & Backup screen (as shown in Figure 6.9). Tap on it to begin creating a backup of your iOS device. The backup file will be stored on iCloud.
Figure 6.9. Manage and launch the iCloud Backup feature from the Storage & Backup screen, accessible from within the Settings app.
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The first time you use the iCloud Backup feature to create a wireless backup of your iOS device, the process could take up to an hour (or longer), depending on how much data you have stored on your device.
After the backup process begins, a progress meter is displayed at the bottom of the Storage & Backup screen within Settings. While the backup is being created this first time, refrain from using your iOS device. Just kick back and allow the iPhone or iPad, for example, to connect with iCloud and create the initial backup.
In the future, the iCloud Backup process takes place once per day, automatically, when your iOS device is not otherwise in use. These backups save all newly created or revised files and data only, so subsequent iCloud Backup procedures are much quicker.
At the bottom of the Storage & Backup screen within Settings, the time and date of the last backup is displayed. If, for some reason, the backup process could not be completed because the device could not connect to the Internet, for example, an error message displays.
At anytime, it’s possible to manually create an updated backup via iCloud by tapping on the Back Up Now icon that’s displayed on the Storage & Backup screen.
The purpose of creating and maintaining a backup of your device is so that you have a copy of all your apps, data, files, content, and personalized settings stored, if something goes wrong with your device. If and when you need to access the backup to restore your device using iCloud, when prompted, choose the Restore from iCloud option.