What Does iTunes Backup Include

To back up the important data on your iOS device, iTunes and iCloud are both good choices. What exactly iTunes backup include? Does iTunes backup photos? And is there any iTunes alternative to backup my iPhone? How can I view my iOS data in iTunes backup? Now keep reading to figure them out one by one.

What Does iTunes Backup Include – iTunes Backup File List

Below will give a brief introduction to iTunes backup. iTunes also enables you to encrypt your backup, if you set a password to protect your backup, try your best to keep it in mind. If you forgot the iTunes backup password, you’ll not be allowed to unlock this backup.

Photos and Images

– Camera taken, screenshots, images saved, wallpapers, etc.

Media Files

– Movies, music, videos (other apps/devices), ringtones, etc.

Messages & Call Logs

– iMessage, carrier SMS, voice message, contacts, call history, etc.

Application Data

– App settings, preferences, data, documents and install profiles

– App Store purchased application data

– Game Center and Mail account (messages aren’t backed up)

– Keychain (all accounts passwords to enter into websites or application, including Wi-Fi passwords)

– Home screen arrangement, Paired Bluetooth devices

– App local files like WhatsApp chat history, etc.

Settings

– Network settings (Wi-Fi hotspots, VPN settings, network preference)

– Nike + iPod saved workouts and settings

Memos & Calendar & Bookmark

– Notes, voice memos, voicemail token

– Calendar accounts, subscribed calendars, events, etc.

– Safari and map bookmark

Others

– Safari history, offline data, browse cache, mail cache/message/attachments, temp files.

All content list above is what iTunes backup contains. iTunes backs up almost all your iOS content, while there is still some other content that iTunes does not cover. Here are the data iTunes back up doesn’t include:

• Content from the iTunes and App Stores, or PDFs downloaded directly to Apple Books
• Content synced from iTunes, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos
• Data already stored in iCloud, like iCloud Photos, iMessages, and text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages
• Face ID or Touch ID settings
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Apple Mail data
• Activity, Health, and Keychain data (To back up this content, you’ll need to use Encrypted Backup in iTunes.)

How to Selectively Backup iPhone Data with iTunes Alternatives

As you can see, iTunes will only back up all iPhone data at once, and you don’t have the access to your backup files. In other words, you can’t check what does iTunes backup. Moreover, if you want to selectively backup files on your iPhone, iTunes can’t help either.  To achieve this, you need to seek help from some third-party software, here we recommend you two useful tools.

1. iTunes Alternative – PhoneTrans

As a professional smartphone data backup and transmission tool, PhoneTrans can meet your needs for backing up iPhone data and transferring data to a computer or to another mobile device anytime and anywhere. It provides you with two backup modes: Selective Backup and Full Backup. You are able to back up almost all types of device data with few clicks. Here is what PhoneTrans can do for you.

Now, just free download PhoneTrans and follow the steps below to backup your data to the computer.

Step 1. Install and launch the app on your PC/Mac computer and choose the “Phone Backup” function at the left panel > Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.

Step 2. Click on the Selective Backup mode > Tap on the Start Backup button.

Step 3. When your iOS device is recognized by PhoneTrans, the interface below will display > Now, you can set up the backup path as you like > After that, click on the Back Up button.

Step 4. In this step, you can choose the data you want to backup and then just click on the Back Up Now button.

2. iTunes Alternative – AnyTrans

AnyTrans is a professional iOS file manager that allows you to preview and select the files you prefer most to backup to your computer. With it, you can make a regular backup of your iPhone without iTunes, after that, you can also freely view and extract the iPhone backup you made with AnyTrans. What’s more, it also allows you to manage photos, contacts, messages, call logs, calendars, etc on your iPhone.

Now, let’s download AnyTrans on your Mac/PC computer prior, and then follow the guide below to see how to selectively and automatically backup your iPhone in 1 click.

Step 1. Launch AnyTrans on your computer > Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable > Enter the Device Manager page.

Step 2. Click on the category that contains the files you want to backup (here we take Photos for example). Click on Photos.

Step 3. Choose one album > Select the photos you prefer > Click on the Send to PC button on the upper right corner to backup them now.

When the transferring process is finished, you can check the content you send to the computer. This content could regard as a backup because it will have no influence on the existing data on your iPhone.

How to Back up iPhone Content Wirelessly with AnyTrans

Besides backup iPhone content selectively, AnyTrans could also backup iPhone content wirelessly. This feature saves users from the USB cable, and once set up, it will automatically backup your iPhone with Wi-Fi. Here are the steps of how to backup iPhone data wirelessly with AnyTrans.

Step 1. Launch AnyTrans on your computer > Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable (If it is the first time that you have used the Air Backup function) > Click on Backup Manager mode and please click “Trust This Computer” option on your device to enable this function.

Step 2. Disconnect your iPhone > Connect your device and computer to the same Wi-Fi network. Enable the “AirBackup” option when you see this interface. If the Air Backup option cannot be opened, please make sure you enable the “WiFi sync option” in iTunes.

Step 3. Once your iOS device and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi, it will back up your device automatically.

Step 4. You can change the time frame as you like: daily, weekly, monthly… by clicking the “Preference” button. After the backup process is completed, you can check the details of your backup in Backup History.  The backups you created are listed with the device name, backup date, iOS version, and more info.

The Bottom Line

That’s all, after reading this guide you may have a clear idea about what does iTunes backup: settings, messages, camera roll, documents, saved games, etc. And as you can see, AnyTrans and PhoneTrans are more smart and reliable for you to backup iPhone. Just have a try now.