How to Backup iPhone Without Photos Easily [2025 Guide]
Learn how to backup iPhone without photos using iCloud or FoneTool. Avoid storage limits, skip unwanted photos, and transfer data selectively. Includes step-by-step guides for both methods.
Can I backup the iPhone without Photos?
Hello! Is it possible to back up the iPhone running iOS 26 without including the photos in the Photos app? I need a tool to finish the process. Thanks, David!
- Question from Apple Community
Why backup iPhone without photos?
For most iPhone users, backing up their phone data is an important topic. When you have too many photos on your phone, many people may want to back up their iPhone data but exclude photos.
Can this operation be done? Absolutely! If you want to back up your iPhone's data to the cloud without including photos, iCloud is available. However, for Windows users who want to back up data to their computer, iTunes only supports full data backups. In this case, you can use FoneTool to complete this process.
2 ways to backup iPhone without photos
this section explains how to selectively back up iPhone using iCloud or FoneTool . While iCloud provides 5GB free storage (often insufficient for extensive data), FoneTool enables selective backups without photos or complete data backups with no size limitations.
Way 1. Exclude photos via iCloud Backup
iCloud allows you to create backups while excluding photos from your Photos app.
Step 1. Disable Photos backup: Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups > This Device > Data To Backup > Disable Photos.
Step 2. Create backup: Return to iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.
Way 2. Easiest way to backup iPhone without photos
FoneTool provides a superior alternative to iCloud, offering selective iPhone backups to your PC without storage limitations or network dependency.
- Safe USB Connection: Stable transfer without network issues or data exposure
- No Apple ID Restrictions: Restore backups to devices with different Apple IDs
- Super-Fast Transfer Speed: Industry-leading backup speed
- No Size Limits: Backup capacity limited only by your PC storage
- Wide Compatibility: Supports iPhone 4 to iPhone 17, iPad, iPod Touch, iOS 26
100% Secure
Download FoneTool and learn how to backup iPhone without photos to PC:
Step 1. Launch FoneTool > Connect iPhone to PC via USB cable.
Step 2. Choose Phone Backup > Selective Backup > Click Get Started.
Step 3. Select data types (Music, Videos, Contacts, Messages).
Step 4. Choose Backup Storage Path > Start Backup
💡 How to restore iPhone backups: Access My Backups > Click Restore to recover your backup to any device, whether upgrading to a new phone or restoring to your current device.
Bonus: How to fully backup iPhone without iTunes
While iTunes enables full iPhone backups, its instability often causes errors like iTunes error 3004 when restoring iPhone. FoneTool provides a more reliable solution with faster speeds and bidirectional data transfer capabilities.
Follow the detailed steps to learn how to back up iPhone on Windows 11/10/8/7.
Step 1. Launch FoneTool > Go to Phone Backup > Full Back > Get Started.
Step 2. Enable Backup Encryption to encrypt your private data.
Step 3. Choose a storage path > Click Start Backup.
Conclusion
This guide demonstrates how to backup iPhone without photos using two effective methods. iCloud enables cloud backups excluding photos, while FoneTool provides more flexible selective or full backups to your PC without storage limitations. For comprehensive data protection, FoneTool also supports full iPhone backups and external hard drive storage for Windows users.
FAQs on backing up iPhone
FoneTool - All-in-one iPhone Data Manager
Transfer, backup and manage data on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch in an easy way.
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iOS 26 Compatible
iPhone 17 Supported
Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7
100% Secure
Kelsey is an English editor of FoneTool. She is passionate about helping people find effective ways to deal with all problems in phones and computers. She has great insights into iPhone backup and transfer, data recovery and phone data management, and other data protection measures. She likes to learn IT skills to improve herself and enjoy quality time with family and friends.
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