How to Backup iPhone Without iCloud - 4 Reliable Ways (2025)

How to backup iPhone without iCloud? This 2025 guide offers 5 working ways - FoneTool (recommended), iTunes, Google Drive, Finder for Mac. Complete steps included.

By @Kelsey Last Updated October 21, 2025

Why Backup iPhone Without iCloud?

While iCloud offers automatic backups and seamless synchronization across Apple devices, it has significant limitations for users with substantial data storage needs. When facing insufficient iCloud storage for large backups, you need alternatives for how to backup iPhone without iCloud.

Here are 4 effective methods to create iPhone backups without iCloud using USB connections or wireless solutions.

4 Ways to Backup iPhone Without iCloud (Compared)

Method Speed Storage Best For
FoneTool ⚡ Fast Unlimited Full/selective backups
iTunes 🐢 Slow Computer space Windows users
Google Drive 🕒 Medium 15GB free Wireless option
Finder ⚡ Fast Mac storage Mac users

1. How to backup iPhone without iCloud to PC [recommended]

FoneTool provides the most flexible solution for backing up your entire iPhone or selected data to your computer without iCloud limitations, just simple clicks.

FoneTool

Best & Free iPhone Backup Software for Windows

  • Fully or selectively back up iPhone data as you like
  • Backup photos, videos, etc. without storage limitation
  • Fast transfer speeds (46 GB in ~39 minutes)
  • Total USB connections offer a safe and stable transfer process
  • Customizable backup locations (PC/USB drives)
Download Freeware Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7

100% Secure

Step 1. Download and Install FoneTool > Connect iPhone via USB > Tap Trust when prompted.

Step 2. Go to Phone Backup > Choose Full Backup for complete data backup.

Step 3. Enable encryption if needed > Set storage location > Click Start Backup.

🔄 Selective Backup Option: Choose Selective Backup to backup specific iPhone data like photos, videos, contacts, etc. or backup iPhone without photos.

2. How to backup iPhone to computer without iCloud - iTunes

If you prefer not to use a third-party tool, iTunes can be an alternative way to back up your iPhone to your PC. Here are steps about how to backup iPhone without iCloud storage using iTunes.

⚠️ Note: For Mac users, if macOS Mojave and earlier version are running on your computer, you can also use this way to back up iPhone. If you are using the later version of macOS, choose Finder mentioned in Method 4 to make it.

Step 1. Install latest iTunes > Connect iPhone to computer.

Step 2. Launch iTunes > Click device icon > Go to Summary.

Step 3. Under Backups, select This computer > Click Back Up Now.

🔒 Security Tip:
Enable Encrypt local backup to protect sensitive data and include passwords.

3. How to backup iPhone without iCloud or computer - Google Drive

Google Drive offers 15GB of free cloud storage as an iCloud alternative for backing up photos, videos, contacts, and calendar events wirelessly. This way is also applied to transfer data from Android to iPhone after setup.

Step 1. Download Google Drive from App Store > Sign in to Google account.

Step 2. Tap Menu > Settings > Backup > Start Backup.

⚠️Limitation Note: Google Drive only backs up photos, videos, contacts, and calendar events—not full device backups.

4. How to backup iPhone without storage to Mac - Finder

Mac users with macOS Catalina or later can use Finder to create encrypted local backups without iCloud.

Step 1. Connect iPhone to Mac via USB > Open Finder > Select your iPhone.

Step 2. Under General, choose Back up all data > Enable Encrypt local backup if desired.

Step 3. Click Back Up Now.

Conclusion

This passage gives you 4 ways about how to backup iPhone without iCloud. You can create an iPhone backup with a USB cable or wirelessly. And FoneTool might be a nice choice for Windows users to back up all or part of your iPhone data.

For people who need to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud, FoneTool's powerful features can also help you a lot. Just go to Phone Transfer > Choose iPhone to iPhone and you can move all old iPhone data to new iPhone with one click. Why not download and try it now!

Frequently asked questions