How to back up my iphone 12

Device Guides

Change device

iOS is the operating system software installed on your iPhone. To find out which version you have: Tap Settings, Tap General, Tap About, and view the version number.

Change device

Buy now

Search in Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

• How to
• Troubleshoot
• Specs

How to

Restore content from an iCloud backup

You can restore content from an iCloud backup when, for instance, you update the phone software. To restore the content, you need to back up the phone memory to iCloud.

You can restore content from an iCloud backup when your mobile phone is activated for the first time and after a factory reset. When this screen is displayed, your mobile phone is ready to restore content from an iCloud backup.

Tap Restore from iCloud Backup.

Tap the field next to "Apple ID" and key in the username for your Apple ID.

Tap the field next to "Password" and key in the password for your Apple ID.

Tap the required backup and your mobile phone restores the content of the selected backup. Subsequently, follow the instructions on the screen to set up your mobile phone and prepare it for use.

Your contacts contain not only the name & phone number but more details including email, address, birthday, etc. You definitely never want to lose them. However, unexpected things always happen. What if you get your iPhone broken or even lost? You can always get a new iPhone but you may never be able to get all your contacts back. 

Fortunately, you can take a measure in advance to ensure the safety of your contacts: backup your iPhone contacts. Once you have a copy of the contacts, you can always choose to restore the contacts anytime you want. Now let’s start to see how to backup contacts on new iPhone 14/14 Pro (Max)/14 Plus, iPhone 13/13 Pro (Max)/13 mini, iPhone 12/12 Pro (Max)/12 mini, iPhone 11/11 Pro (Max), iPhone SE 2020, iPhone X/XR/XS (Max), iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6s/6s Plus.

iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later series support eSIM. If you want to convert SIM card to eSIM, don't forget to backup your contacts in advance. Just in case unexpected errors happen during the conversion.

• Method 1. Backup iPhone Contacts to iTunes

• Method 2. Backup iPhone Contacts to Computer

• Method 3. Backup iPhone Contacts to iCloud

• Method 4. Backup iPhone Contacts to Gmail/Outlook

Method 1. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to iTunes

iTunes is the default program for iPhone backup but it’s not the best option for contacts backup. Because it will backup the entire iPhone content, not just your contacts. If you just want to backup iPhone contacts only, you can refer to Method 2 to see how to make it.

Step 1. Download and install the latest iTunes on your computer > Connect your iPhone to computer via USB cable.

Step 2. Usually, iTunes will run automatically when you plug in your iPhone, if not, open iTunes by yourself.

Step 3. Click Device tab > Select backup to This Computer > Click Back Up Now option to backup iPhone contacts to iTunes.

Then iTunes will start backing up your iPhone data and settings to computer. Please keep your iPhone connected until the backup process is finished. However, you just cannot check the backup files on your computer. Besides, if you choose to restore iTunes backup, it will erase the existing content on your iPhone.

Method 2. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Computer

If you just want to backup iPhone contacts to computer instead of the whole iPhone, then you can try this method. To achieve the goal, one iPhone data management tool named FoneTool is needed.

With this tool, you can first preview and then select the contacts you want to transfer to computer. In only a few clicks, all the contact info, the phone number, email, address, birthday and other notes will be transferred to your computer. Download it on your computer and follow the steps below to backup iPhone contacts to computer.

Steps to Backup iPhone Contacts to Computer/Flash Drive/External Hard Drive

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer with USB cable and launch FoneTool.

Step 2. Click Phone Backup option > Go to Selective Backup and click Get Stared > Unselect the other data you do not need to backup.

Step 3. Preview and select the contacts you need and click the OKbutton.

Step 4. Select the backup path (It supports backing up iPhone to flash drive.) > Click the Start Backup button and it will start the transfer.

Besides contacts, it also can help you backup messages, photos, music, videos. When performing restore, unlike iTunes will erase the existed data, it will not ease any data but only restore the backup files to your device.

Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Computer/Flash Drive/External Hard Drive

FoneTool also supports data transfer, if you want to manage your contacts on computer, you can let it help you transfer contacts from iPhone to computer.

Step 1. Choose Phone Transfer > Go to iPhone to PC and click Start Transfer.

Step 2. Click the plus icon > Select the contacts you want to transfer.

Step 3. Click Start Transfer > Select a path to save your contacts > Choose the format (If you want export iPhone contacts to Excel, you should choose CSV.) > Click Transfer to make it.

Method 3. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to iCloud

There are two ways to backup iPhone contacts to iCloud: create a full iCloud backup & sync contacts to iCloud server. Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi network and check the detailed steps below.

◆ Create iCloud Backup

Go to Settings app > Tap your name > Choose iCloud > Select iCloud Backup > Turn it on > Tap Back Up Now. It will start backing up iPhone content to iCloud including your contacts.

◆ Sync Contacts to iCloud Server

If you do not want to backup all iPhone contents to iCloud, you can choose to backup contacts only by syncing to iCloud. Once you have turned on the Contacts Sync option, all your iPhone contacts will be backed up to iCloud server. In addition, all the contacts stored on other Apple devices that logged in the same Apple ID will also be merged to iCloud.

Go to Settings app> Tap your name > Choose iCloud > Tap the toggle next to Contacts.

Method 4. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Google/Outlook

If you are using Google Gmail, you can choose to directly sync iPhone contacts to your Gmail. You can also follow the steps to sync iPhone contacts to other mail, like Outlook, Exchange, etc.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Scroll down and choose Accounts & Passwords.

Step 2. Tap Add Account > Tap Google (or other mail you prefer) > Enter the required information to add your Gmail account and click Next.

Step 3. Click Save when your account is verified.

Step 4. Turn on Contacts Sync > Click Save to confirm.

Conclusion

Now you know 4 different methods to backup iPhone contacts. If you want to backup iPhone to computer, you can choose iTunes or FoneTool. If you have no computer at hand, then you can choose to backup iPhone contacts to iCloud or Gmail.

By the way, FoneTool can also help you transfer contacts, photos, songs, videos, etc. between iPhone and computer. Donwload FoneTool and discover more!

How do I backup my iPhone 12 to my computer?

How do I do a full backup of my iPhone?

Can I backup everything on my iPhone?

How do I backup my iPhone without iCloud?