iPhone backups do not go directly to external drives — you back up to your computer first, then move the backup file to external storage

Your iPhone creates backups through your computer (Mac or Windows PC), not by connecting to an external hard drive on its own. The backup file itself is large — typically 20 to 100 gigabytes depending on how much is stored on your phone — so an external drive is a practical place to keep it. The process has two parts: create the backup on your computer using either iTunes or Finder, then copy the backup folder to your external drive for safekeeping.

Where your backup lands depends on your computer's operating system. On a Mac, backups go to a specific folder in your user library. On Windows, they go to a different location entirely. Once you know where to find it, you can copy the entire backup folder to your external drive using your file manager, the same way you would move any other folder.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone backups are created on your computer through Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), not directly to an external drive.
  • The backup file is stored in a hidden system folder on your computer; you must locate it before you can copy it to external storage.
  • On Mac, backups live in ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup; on Windows, they are in AppData\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup.
  • After copying the backup to your external drive, you can delete the original from your computer to free up space, but keep the external copy as your archive.
  • To restore from a backup on your external drive, you must copy the backup folder back to your computer first, then use Finder or iTunes to restore.

How to create an iPhone backup on your Mac

Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable. Open Finder and click on your iPhone in the sidebar under Locations. At the top of the window, you will see options including "General" and "Backup". Click "Backup" and then click the button labeled "Back Up Now". Finder will create a complete backup of your iPhone's data — apps, photos, messages, settings, everything — and store it on your Mac's hard drive.

The backup process can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data is on your phone and how fast your connection is. Your Mac may ask for your computer password or your Apple ID password during the process. Do not disconnect your iPhone until the backup is complete; Finder will tell you when it is finished.

If you are using an older Mac with macOS Catalina or earlier, you may have iTunes instead of Finder. The steps are the same: connect your iPhone, open iTunes, select your iPhone, click "Backup Now", and wait for the process to finish.

How to create an iPhone backup on Windows

Connect your iPhone to your Windows PC with a USB cable. Open iTunes (you must have iTunes installed; if you do not, read it from Apple's website). iTunes will recognize your iPhone and show it in the left sidebar. Click on your iPhone, then look for the "Backup" section. Click "Back Up Now" and iTunes will create a backup on your PC.

Windows will ask for your computer password or Apple ID password during the backup. The process takes 10 to 30 minutes. Do not unplug your iPhone until iTunes shows that the backup is complete.

Locating your backup file on your computer

Once the backup is finished, you need to find where it is stored so you can copy it to your external drive. On a Mac, the backup folder is hidden by default. Open Finder, click "Go" in the menu bar, hold down the Option key, and click "Library". Navigate to process Support, then MobileSync, then Backup. You will see a folder with a long string of letters and numbers — that is your iPhone backup.

On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup. If you do not see AppData, it is hidden. Click the "View" tab at the top and check the box for "Hidden items". You will then see the AppData folder. Inside Backup, you will see a folder with a long string of letters and numbers — that is your iPhone backup.

The backup folder can be several dozen gigabytes in size. Do not try to open it or look inside — just copy the entire folder as-is to your external drive.

Copying your backup to an external hard drive

Connect your external hard drive to your computer. On a Mac, the drive will appear on the desktop and in Finder's sidebar. On Windows, it will appear in File Explorer. Navigate to your backup folder using the steps above. Right-click on the backup folder (the one with the long string of numbers in its name) and select "Copy".

Navigate to your external drive in Finder or File Explorer. Right-click in an empty area and select "Paste". The backup folder will begin copying to your external drive. Depending on the size of your backup and the speed of your drive connection, this can take 15 minutes to an hour. Do not unplug the external drive until the copy is complete.

Once the copy is finished, you can verify it worked by checking that the backup folder now appears on your external drive with the same name and size as the original on your computer.

Freeing up space by removing the backup from your computer

After you have successfully copied your backup to the external drive, you can delete the original backup folder from your computer to free up space. On a Mac, navigate back to ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup, right-click the backup folder, and select "Move to Trash". On Windows, do the same in AppData\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup.

Only delete the backup from your computer if you have confirmed that the copy on your external drive is complete and intact. If you ever need to restore your iPhone from this backup, you will need to copy the backup folder from your external drive back to your computer first, then use Finder or iTunes to restore.

Restoring your iPhone from a backup on your external drive

If you need to restore your iPhone from a backup stored on your external drive, you must first copy the backup folder back to your computer. Connect your external drive, navigate to the backup folder, right-click it, and select "Copy". Then navigate to the backup location on your computer (~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup on Mac, or AppData\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup on Windows) and paste the folder there.

Once the backup folder is back on your computer, connect your iPhone, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), select your iPhone, and look for a "Restore" option. Click it and choose the backup you just copied. Finder or iTunes will restore all your data from that backup to your iPhone. This process can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much data is being restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up my iPhone directly to an external drive without using a computer?

No. iPhones do not have the ability to connect directly to external hard drives. All iPhone backups must go through a computer first — either a Mac or Windows PC — using Finder or iTunes. Once the backup is on your computer, you can then copy it to an external drive.

What if my external drive is not showing up on my computer?

Make sure the external drive is plugged in and powered on (if it requires power). On Mac, try restarting your computer. On Windows, open File Explorer and look for the drive under "This PC". If it still does not appear, the drive may need to be formatted or may have a hardware problem. Try connecting it to a different USB port or a different computer to test.

How often should I back up my iPhone to the external drive?

That depends on how often your data changes. If you take photos, send messages, or install apps regularly, backing up once a week or once a month is reasonable. You can create a new backup on your computer and copy it to the external drive each time, or you can overwrite the old backup folder with the new one. Keep at least one recent backup on the external drive at all times.

Can I use the same external drive to back up multiple iPhones?

Yes. Each iPhone creates a backup folder with a unique identifier, so multiple backup folders can coexist on the same external drive without interfering with each other. Create a backup for each iPhone on your computer, then copy each backup folder to the external drive. Label them clearly so you know which backup belongs to which phone.

What happens if my external drive fails after I delete the backup from my computer?

You will lose that backup. This is why it is important to verify that the backup has been successfully copied to the external drive before you delete it from your computer. If you want extra protection, consider keeping one backup on your computer and one on the external drive, or using two external drives and keeping backups on both.