--- title: "What Is Backed Up on iPhone? What's In (and Out) of a Backup" description: "What is backed up on iPhone: iCloud Backup vs computer backup, whether photos and messages are included, where to find backups and what 'invisible backups' are." url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/what-is-in-an-iphone-backup lang: en published: 2026-10-29 updated: 2026-10-29 author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team" publisher: VaultForYou --- # What is in an iPhone backup, and where do you find it? > An iPhone backup copies what isn't already synced to iCloud, so whether your photos are in it depends on one switch. Published 2026-10-29 - Updated 2026-10-29 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team ## Quick answer An iPhone backup copies the data and settings on your phone that don't already sync to iCloud: settings, Home Screen layout, app data, and messages or photos if Messages in iCloud or iCloud Photos is off. Find iCloud backups in Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> iCloud Backup. Computer backups live on your Mac or PC. - **What's in it:** Settings, Home Screen layout, app data, plus photos and messages only if they don't already sync to iCloud. - **What's not:** iCloud Photos, Messages in iCloud, Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay, Apple Mail data, offline maps. - **Where to find it:** Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> iCloud Backup, or Storage -> Backups for every device. - **Encrypted?:** iCloud backups always are. Computer backups only if you turn on Encrypt local backup. It depends on two switches. An iPhone backup copies whatever on your phone isn't already synced to iCloud: settings, Home Screen layout, app data, and your messages and photos only if Messages in iCloud or iCloud Photos is turned off. If iCloud Photos is on, your photos aren't in the backup at all; they live in iCloud Photos instead. A backup can sit in iCloud, on a Mac or PC, or both, and old ones stick around longer than most people expect. A backup is a copy, not a vault: anyone who can restore it gets everything in it. We checked this against Apple's support pages and iPhone User Guide in October 2026. ## What is an iPhone backup? An iPhone backup is a snapshot of the data and settings on your phone, saved in iCloud or on a computer, so you can put everything back on a new or erased iPhone. Apple describes iCloud as keeping your data safe in two ways: **syncing** and **backing up**. - **Syncing** (iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive, Notes, Messages in iCloud) keeps one live copy up to date on all your devices. - **Backing up** takes periodic snapshots of everything that *isn't* synced. That split is the key to the whole question. Anything already syncing to iCloud is left out of the backup, because it's already in iCloud. ## Private photos in your backup? Keep them out of the Photos library Whatever sits in your Photos library ends up somewhere in iCloud: in iCloud Photos when it's on, or in your iCloud Backup when it's off. If some photos shouldn't be in either, they need to leave the library. VaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose outside the Photos library, so they aren't in Photos, search, widgets or iCloud Photos. Files are encrypted on your iPhone, the keys stay in the iOS Keychain, and a vault opens only with a pattern you draw. Backing up the vault is optional (Premium): each file is encrypted before it goes to your iCloud. After you move photos in, delete the originals from Photos and empty Recently Deleted. > **Keep private photos out of your library.** An encrypted vault on your iPhone, opened by a pattern. No account needed. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000) ## What is backed up on iPhone with iCloud Backup? iCloud Backup includes the information and settings stored on your iPhone that don't already sync to iCloud. According to Apple, that covers: - **Device settings, Home Screen layout and app organization.** - **App data** for the apps you've downloaded, including third-party social media, games and messaging apps, and Apple apps that don't sync with iCloud. If an app stores its data in iCloud Drive, that data lives in iCloud Drive instead. - **Messages** (iMessage, SMS and MMS), but only if Messages in iCloud is off. - **Photos and videos**, plus face information from the People & Pets album, but only if iCloud Photos is off. - **Purchased ringtones and your Visual Voicemail password** (restoring the password needs the SIM or eSIM used during the backup). - **Your Apple Watch backup**, which is part of your iPhone's backup. iCloud backups **don't** include notes you already sync in iCloud, photos in iCloud Photos, messages in Messages in iCloud, data from other cloud services like Gmail and Exchange, Apple Mail data, Apple Pay information and settings, Face ID or Touch ID settings, iCloud Music Library and App Store content, or offline maps. ## What does a computer backup include? A backup made with the Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on a PC (iTunes on older systems) includes almost all of your iPhone's data and settings. Apple lists what's left out: - iTunes Store, App Store and Apple Books content. - Content synced *from* your computer, like imported music, videos, books and photos. - Data already synced and stored in iCloud, like iCloud Photos, iMessages, and SMS and MMS messages. - Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay information and settings, Apple Mail data and offline maps. - Activity, Health and Keychain data, **unless the backup is encrypted**. That last line matters. Computer backups aren't encrypted by default, and an unencrypted one skips your saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, website history, Health data and call history. Turn on **Encrypt local backup** to include them; our guide to [iPhone backup encryption](/blog/iphone-backup-encryption) walks through it. ## iCloud Backup vs. computer backup: what's in each | What | iCloud Backup | Computer backup | |---|---|---| | Settings, Home Screen layout, app data | Yes | Yes | | Photos, with iCloud Photos on | No, they're in iCloud Photos | No | | Photos, with iCloud Photos off | May be included | Yes, except photos synced from a computer | | Messages, with Messages in iCloud on | No | No | | Messages, with Messages in iCloud off | Yes | Yes | | Face ID / Touch ID, Apple Pay, Apple Mail data | No | No | | Encrypted | Always | Only with Encrypt local backup on | | Where it's stored | Your iCloud storage | Your Mac or PC | | How it runs | Daily, when locked, charging and on Wi-Fi | When you back up from the Finder or Apple Devices app | ## Who can open your iPhone backup? A backup holds most of your phone, so it's worth knowing who could restore or read it. | Who | Can they get to it? | Why | |---|---|---| | Anyone who can sign in to your Apple Account | **Yes, for iCloud backups** | With standard data protection, Apple says that as long as you can sign in, you can access your backups. Two-factor authentication guards that sign-in. | | Apple | **Yes with standard data protection, no with Advanced Data Protection** | By default Apple stores the keys to your iCloud backups. With Advanced Data Protection, iCloud Backup is end-to-end encrypted. | | Someone using your Mac or PC | **Yes, if the backup isn't encrypted** | An unencrypted computer backup has no password of its own. | | Someone with the computer but not your backup password | **No, if it's encrypted** | You can't restore an encrypted backup without its password. | | You, after forgetting the backup password | **No** | Resetting the password lets you make new encrypted backups, not open old ones. | How strong the iCloud side is depends on your iCloud protection level; see [is iCloud encrypted?](/blog/is-icloud-encrypted) for the details. ## Are your photos in your iPhone backup? Only if iCloud Photos is off. When it's on, your photos, videos and face information sync to iCloud, so they aren't in your daily backup. When it's off, Apple says iCloud Backup *may* include the photos and videos in your library, and a computer backup includes photos taken on the iPhone. Hidden photos follow the same rule, because hiding a photo doesn't take it out of the library. With iCloud Photos on they sync to iCloud; with it off they can go into your backup. For more on that, read [do hidden photos sync to iCloud?](/blog/hidden-photos-icloud) If you don't use iCloud Photos, your library is often the biggest part of your iCloud backup. You can see its size under **Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> Storage -> Backups -> [this iPhone] -> Photo Library**. ## What are "invisible backups" on your iPhone? There's no iOS feature called invisible backups. The phrase usually describes backups you never see happen, and copies you forgot exist: - **Automatic iCloud backups.** iCloud backs up your iPhone daily when it's connected to power, locked and on Wi-Fi. - **Backups of old devices.** An iPhone you sold or traded in can still have a backup in your iCloud. If you turn off iCloud Backup for a device, Apple keeps its backups for 180 days before deleting them. - **Backups on old computers.** A Mac or PC you once plugged into can still hold a Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes backup until someone deletes it. If it was never encrypted, it has no password of its own. None of this is hidden on purpose; it just happens in the background. Checking takes a minute, and it's worth doing before you sell a phone or give away a computer (see [how to wipe an iPhone before a trade-in](/blog/wipe-iphone-before-trade-in)). ## Where is the backup on the iPhone? Your iCloud backup is managed in Settings, not stored as a file you can open on the phone: - **This iPhone's backup:** Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> iCloud Backup. You'll see **Back Up This iPhone**, **Back Up Now** and when the last backup ran. - **Every device's iCloud backup:** Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> **Storage** or **Manage Account Storage** -> **Backups**. - **Computer backups:** on a Mac, choose **Go -> Go to Folder** in the Finder and enter `~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/`. On a PC, press Windows key + R and enter `%USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup` (or `%AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup`). You can't browse inside a backup from the iPhone. Apple shows the apps included and the sizes, not individual files. ## How to find, trim and delete old backups 1. **Open iCloud Backup** Go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup. You'll see whether Back Up This iPhone is on, plus the time of the last successful backup. 2. **See what this iPhone backs up** Tap This iPhone to see the last backup, the size of the next backup and the apps included. 3. **List every device's backup** Go back to Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud, tap Storage or Manage Account Storage, then tap Backups. Each device with a backup in iCloud is listed by name. 4. **Trim apps you don't need** Tap a device and turn off apps you no longer want backed up, then tap Turn Off. That app's existing backup data is deleted from iCloud. 5. **Delete an old device's backup** Tap the old device, then tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud and confirm. A deleted backup can't be recovered, so keep any backup you may still need to restore. On a Mac or PC, open the Finder or the Apple Devices app, connect your iPhone, click **General**, then **Manage Backups**. Right-click a backup to delete or archive it. Archiving keeps a backup from being replaced by the next one. ## Limits worth knowing - **A backup isn't a second copy of iCloud Photos.** If you delete a photo with iCloud Photos on, it's deleted everywhere after 30 days in Recently Deleted. Your backup won't bring it back. - **Running out of iCloud storage stops backups.** The free 5 GB is shared with iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive and more. - **Turning off an app in Backups deletes its data from iCloud** right away, not just future backups. - **Some apps are always backed up** and can't be switched off. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is backed up on iPhone? Everything on the phone that doesn't already sync to iCloud: device settings, Home Screen layout and app organization, app data (including third-party messaging and social apps), purchased ringtones and your Visual Voicemail password. Photos and messages are included only if iCloud Photos or Messages in iCloud is off. Your Apple Watch backup is part of your iPhone's iCloud backup. ### What are invisible backups on my phone? There's no iOS feature called invisible backups. The phrase usually describes backups you never see happen: iCloud Backup runs daily on its own when your iPhone is locked, charging and on Wi-Fi. Backups of old iPhones can also stay in iCloud, and old computers can still hold Finder or iTunes backups. Check Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> Storage -> Backups. ### Where is backup on the iPhone? Go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup. That screen shows whether Back Up This iPhone is on and when the last backup ran. To see every backup stored in your iCloud, tap Storage or Manage Account Storage, then Backups. Computer backups aren't on the iPhone; they're stored on the Mac or PC. ### Does iPhone backup include photos? Only if iCloud Photos is off. With iCloud Photos on, your photos and videos sync to iCloud instead, so iCloud Backup and computer backups leave them out. With it off, iCloud Backup may include the photos and videos in your library, and a computer backup includes photos taken on the iPhone, though not photos synced to it from a computer. ### What does backing up your iPhone mean? It means saving a copy of your iPhone's data and settings somewhere else, in iCloud or on a computer, so you can restore it to a new or erased iPhone. A backup is a snapshot, which is different from syncing: iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive and Notes keep a live copy across devices, while a backup holds what isn't synced. ### Are hidden photos backed up on iPhone? They're handled like every other photo, because hiding doesn't remove a photo from your library. With iCloud Photos on, hidden photos sync to iCloud and stay hidden on your other devices. With iCloud Photos off, they can be part of your iCloud Backup or computer backup along with the rest of the library. ### How long does iCloud keep old iPhone backups? If you turn off iCloud Backup for a device or stop using it, Apple keeps that device's iCloud backups for 180 days before deleting them. You can delete them sooner in Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> Storage -> Backups. Backups that are currently being used to restore a device can't be deleted. ## Bottom line An iPhone backup holds everything on your phone that isn't already syncing to iCloud. With iCloud Photos and Messages in iCloud on, your photos and messages aren't in it; with them off, they are. Check **Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> Storage -> Backups** once in a while for old devices you've forgotten, and encrypt any computer backup. If some photos shouldn't be in iCloud Photos or a device backup at all, take them out of the Photos library and keep them in an encrypted vault instead. Keep reading: - [iPhone backup encryption: should you turn it on?](/blog/iphone-backup-encryption) - [Is iCloud encrypted?](/blog/is-icloud-encrypted) - [Do hidden photos transfer to a new iPhone?](/blog/hidden-photos-new-iphone) ## Sources - [Apple Support: What does iCloud back up?](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108770) - [Apple Support: Backup methods for iPhone or iPad](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108771) - [iPhone User Guide: Back up iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/back-up-iphone-iph3ecf67d29/ios) - [Apple Support: Manage your iCloud storage on your Apple device](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108922) - [Apple Support: Locate and manage backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108809) ## Keep reading - [Is Your iPhone Backup Encrypted? How to Check and Turn It On](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/iphone-backup-encryption): iCloud backups are always encrypted; iPhone backups on a Mac or PC aren't by default. How to check, encrypt your iPhone backup, and the password catch. - [Is iCloud Encrypted? Yes, but Apple May Hold the Keys (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/is-icloud-encrypted): Yes, iCloud is encrypted, but by default Apple holds the keys to your photos and backups. What Advanced Data Protection changes, and what it doesn't. - [Do Hidden Photos Sync to iCloud? Who Can See Them There](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/hidden-photos-icloud): Yes. With iCloud Photos on, hidden photos sync to iCloud and stay hidden on your devices and iCloud.com. See who can open them, and how backups handle them. - [Do Hidden Photos Transfer to a New iPhone? What Moves and How](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/hidden-photos-new-iphone): Yes. Hidden photos move to a new iPhone with your library via iCloud Photos, Quick Start or a backup. What to check after setup and what to do with the old phone. --- Our guides are written and fact-checked by the VaultForYou team against Apple's own documentation. We make VaultForYou, a private vault app for iPhone. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000