How to back up an iPhone to iCloud

What changed: the screenshots are now our own iPhone 17e on iOS 27.0.1, dark mode, and the wording is checked against those screens.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-back-up-an-iphone-to-icloud/ · Checked October 2026 · iPhone 17e · iOS 27.0.1

5 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

iPhone

Shown on

iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)

App

Settings

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Connect to Wi-Fi and power

   Backups can be large. Settings shows the Wi-Fi row near the top; we blurred our network name. A charger keeps the phone awake until it finishes.

   Done

2. 

   Open Settings and tap your name

   Your name is at the very top of Settings, with your account picture. We blurred ours.

   Done

3. 

   Tap iCloud, then iCloud Backup

   On iOS 27 the iCloud Backup row is near the bottom of the iCloud page and shows when the last backup was made; ours read 1 day ago. The Storage row at the top showed 166.4 MB of 5 GB in use.

   Done

4. 

   Switch on Back Up This iPhone

   From now on the phone backs up by itself each night when it is locked, charging and on Wi-Fi. Ours was already on. Back Up Over Mobile Data, just below, backs up without Wi-Fi; its note warns that this may cause you to exceed your data plan.

   Done

5. 

   Tap Back Up Now

   Ours showed Last successful backup: yesterday at 20:00 under the button. Stay on Wi-Fi until the time under the button changes to "Last successful backup" with the current time.

   Done

What changed: the screenshots are now our own iPhone 17e on iOS 27.0.1, dark mode, and the wording is checked against those screens.

What we saw on our device

• Switch on Back Up This iPhone: Ours was already on.
• Tap Back Up Now: Ours showed Last successful backup: yesterday at 20:00 under the button.

If you do not see this option

• There is no Back Up Over Mobile Data switch. Apple offers backing up over a mobile network only on some models. Without it, back up on Wi-Fi. Source: How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud
• Your name is not at the top of Settings. The iPhone is not signed in to an Apple Account, which iCloud Backup needs. The top row then offers to sign in. Source: How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud

If this does not work

• The backup does not start. Connect to Wi-Fi, or switch on Back Up Over Mobile Data on the same page if your iPhone offers it. Keep the iPhone on the charger. Source: How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud
• The message Not enough iCloud storage appears. Open Settings, your name, iCloud, Storage, Backups and switch off large apps you do not need saved, or choose a larger iCloud+ plan. Source: How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud

About this guide

An iCloud backup stores your settings, app data, messages, Home Screen layout and photos, if those are not already in iCloud Photos. With a backup you can set up a new or repaired iPhone exactly as the old one was.

The screenshots are our own, taken on an iPhone 17e running iOS 27.0.1, in dark mode. We blurred our name, email address and device name.

Good to know

Every Apple Account has 5 GB of free iCloud storage, which is often too little. The message "Not enough iCloud storage" means you need a paid plan or a smaller backup. Under iCloud, Storage, Backups, you can switch off large apps you do not need saved.

The free alternative is a backup to a computer: connect the iPhone to a Mac and use Finder, or to a PC with the Apple Devices app.

WhatsApp keeps its own backup: WhatsApp, Settings, Chats, Chat Backup.

In short: Settings, your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup, Back Up Now.