(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)In this guide, I’ll show you how to back up your iPhone to an external hard drive, USB stick or NAS. I’ll talk about iTunes and CopyTrans Shelbee, the most secure ways to do a backup on Windows. The iTunes method is more complex and requires patience and some technical knowledge. CopyTrans Shelbee, in its turn, is more user-friendly and easier to use. I’ll lead you through the process explaining how to fix common backup issues.
TL;DR
- Yes, you can back up an iPhone to an external hard drive without iTunes
- The easiest method on Windows is CopyTrans Shelbee:
- Supports full and incremental backups (of the latest changes) to external drives
- Works on Windows 10/11
- Doesn’t require iCloud storage
What apps support backing up iPhone directly to an external hard drive?
The most secure programs that do an iPhone backup via a Windows PC are iTunes and CopyTrans Shelbee. iTunes is a free, Apple-only native app.
CopyTrans Shelbee is a Windows-based one-click backup tool that lets you create a free encrypted iPhone backup and then restore the backup for free as well. It also has paid features like incremental backups, selective restores, backups of app data, and changing the iTunes backup location.
You can click on the questions below to understand what software fulfills your requirements (no hidden redirect).
Do you want back up your iPhone without a computer at all?
If yes, the only solution would be to use iCloud Backup. See the separate article about “iCloud Backup“. It’s impossible to connect an external hard drive directly to an iPhone to make a backup.
If not, opt for iTunes or CopyTrans Shelbee (see the steps below).
If you want to stick to iTunes, are you ready to follow instructions and change iTunes settings manually?
If you’re not a tech-savvy, and you need an easy option, use CopyTrans Shelbee.
You already have an iTunes backup. Do you want to move it to an external hard drive for free?
If yes, you’ll have to create a junction. Only for tech-savvy. See the instructions below.
If not, there’s an easy but paid solution, CopyTrans Shelbee.
Do you want to avoid iTunes entirely?
If yes, use CopyTrans Shelbee (see the steps below). The free version backs up the same data as iTunes.
What data does an iTunes and CopyTrans Shelbee backups include?
An iTunes and CopyTrans Shelbee backups include the same data. When you make a backup and restore, you “clone” your iPhone. So, your photos, SMS, WhatsApp, calendars, notes, etc. will be copied over. However, there are a few limitations:
- The data synced with iCloud are not included in the backup. When some data are in iCloud, they are not on your iPhone, and they cannot be copied. What is iCloud sync?
- Your settings can only be backed up if you encrypt the backup. As you add a special encryption password, your backup becomes protected, and it can include your passwords. Learn more about backup encryption.
- Photos synced via a computer are not part of the backup.
- WhatsApp and Line photos and videos that are not downloaded to the iPhone will not be backed up.
- Music is not included in the backup. How to transfer iPhone music to a PC?
What will you need?
You’ll need:
- your iPhone;
- a USB or Type-C cable to connect it to a Windows PC;
- free space on your iPhone and external hard drive/ computer;
- your external hard drive.
How to back up an iPhone directly to an external hard drive without iTunes?
You can do a full or incremental backup directly to an external hard drive. Install CopyTrans Shelbee on your Windows PC. Connect your iPhone to the PC with a cable. Click on “Backup”, then “Full backup” in the main app window, and select the external hard drive as the backup destination.
Watch the video below to see how it works, or follow the detailed steps below.
- Download CopyTrans Shelbee from the official website via the button below. Install it normally on your Windows computer. If necessary, follow the installation steps.
- Launch the software and connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB or a Type-C cable. Connect your external hard drive, USB drive or NAS to the PC as well.
- Click on the “Backup” button, then on “Full Backup”
- CopyTrans Shelbee will offer you to “Save the apps” (paid feature). You will need to log in to the App store and have a stable internet connection. But note that it will back up app data only if the app developer allowed that. Learn more in the article “What does a CopyTrans Shelbee backup include?.”
- Click on the pencil icon to select a backup location. Find the external hard drive, USB stick or NAS in the list and click on it.
- Wait till the end of the backup. CopyTrans Shelbee will notify you when the iPhone backup to the external drive is finished.
If the app doesn’t recognize your iPhone, it’s easy to install all the necessary iOS drivers. They are available for free and don’t contain any malware. But make sure you download them from the official CopyTrans website via the link.
The advantage of the “Save the apps” feature in CopyTrans Shelbee is that you can restore the app even after the app was deleted from the App Store. So, if you have a backup that was made before the app was deleted from the App Store, you’ll be able to restore it, as CopyTrans Shelbee saved all the data. But if you are not worried about such situations, a normal backup without app data should be fine.
It’s not an obligatory step. If you deselect the box “Save the apps” before the backup, CopyTrans Shelbee will still save the directory to the apps in the App Store, so they will be automatically redownloaded and reinstalled after the full restore with Shelbee. There’s no need to manually redownload the apps.
If CopyTrans Shelbee is asking you for a backup password, it’s an iOS backup password. You created it a long time ago via iTunes. If you don’t remember the password, you can reset it. Your iPhone settings, e.g., Wi-Fi passwords, will be erased. Your other iPhone data, e.g., photos, contacts, apps etc., will stay intact.
How to back up latest changes only from now on?
Let’s say you already made a full backup of your iPhone at least once.
The next time you back up your iPhone you will get two full backups that are almost identical. Most of the backup content is redundant and takes up extra space.
An incremental backup is a much smaller file that “completes” the previous full backup with the latest changes.
Latest changes backups take less time to complete and save PC space.
Here is how to back up latest changes only using CopyTrans Shelbee (paid feature):
- First, make sure you already have at least one full iPhone backup.
- To make an incremental backup, run CopyTrans Shelbee, connect your iPhone and select Backup → Latest changes.
- Click on the green pencil to choose the backup you will be completing with new data. The backup will be placed into the same folder.
- Select the latest backup file (recommended), then click on Start.
Pros of CopyTrans Shelbee:
- Best for backing up directly to an external drive or NAS;
- Best for low‑space PCs;
- Add password protection to encrypt your backup;
- Make a full Backup and then back up only the latest changes to save up disk space.
How to back up an iPhone to an external hard drive with iTunes?
You can’t select an external hard drive as a destination for your backup in iTunes settings. To back up an iPhone to an external drive via iTunes, you have to,
(1) first, make a usual backup in iTunes,
(2) then manually move the default iTunes backup folder to your external hard drive.
So, let’s proceed to the first steps.
(1) Back up iPhone with iTunes on Windows
- Start by downloading the latest version of iTunes from the Microsoft Store.
Even though Apple recently replaces it by new software Apple Devices for Windows, iTunes keeps functions as before. - Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone to the PC with a cable.
- Click on a small iPhone icon that appears at the top of the iTunes window.
- The “Summary” menu will open. Find the button “Back up Now” and click on it. The backup progress bar is shown at the top of the iTunes window.
- As soon as the progress bar disappears, the backup is done. iTunes won’t notify you.
The “phone” icon doesn’t appear? Reconnect your iPhone via the same or another USB port. If the issue persists, try the solutions of the guide “My iPhone is not detected” or switch to the CopyTrans Shelbee option above.
Your iPhone couldn’t be backed up? Check if you have free space on your computer. For example, 70GB of iPhone data will take 10GB of your PC memory. However, if you have enough free space on your computer, but the backup won’t proceed, refer to the article “Why won’t my iPhone back up?“
Pros of iTunes:
- Add password protection to encrypt your backup;
- Use a totally free Windows-only solution;
- Make a full Backup and then back up only the latest changes to save up disk space.
(2) Change iPhone backup location
You can simply drag and drop your iTunes backup from the native folder to an external hard drive! Otherwise, if you have a license for CopyTrans Shelbee, you can use a one of the paid features, “Toolbox”.
I’ll first show you how to move your iPhone backup to an external drive via drag-and-drop without third-party apps. However, it’s much easier to do via CopyTrans Shelbee – you can see the steps below.
How to locate iPhone backup files on my computer to move them to an external drive?
- Go to C:\Users\*Username*\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync if you’re using iTunes Classic
or to C:\Users\*Username*\Apple\MobileSync if you’re using a Microsoft Store version of iTunes. - Connect your external hard drive to the PC and open it.
- You have to drag-and-drop the “Backup” folder from the iTunes backup folder directly to the hard drive.
- Wait for the transfer progress to finish.
But if the transfer didn’t work for a reason, opt for the CopyTrans Shelbee solution below. - Open the transferred “Backup” folder on your external hard drive. Can you see multiple folders with endless numbers in it? Congratulations – it means that you moved your iPhone backup to an external drive! You can disconnect your external hard drive from the PC and delete your iTunes backup on the PC.
Move iPhone backup to external drive with CopyTrans Shelbee
You need to install CopyTranas Shelbee on your Windows computer. Click on the “Toolbox” on top of the window and select the folder where you want to transfer it to. Note that it requires a 2-year license that costs 19.99 USD.
Watch the video or follow the steps below:
- Download CopyTrans Shelbee from the official website via the button below. Install it normally on your Windows computer. If necessary, follow the installation steps.
- Launch the software. Connect your external hard drive, USB stick or NAS to the PC. There’s no need to connect your iPhone to the computer.
- You need a license in order to proceed. You can purchase it via the software or on the official CopyTrans Store page.
- If you purchase the license inside the app, it will be automatically activated. If you purchase the license via the website, activate the software with the code that you received (“How to activate CopyTrans programs?” ).
- Click the “Toolbox” button on top of the CopyTrans Shelbee window.
- Click the pencil icon and select your external hard drive as the destination folder.
- The software will notify you when the transfer is made. Your iPhone backup is now on the external hard drive!
Conclusion
Making the iPhone backup to an external drive, you avoid iCloud space limitations and save space on your PC.
If you’re still wondering which tool to use to back up your iPhone, take a look at the table below :
| 🐝 CopyTrans Shelbee | 🖥️ iTunes | ☁️ iCloud | |
| Requirements | iPhone and a cable, uses PC or external drive space depending on the destination you choose |
iPhone and a cable, uses PC space | iPhone and Internet, uses iCloud space |
| Full backup | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Incremental backup (Saves space/time) |
✔️ you choose the backup type |
✔️ you can’t choose the backup type |
❌ |
| Encrypted backup | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Check backup integrity | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Backup location | ✔️ Anywhere (USB, NAS, External) |
❌ Fixed (C: Drive) |
❌ Fixed (Apple server) |
| Backup passwords, Wi-Fi settings, browsing history | ✔️ *backup should be encrypted |
✔️ *backup should be encrypted |
✔️ |
| Full restore | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Selective restore (only photos, only messages, etc.) | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
You can create a free encrypted backup directly to an external hard drive with CopyTrans Shelbee. No need to go via iTunes, make complicated tech-savvy actions to move your backup location. Just connect the iPhone to the Windows PC, select the backup in CopyTrans Shelbee and the location of your choice. And if something doesn’t go as expected, you can always contact the customer support by mail.
FAQ – Back up iPhone to external drive
Does CopyTrans Shelbee work with Windows 11 and the latest iOS?
Yes! CopyTrans Shelbee is compatible with Windows systems from 7 to 11 and supports new iOS versions. You can learn more about the app compatibility here. If necessary, you can find users’ reviews here.
Can I transfer from iPhone to external hard drive without computer?
You can’t make an encrypted backup to an external hard drive without a computer. But you can purchase a special external drive for iPhones on copy over your photos via an app from the App Store compatible with your external drive.
How often should I back up my iPhone?
Make a backup every 2 weeks. Otherwise, it would be wise to make a backup before an iOS update or every time you make an important modification.
What’s the difference between iCloud and iTunes backup?
The iCloud backup is stored on an Apple server, a cloud storage. A backup larger than 5GB requires a paid subscription. The iTunes backup is made on a computer and is free.
How do I copy my entire iPhoto library to an external hard drive?
CopyTrans Studio can make a full backup of your iPhone photos library to a folder on your PC or directly to an external hard drive. However, if you’re using iCloud Photos, you can use CopyTrans Cloudly, a paid app, and download all the Photo Library in one go to a destination of your choice.
How do I backup my iPhone if I don’t have enough iCloud storage?
Do a backup to your PC or external hard drive! Use CopyTrans Shelbee if you wish to choose the destination for your iPhone backup. If you don’t care about the backup destination folder, back up your iPhone with iTunes.
Will backing up to an external drive save me from iCloud storage limits?
Definitely. Using an external drive means your backups are stored locally, so you don’t rely on iCloud’s limited free storage or monthly plans. It’s a great way to keep full backups without paying extra.
Can I use wireless external hard drives to back up my iPhone?
No. The only wireless way to back up an iPhone is iCloud. If you can connect the wireless external hard drive to your computer, use CopyTrans Shelbee and select the drive as the backup destination. You need a cable to connect your iPhone to the PC.
Is it safe to keep iPhone backups on a portable external drive?
Absolutely, as long as you keep the drive secure and avoid physical damage. Just like with any important data, consider encrypting your backups or storing the drive in a safe place to prevent unauthorized access.
Can I use the same external drive for multiple iPhone backups?
Yes! You can create separate backup folders for each iPhone on the same drive. Just make sure to label them clearly so you don’t mix up the backups, especially if you manage multiple devices.
What happens if I unplug the external drive while backing up?
That’s a risky move! It can corrupt your backup and cause errors. Always safely eject your external drive only after the backup is fully completed to protect your data integrity.
