What is the best way to backup an iPhone without a Mac?

[spikeymike]

My comment was about the signing out of find my iPhone. Apple doesn’t want any lock, and backed up before accepting for service. They me replace your phone with refurb if needed. It’s been always the case.

This.

Its even stated on Apple's site:

Prepare your iPhone or iPad for service - Apple Support

Before you bring your device or send it to Apple for service, follow these steps to help protect your personal information and save time on your repair.

support.apple.com

Follow these steps before you bring your device to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, or send it to Apple. Depending on whether you're bringing your device in or sending it, you can find additional steps in the next sections.

If your device is unresponsive or you otherwise can't complete some of the steps, do as many as you can. You might also be able to complete some steps on the web at your Apple ID account page.

1. Back up your iPhone or iPad:
   • Back up with iCloud
   • Back up with your Mac
   • Back up with your PC
2. Turn off Apple Cash and remove your cards and passes from Apple Wallet.
3. Turn off Find My: Go to Settings > your name > Find My, then tap "Find My [Device]" and turn it off*.

 

[Ctrlos]

If you buy the 200 GB plan for exactly one month ($2.99) then back up to the iCloud then it will save you a bunch of trouble.

^^This

 

[klasma]

Looks like we need to purchase directly from them rather than through a perhaps more secure MS Store or App Store.

Installers are signed by the company who made the software, meaning that it can't be manipulated by anyone else. Windows will show a big warning if they are not, and also if the software package isn't well-known (hasn't been installed often). Many large software publishers do not use the MS app store, because it has little or no benefits. Microsoft itself doesn’t even consistently publish all their Windows software on it.

 

[Japan Ricardo]

Hi, I am taking my iPhone 6S+ to an Apple store for possible battery replacement. According to Apple, we should backup the phone, log out from Apple ID account and reset it to factory settings to protect our personal information before giving it out. Without a Mac, what is the best way to backup the phone so that I could recover it to the current state after getting it back from Apple? I only have a Windows PC and no plan to pay for iCloud. Currently I have used about 95GB of storage.

iTunes backup.

 

[ignatius345]

^^This

Actually, this, if you want to save a few bucks:

Get temporary iCloud storage when you buy a new iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

When you buy a new iPhone or iPad, you can get temporary iCloud storage to transfer data from your current device to your new one. Learn if you’re eligible, how to create a temporary backup, and how long your temporary backup is available.

support.apple.com

 

[hajime]

How is the "Apple Devices" app compared with iTunes? Has Apple changed from iTunes to Apple Devices?

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Windows - Apple Support

If you back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you'll have a copy of your information to use in case your device is ever replaced, lost, or damaged.

support.apple.com

iTunes does not show my phone icon and Apple Devices closes automatically quickly after launch.

 

[hajime]

As stated before, just download iTunes and make a backup. Be sure to choose the encrypted backup so absolutely *everything* is backed up.

Why choosing encrypted backup backups *everything*?
If unchecked, it won't backup everything?

 

[spikeymike]

Why choosing encrypted backup backups *everything*?
If unchecked, it won't backup everything?

About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

You can use password protection and encryption to protect backups of your device.

support.apple.com

That tells you what it does.

 

[kc9hzn]

Few years ago I used iTunes on my Windows PC to back up my phone or ipad. Don't remember which. As I recall, I could not view the pictures. The files were saved in some sort of unfamiliar format.

Anybody successfully recovered their phone from iTunes Windows version?

By backup, I also mean backing up the settings in apps such as those SMS apps so that when I do a recovery, I can just use the phone as if I did not send it to Apple. In this context, is iTunes backup the same as cloning?

The pictures were probably in the HEIC format, a Windows image viewer that supports it probably would have done the trick.

 

[mcled53]

Doesn't Apple offer a temporarily larger quota specifically for phone upgrades? I could swear I read that somewhere...

edit: found it

Get temporary iCloud storage when you buy a new iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

When you buy a new iPhone or iPad, you can get temporary iCloud storage to transfer data from your current device to your new one. Learn if you’re eligible, how to create a temporary backup, and how long your temporary backup is available.

support.apple.com

Sure , you could save $3.

 

[ignatius345]

Sure , you could save $3.

Yeah, exactly my point. I'd pick up $3 if I saw it lying on the ground. Maybe you're too cool for that.

 

[Squirrrrel]

Hi, I am taking my iPhone 6S+ to an Apple store for possible battery replacement. According to Apple, we should backup the phone, log out from Apple ID account and reset it to factory settings to protect our personal information before giving it out. Without a Mac, what is the best way to backup the phone so that I could recover it to the current state after getting it back from Apple? I only have a Windows PC and no plan to pay for iCloud. Currently I have used about 95GB of storage.

You can backup your phone the same way as you would a Mac by installing iTunes on Windows, as others have said. It's very simple. You'll need to set a password during the backup process to backup and restore anything encrypted on your phone, so don't forget the password you set.