iCloud Backup
Also known as: iCloud backup iPhone, back up to iCloud, device backup iCloud
iCloud Backup is an automatic copy of your iPhone or iPad — app data, settings, Home Screen layout, and Messages — stored in iCloud so you can restore to a new or reset device. It counts against your iCloud storage and is separate from iCloud Photos sync.
- Stores app data, settings, and layout for restore
- Counts against iCloud storage, not device storage
- Already-synced data is not duplicated inside it
What a backup contains
An iCloud Backup captures device settings, app data, the Home Screen and app organization, ringtones, and (unless stored separately) your photos and messages. It runs automatically over Wi-Fi when the device is locked and charging, and you manage it in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
Data already synced to iCloud — like iCloud Photos or Messages in iCloud — is not duplicated inside the backup, which keeps the backup smaller.
Why backups eat iCloud space
Old backups from devices you no longer use can quietly occupy gigabytes. In Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups, you can review each backup, choose which apps to include, and delete stale ones to reclaim iCloud space.