"Ensure a Proper Backup Before Installing iOS 18 on Your iPhone"

oday is the Day to Upgrade to iOS 18!
If you own an iPhone from the iPhone XR onwards, you can download and install iOS 18 starting today. However, before you dive into the update, it's essential to prepare your device, and that starts with making a proper backup of your data.

At Apple’s recent September event, alongside the unveiling of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, they confirmed that iOS 18 would officially release on Monday, Sept. 16.

But don't just make any backup—you'll want a specific type of backup that will make life easier in case you decide to roll back to iOS 17. By creating a solid, archived backup, you'll feel more confident exploring iOS 18’s exciting features, like improvements to text messaging, Apple Maps enhancements, and iPhone mirroring from a Mac in macOS Sequoia. Plus, there are several key iOS 18 settings you’ll want to adjust right away.

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Why Archiving Your Backup Is Critical Before Upgrading

You’re probably already using iCloud Backup, which runs automatically while your device charges overnight. This is convenient—assuming you have enough iCloud storage—but it presents an issue when upgrading to a new iOS version. If you decide to revert to iOS 17, an iCloud Backup created on iOS 18 won’t work for restoring your data. Unfortunately, iCloud only saves the most recent backup, meaning you can't revert to older versions. If you attempt to restore an iOS 18 backup on iOS 17, you'll encounter errors.

To avoid this, you’ll need to create an archived backup on your computer, which gives you the flexibility to restore data if you decide to return to iOS 17.

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Should You Encrypt Your Backup?

Before archiving your backup, consider whether to enable encryption. Encrypting a local backup protects sensitive information like saved passwords, and data from Health and Fitness apps. However, it requires creating a separate password—so be sure to store this password safely. If you forget it, you won't be able to access the backup, making this an important decision before proceeding.

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How to Create a Local iPhone Archive Backup on Mac

Here’s how to make an archived backup using your Mac:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac.
2. Open a Finder window (press Command-N or choose File > New Finder Window).
3. Select your iPhone under “Locations” in the sidebar.
4. If you want to encrypt your backup, check "Encrypt local backup" and set a password.
5. Click "Back Up Now."
6. Once the backup is complete, click "Manage Backups."
7. Right-click your latest backup and choose "Archive."

By archiving the backup, you ensure it won’t be overwritten or deleted, even if your Mac runs low on storage.

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How to Create a Local iPhone Archive Backup on Windows

If you’re using Windows, follow these steps in iTunes:

1. Plug your iPhone into your PC.
2. In iTunes, click the iPhone icon at the top left.
3. Select "Summary."
4. To encrypt the backup, choose "Encrypt local backup" and set a password.
5. Click "Back Up Now."
6. After the backup finishes, click "Manage Backups."
7. Right-click the backup and select "Archive."

Once archived, you can confidently install iOS 18, knowing you have a fallback if you need to revert to iOS 17.

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With your backup secured, you’re ready to explore all that iOS 18 has to offer. For more tips, check out how to use the new iPhone 16 camera button and don't forget your monthly reminder to clear your iPhone cache.

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