Hack 1.06: Back Up Your iPhone's Files

You'll kick yourself later if you don't!

ED: not really a hack, but good practice

Your iPhone most likely contains valuable information that would be tragic to lose. Fortunately, you can easily back up your files on your computer using iTunes so that if disaster strikes, all will not be lost.  This bacon-saving feature of iTunes allows you to protect all these files:

AU: would you consider rephrasing this to keep kosher?

• Text messages
• Notes
• Call history
• Contact favorites
• Sound settings
• Widget settings
• Certain network settings
• Plus other settings

To back-up your files, first start iTunes with your iPhone connected to your computer. From the Devices section, click on your iPhone so that it's highlighted and its information is displayed in the main iTunes pane, as shown in Figure 1-35. Finally, click the Sync button at the bottom right of the iTunes window. Your files will now be backed up on your computer.

To verify that files have been backed up on your computer (or to just find the date on which it was last backed up), go to the iTunes Preferences menu. After the Preferences window appears, click on the iPhone tab, and you'll now see your iPhone's preferences, as shown by Figure 1-36. On the iPhone tab, locate your iPhone in the box that says "The following iPhones are backed up on this computer." The date on the right is the last time it was backed up.

To set iTunes so that it will back up your iPhone every time you connect it to your computer, just check the box next to "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected" in the Option section at the bottom of the iTunes window. Now, whenever you start iTunes with your iPhone connected to your computer, it will automatically sync and back up your files. However, if you're trying to hold off on a firmware update [Hack #2.02], this could result in an unintentional update unless you're careful with your responses to iTunes' prompts. 

AU: This would be a good point for a cross-reference to a hack explaining the "correct" responses, or to explain them here.

Backing up your important iPhone files on your computer will save you a great deal of frustration if you ever have to restore your iPhone [Hack #3.03]. With the simplicity of iTunes syncing function to back up your files, you'll easily be able to protect your files.

Figure 1-35
iTunes' main iPhone screen

Figure 1-36
The synchronization settings