How to Back Up iPhone 6s (Plus) without iCloud

Given your smartphone is much more than just a communication tool, backing up your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus is smart, important, and absolutely useful practice. While some users are satisfied with iCloud's handy feature of wirelessly backing up an iPhone, others may not get on well with it especially when you're not having a decent internet connection, or there's not enough iCloud storage (the free 5GB storage is running out). Well, we will be discussing several feasible methods of backing up iPhone 6s (Plus) without iCloud.

Backing up iPhone 6s (Plus) with iCloud

Apple provides users with backup services which include creating iCloud backups and backing up locally on computers using iTunes. iCloud is considered the most popular option if you want to have your iPhone 6s (Plus) backed up on cloud automatically. To back up with iCloud, you'll need:

• Connect iPhone 6s (Plus) to a Wi-Fi.
• Go to Settings and tap on [your name]. Then select iCloud.
• Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup.
• Turn on iCloud Backup.
• Tap Back Up Now.

Wait until the backup is finished with your device connected to Wi-Fi connection. Thereafter, an iCloud backup will be done daily whenever your iPhone 6s (Plus) is connected to Wi-Fi, plugged in and locked.

Note that Apple offers every iCloud account with 5GB of free storage. If you're running out that, a warning of not enough iCloud storage will appear. If you're struggling to use iCloud to back up, we have a simple tutorial to help you troubleshoot the storage issue.

Reducing the size of iCloud backup

You probably don't need to back up everything on iPhone 6s (Plus) to the iCloud, so disable any app by tapping the toggle beside each option to the OFF position to save storage on the server.

• Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
• Select This iPhone.
• Toggle off apps that you don't want to back up with iCloud.

Deleting old backups from iCloud

You can also make more space by deleting old backups you no longer need:

• Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
• Tap the name of the device you don't want to back up.
• Scroll down to click on Delete Backup.

Upgrading iCloud storage plan

Paying for the additional storage is definitely the direct way to get rid of the "Not enough iCloud storage" message, especially for those who argue that disabling data from being backed up in iCloud is a workaround.

• Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage.
• Tap Change Storage Plan.
• Choose the plan that is right for you. Plans start at 50GB for 99 cents a month.

Backing up iPhone 6s without iCloud

This is by far the best way for creating a backup. What if you have no Wi-Fi access? Don't despaired. The next part will guide you through several ways you are able to back up iPhone 6s (Plus) without using iCloud.

Using iTunes or Finder to perform a full backup

One way to go about backing up iPhone 6s (Plus) without iCloud is to use another Apple's in-house backup tools, iTunes or Finder. If you're using a PC or a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, use the latest version of iTunes to back up iPhone 6s (Plus) within a few steps:

• Run iTunes on your computer and connect iPhone 6s (Plus) to it.
• Click iPhone icon on the upper left corner of the window.
• Choose Summary on the sidebar.
• Tick "Encrypt local backups" if you need to backup sensitive information.
• Check "This Computer".
• Hit Back Up Now to start backing up your iPhone 6s (Plus).

Steps to back up iPhone 6s (Plus) with Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15:

• Plug iPhone 6s into the Mac. Open Finder.
• Select your phone in the left column.
• Check "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac" under the Backups section.
• Tap Back Up Now to start backup.

Using iOS Data Backup & Restore

Available on Mac and PC, iOS Data Backup & Restore is a third-party backup tool well worth trying with features set that offer a simple interface to operate, organize files into categories after quick scanning, and keep backups easy to access. It is designed to be an efficient way to back up iPhone 6s instead of using iCloud. Once you connect your device to the computer, run a scan with the software, choose the specific types of data you want to back up, and the you're good to go.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Install iOS Data Backup & Restore

Click the green Download Now button to download the software and install it on your computer.

Open it, and Click "More tools" located on the bottom left of the window.

Then Choose "iOS Data Backup & Recovery" tab to proceed.

Next you'll see two options on the screen. Click iOS Data Backup button.

When you get to the window as the screenshot shown below, tick "Standard backup" option or "Encrypted backup" option. The latter one will back up the device with a password protected.

Hit the Start button to move on.

Step 2: Choose types of data to back up

Next up, you'll be presented with the categories of the files on the iPhone 6s (Plus).

Decide which types of data to back up by checking the box next to each item.

Step 3: Start back up files on iPhone 6s (Plus) without iCloud

When done, click the Next button. A progress bar should appear, indicating that the backup is taking place. Just wait a moment until the backup is created.

That's it! The three backup alternatives presented above are our recommendation if you don't want to use iCloud to back up iPhone 6s (Plus) for whatever reason.