How Much Storage Does a 128GB iPhone Backup Actually Use?

Backing up your iPhone can be a crucial step in maintaining data safety and ensuring that important information is safeguarded. But how much storage space does a 128GB iPhone backup typically use? This depends on several factors, including the backup method and the amount of data stored on your device. Let’s explore how much storage is involved when backing up a 128GB iPhone.

Factors Affecting Backup Size

When considering the storage requirements for a 128GB iPhone backup, several factors must be taken into account. These include the amount of data stored on your device, the type of backup method used (iCloud or iTunes/Finder), and how extensively you back up your device.

iCloud Backup

Using iCloud to back up your iPhone means that only the data and settings will be stored, not the entire 128GB capacity. If your iPhone has 64GB of data (including apps, photos, messages, etc.), the backup will likely be around 65-70GB, including system files and settings.

Note: The specific backup size can vary, but it is generally much smaller than the full 128GB due to data compression and empty areas.

iTunes/Finder Backup

When using iTunes or Finder to back up your iPhone to a computer, the backup size can also vary depending on the data you choose to include. It may be similar to an iCloud backup, but it can also be larger or smaller based on the specific files and settings you select.

Example: If you back up all your apps, photos, and documents, the backup size can significantly increase beyond the typical 65-70GB. However, if only essential data is backed up, the size can remain relatively close to the iCloud backup size.

Personal Backup Strategies

For many users, regular full backups are not necessary. Instead, they opt to make copies of important files (documents, photos, videos, etc.) and store them in multiple locations to ensure redundancy and safety. Here’s a breakdown of a common strategy:

File Copies: Make copies of important files using the Files app or other methods. Multiple Copies: Store files in different formats on various devices (USB C iPad, lightning iPhone, external HDD, etc.). Cloud Storage: Use cloud storage options to back up files and keep them accessible from anywhere. Network Shares: Utilize network shares to back up files that need to be accessible from other devices on the network.

Using this approach, users can ensure that their important data is safe and easily accessible, even if one backup fails or one device is lost.

Actual Backup Size Calculation

Based on user data, an encrypted backup might take up around 19.98GB. On an iPhone, the actual used space as shown in Settings - General - iPhone Storage is 78.9GB, which does not include the operating system or the applications themselves, as they are not backed up.

Conclusion: The storage requirements for a 128GB iPhone backup can vary widely depending on the data stored and the backup method used. Using a combination of methods and strategies can help ensure that important data is both safely backed up and easily accessible.