How to backup ipad to computer

My friend Eric was asking me the other day how to backup his iPad onto his computer. It’s a fairly simple process but before you can do it, you need to have iTunes installed on your laptop or desktop.

backup

If you don’t have the iTunes program, it can be downloaded from the Apple site for free.
One important reason to backup your iPad is to keep a copy of your important stuff (Contacts, Calendar accounts, Calendar events, Camera Roll, Network settings, Notes, Safari bookmarks, etc) in case you need to restore it later. Another reason would be before doing an iOS (operating system) upgrade.


Today I’ll be discussing how to backup your iPad to a computer using a Windows PC as example. The steps are similar if you are doing it on a Mac.

Applicable to:
iPad versions: iPad, iPad 2, the New iPad, iPad mini, iPad with Retina Display
iOS versions: iOS 4, iOS 5, iOS 6 and up

If you don’t have it on your computer yet, download and install “iTunes”. Once iTunes has been installed on your computer, you can follow the steps below.

Open iTunes on your Computer

itunes-computer-icon

Turn your iPad on and connect data transfer cable

Connect iPad cable (white cable) both to Computer on the USB port and iPad.

ipad-cable
ipad-cable-connected

The iPad will show up on iTunes on the “Devices” section.


Right click on your iPad on the Devices section

itunes-ipad-devices

A menu will appear. Click on “Back Up”.

itunes-backup-menu

Depending on the amount of information on your iPad, this may take a few minutes.

While the backup is ongoing, a “backing up” message will appear on iTunes


Once the backup is done, iTunes will display the time and date of the last backup.

itunes-last-backup-message

When you are done with the backup, right click on your iPad under the Devices menu and click “Eject”.

itunes-devices-menu-eject

The Devices menu disappears and your iPad is no longer listed on iTunes.You can now disconnect the iPad cable from your Computer and iPad.

How often do you backup your iPad?

Let me know by posting a comment on the form below.

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