Your iPad is not an Apple digital device merely. The longer time you use, the more private information and personal settings you have stored into the iPad.
In another words, more data stored on your iPad will become risk.
Why?
You will get less and less space for new data write, and important files on iPad may suffer from loss due to deletion or other reasons.
As a result, you need to backup iPad to computer for storage free-up and backup of important files.
Here we gather the best 3 ways to backup iPad to computer with or without iTunes.
- Part 1. How to backup iPad to computer without iTunes (Recommended)
- Part 2. How to backup iPad to computer with iTunes
- Part 3. How to backup iPad to PC with iCloud
Part 1. How to backup iPad to computer without iTunes (Recommended)
The first method is highly recommended with Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup & Restore.
Why not iTunes or iCloud?
We will uncover the reason later.
Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup and Restore has an easy-to-use interface without technical knowledge required. It will only read this iOS data and all your backup files will not overwrite the old ones. Therefore, you can get rid of iPad backup limitations to backup iPad to computer without iTunes or iCloud easily. Moreover, it supports one-click backup to save your time greatly.
4,000,000+ Downloads
Backup iPad data to computer and restore to iPad.
Support encrypt backup to protect your private files safely.
Backup photos, videos, music, contacts, SMS, etc. selectively.
Work for iPad, iPad Pro, Air 5/4/3/2/1, mini 6/5/4/3/2/1, iPhone 15/14/13/12/11/XS/XR/X/8/7/6, etc.
Step 1 Run iOS Data Backup & Restore
Download the iPad backup program. Open it and choose "iOS Data Backup & Restore", with which you can backup and restore your iPad without data loss.
Step 2 Run iOS Data Backup
Use a USB cable to connect iPad to your computer. Click "iOS Data Backup" and detect your iPad thoroughly.
Step 3 Choose standard backup mode
Tick "Encrypted backup" if you need to backup private iPad data with one password.
Also, you can click "Standard backup" to backup iPad to PC without iTunes.
Step 4 Choose file types
Tap "Start" button and choose the data type to backup. You can mark "Photos" and "App Photos" if you want to backup iPad photos to computer only. iOS Data Backup enables users to point iPad backup data types freely.
Step 5 Backup iPhone or iPad to PC without iTunes
Click "Next" and set a destination folder to start backing up iPad photos, apps, music and all selected data to a computer.
Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup allows users to preview data after backup or before restoring. Thus, you can choose "Restore iOS Data" to view the iPad backup in detail. As you can see, it is easy to back up iPad to computer with iTunes, iCloud or iOS Data Backup & Restore. Contact us if you have any questions about how to back up an iPad to a computer.
Part 2. How to backup iPad to computer with iTunes
iTunes is a useful tool to help people manage all iOS data on iPad and other Apple products. With the backup, you can restore your iPad when you reset it because of a forgotten iPad restriction passcode or a disabled iPad. There is something you need to know before backing up an iPad to a computer with iTunes.
Step 1 Update iTunes and connect to iPad
Download and install the latest version of iTunes. Open iTunes and use a lightning USB cable to connect iPad to your Windows or Mac computer. Wait until iTunes detect your iPad automatically. If you are asked to unlock your iPad or to trust this computer, just follow the on-screen instruction. Later, select your iPad icon in the top left corner of iTunes 12.
Step 2 Backup iPad to iTunes on your computer
Locate the "Summary" page. Then you can choose whether you want to backup iPad to PC directly, or make an encrypted backup. Firstly, you need to tick "This Computer" to set your computer as the default hard disk to save iTunes backup files. Choose "Encrypt iPhone backup" if necessary. Hit "Back Up Now" button to start backing up an iPad or iPhone to your computer with iTunes.
Then you can check your iPad backup in iTunes backup location.
Part 3. How to backup iPad to PC with iCloud
Apple iCloud is also a popular choice that people can backup iPad to computer without iTunes. You do not need to plug in iPhone to a computer, and all your iPad to iCloud backups will be stored in cloud storage over the air. Every Apple user has free 5 GB storage provided from iCloud. Plans start at 50GB for $0.99 per month and up to 2TB.
Step 1 Connect to a Wireless network and make some preparations
Connect your iPad to a Wi-Fi network and check your available space in iCloud. Do not forget to test the speed of that Internet connection, otherwise it will take a long time to make a copy from an iPad with iCloud. You had better charge your iPad if there is less than 50% power.
Step 2 Turn on iCloud backup
iOS 11 and later: Click "Settings" app, choose your name and then tap "iCloud". You may need to sign in to your iCloud account with Apple ID and password. Turn on "iCloud Backup" option.
iOS 10.2 and earlier: Open "Settings" app on your iOS device. Scroll down to click "iCloud" directly. Choose "Backup" and move the slider to the green state to turn it on.
Step 3 Backup iPad to iCloud
Press "Back Up Now" button to back up an iPad to a computer with iCloud manually. If you can see "Last Successful backup" under "Back up Now", then it means you have finished iPad backing up via iCloud.
When the iCloud backup option is turned on, it means your iPad can backup to iCloud automatically when the Apple device is plugged in a power source, connected to a Wi-Fi network and got screen locked.
As mention above, why the first way is highly recommended method, and here we will explain it details.
| Comparison | Data type for backup | Speed | Encrypt | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iTunes | Photos, videos, music, ringtones, settings, app data and others. Check here. | Medium | Yes | 1. Not selectively backup iPad data to computer. 2. When restoring to iPad, it will overwrite exiting files. |
| iCloud | Videos, photos, SMS, call history, contacts, settings, browsing history, and others. Check here. | Slow | No | 1. Not selectively backup iPad data to computer. 2. When restoring to iPad, it will overwrite exiting files. |
| iOS Data Backup and Restore | Contacts, SMS, call history, photos, notes, videos, music, app data, etc. Check here. | Fast | Yes | 1. The free version has limited times and files for backup. |
Conclusion
This page shows you 3 free ways to backup iPad to computer with iTunes or without iTunes. You can use wireless backup iPad with iCloud, or USB cable to transfer. However, you have to bear the slow speed or data overwrite from backup restore. The recommended way is using Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup & Restore to backup all data selectively and encrypt backup to protect your privacy.
For more topics about iPad transfer, visit here.
