This wikiHow teaches you how to keep a complete backup of data from your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes when your phone's touchscreen is cracked or damaged. If you want to back up your data to iCloud, you'll need an external keyboard with a lightning connector cable. If your iPhone is paired with iTunes on your computer, you can easily save a local backup to your computer without an external keyboard for your phone.
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Method 1 of 2: Using iCloud on iPhone
Step 1. Prepare a lightning-connected keyboard for iPhone
The keyboard can be paired to an iPhone via a standard Lightning port, as can a USB charging cable.
- Lightning connector keyboard allows you to browse, unlock, and use iPhone when you can't see, touch, or swipe the broken screen.
- There are a variety of keyboards with lightning connector features available from various manufacturers/brands. You can search and get it from Tokopedia, Bukalapak, or the Apple Store.
Step 2. Connect a lightning-connected keyboard to your iPhone
Plug the keyboard lightning cable into the regular charging port on the bottom of the device.
Step 3. Press the “Home” button of the device to unlock
Once the button is pressed, you will be asked to enter the passcode and unlock the screen.
- The “Home” button is the circular button at the bottom of the iPhone screen.
- If the buttons don't work, make sure you buy a keyboard with an unlock button. Most lighting keyboards have a button that allows you to unlock the device's screen, without a “Home” button.
Step 4. Enter the iPhone passcode on the keyboard
After that, the screen lock will be unlocked.
Step 5. Activate Siri on iPhone
You can hold down the “Home” button or simply say “Hey Siri “(in English) if the “Hey Siri” function is enabled on the device.
If you're using an iPhone X, hold down the side button to access Siri
Step 6. Say "Turn on VoiceOver" (in English) to Siri
After that, Siri will recognize the verbal command you give and activate the “VoiceOver” feature on the iPhone.
When VoiceOver is on, Siri reads an auditory description of each element displayed on the screen to help you use your phone without looking at the screen
Step 7. Use the arrow keys on the lightning keyboard to open the device settings menu (“Settings”)
Siri will read the name of each application when you navigate on the home screen.
After finding the settings menu or “Settings”, press the shortcut Ctrl+⌥ Option+Space on the keyboard. This combination is the same as the click or touch mechanism on the selected option
Step 8. Locate and open Apple ID settings at the top of the menu
Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to find your Apple ID name in the settings menu, then press Ctrl+⌥ Option+Space to open it.
When an option is selected in the menu, Siri will announce your Apple ID name, as well as the phrase "Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store"
Step 9. Locate and open iCloud on the Apple ID menu
It's near the top of the Apple ID menu.
You can find it under the option “ Payment & Shipping ” and above option “ iTunes & App Store ”.
Step 10. Find and open iCloud Backup on iCloud menu
You can save a backup of device data from this menu.
You can find it among the options “ Find My iPhone " and " iCloud Drive, in the middle of the menu.
Step 11. Check if the “iCloud Backup” feature is enabled on the phone
Access the “Backup” menu with the arrow keys on the keyboard, then make sure the “iCloud Backup” feature or option is enabled.
- If the “iCloud Backup” feature is on, Siri will say “iCloud Backup On” when that option is selected in the menu.
- If the “iCloud Backup” feature isn't already on, you'll hear “iCloud Backup Off “. Just press Ctrl+⌥ Option+Space on the keyboard to activate the feature.
Step 12. Locate and select Back Up Now
You can see this option at the bottom of the “Backup” page. A complete backup of data from iPhone will be saved to your iCloud account.
If you are asked to confirm the action in a pop-up window, you can use the lightning keyboard to do so and save a backup of the data
Method 2 of 2: Using iTunes on a Computer
Step 1. Connect iPhone to computer via USB cable
You can use a regular USB data charging cable and connect your iPhone to a trusted computer.
Step 2. Open iTunes on the computer
The iTunes icon looks like a musical note inside a white circle. You can find it in the “Applications” folder on a Mac computer or the “Start” menu on a Windows computer.
- If you've connected your iPhone to the computer you used before, the device will automatically connect.
- If this is your first time connecting your iPhone to your computer, you will need to confirm the connection by pressing the “ Trust ” on the iPhone screen.
- If you need to press the " Trust ” and the phone's touch screen doesn't work, activate the “VoiceOver” feature and use a lightning-connected keyboard or Bluetooth keyboard to control the phone screen.
- Some Lightning connector keyboards don't allow you to press the “ Trust " You need to use a lightning-connected keyboard to pair your iPhone with a Bluetooth keyboard first, then use a Bluetooth keyboard to press the “ Trust ”.
Step 3. Click the iPhone icon in the upper left corner of the iTunes window
You'll find this button under the play/pause button, in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window.
Step 4. Click the Summary tab under “Settings”, on the left sidebar
It's at the top of the left navigation menu, below your iPhone's name and photo.
Step 5. Click the Back Up Now button in the “Backups” section
You can find this button under the heading " Manually Back Up and Restore " on the “Summary” page. A complete data backup of the iPhone will be saved to the computer afterwards.
