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If your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch runs iOS 8 or earlier, make a computer backup now. Apple’s cutoff was 18 December 2024: from that date, new device backups require iOS 9 or later. Devices that cannot update can still retain their existing apps, data and content, but they must be backed up locally with Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes rather than relying on iCloud Backup.
What changed on 18 December 2024?
Apple Support states that, starting on 18 December 2024, device backups require iOS 9 or later. An iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on iOS 5 through iOS 8 cannot create a new iCloud backup after that date. Apple also says existing backups become inaccessible unless the device is updated.
This cutoff affects the backup service, not the files already stored on the hardware. Apple’s published wording is: “All apps, data and content on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch remain on your device.” You can continue using the device while arranging a local backup, but do not erase it, sign out of accounts or replace it until you have a copy you can verify.
Check the device’s software version first
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then About.
- Read the value beside Software Version (or iOS Version on some older releases).
Write down the model and version before choosing a backup method. The version determines whether updating can restore iCloud Backup or whether you need a computer immediately.
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Can the device update to iOS 9 or later?
Apple lists these minimum hardware generations for iOS 9 or later:
| Device family | Minimum model Apple lists | What that means for backup |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 4S or later | Eligible to update to iOS 9 or later and continue using iCloud Backup, provided the update is available for that device. |
| iPad | iPad 2 or later | Eligible to update to iOS 9 or later and continue using iCloud Backup, provided the update is available for that device. |
| iPod touch | 5th generation or later | Eligible to update to iOS 9 or later and continue using iCloud Backup, provided the update is available for that device. |
These are Apple’s model-generation thresholds for the cutoff. They do not mean every device can run the newest iOS release available in 2026; they mean the listed generations can reach iOS 9 or later. If Software Update offers no compatible update, treat the device as unable to meet the requirement and create a local backup.
If the device is eligible, update before relying on iCloud
- Connect the device to power and a trusted Wi-Fi network.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an iOS 9-or-later update is offered, review the prompts and choose Download and Install.
- Keep the device connected to power until installation finishes and it returns to the Home screen.
- Return to Settings > General > About and confirm the new software version.
After the update, open Settings, select your Apple Account area, choose iCloud, then iCloud Backup and start a backup if the option is available. Wait for it to complete before treating the device as protected. If the update fails, is not offered, or the device remains below iOS 9, use the local procedure below instead of repeatedly attempting iCloud.
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If the device cannot update, make a local backup now
Apple’s fallback is a manual backup through Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes. This creates a copy on a computer you control and avoids the iOS-version requirement for new iCloud device backups. Use a compatible USB data cable: older devices generally use Lightning, while some later models use USB-C. A charging-only cable cannot complete a data backup.
macOS Catalina or later: Finder
- Connect the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to the Mac with a USB data cable.
- Open Finder.
- In the Finder sidebar, select the connected device. If a trust prompt appears on the device, follow the prompt so the Mac can communicate with it.
- Choose the General tab.
- Select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac. The wording is similar for an iPad or iPod touch.
- For a password-protected backup, select Encrypt local backup and create a password. Record that password in a secure password manager or another protected place.
- Click Back Up Now and leave the cable connected until the process completes.
Finder should show the latest backup information in the device’s General view. Do not disconnect as soon as the progress indicator appears; wait until the operation has finished and the device pane shows a current backup date.
Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier: Apple Devices or iTunes
- Connect the device to the computer with a USB data cable.
- On Windows, open Apple Devices if it is installed; on an older Mac, open iTunes.
- Select the device when it appears.
- Choose Summary.
- Click Back Up Now.
- If you need a password-protected copy, enable encrypted backup and set a password when prompted.
- Keep the device connected until the software reports completion.
Use the backup details shown in the device window to confirm that the date and size changed after this run. A recent timestamp and a nonzero size are useful checks that the computer created a new copy rather than merely displaying an older one.
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Should you encrypt the local backup?
Encryption adds password protection to the computer backup. Choose it when the backup will be stored on a shared, portable or otherwise less-trusted computer, or when you want stronger control over who can restore it.
Set the password during the Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes backup process and store it separately from the computer. Apple’s Restore Backup process can request this password. Without the password, a replacement-device setup may stop when it reaches the encrypted backup.
Encryption is optional. If your priority is making a recoverable copy quickly and you cannot safely retain another password, create the local backup without encryption, then protect the computer account and make an additional archive copy. Do not enable encryption casually and assume the password can be reconstructed later.
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iCloud versus a computer backup
Both methods preserve a recovery point, but they suit different situations. The table uses only distinctions established by Apple’s instructions; no fixed storage allowance or transfer speed is implied.
| Consideration | iCloud Backup after updating | Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes |
|---|---|---|
| Internet dependence | Requires the device to reach iCloud over the internet. | The backup is made over the USB connection to the computer; internet access is not required for the copy itself. |
| Available storage | Uses the iCloud storage available to the account; Apple’s cutoff notice does not state an amount here. | Uses free storage on the computer. The required capacity depends on the data selected for backup. |
| Computer required | No computer is needed when the compatible device can complete iCloud Backup. | Yes. Use a Mac with Finder, or Windows/older macOS with Apple Devices or iTunes. |
| Password control | Managed through the Apple Account and iCloud settings. | Local encryption is optional and lets you set a backup password. |
| Moving to a replacement | Choose the iCloud backup during setup and keep the replacement on Wi-Fi and power while iCloud content downloads. | Connect the replacement to the computer and choose the stored backup by date and size; enter the encryption password if requested. |
Verify a local backup before you erase or replace anything
- Reconnect the original device to the same computer if necessary.
- Open its backup view in Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes.
- Check that the latest backup date and time correspond to the run you just completed.
- Check the displayed backup size and make sure it is not an empty or obviously old entry.
- If you enabled encryption, confirm that your password is stored safely without typing it into an untrusted note or sending it by email.
- Keep the original device intact until the backup has passed these checks.
For particularly important material, preserve a second copy of the computer backup or of irreplaceable files on a separate storage device. This is an additional archive, not a replacement for Apple’s documented Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes backup procedure. Disconnect the archive drive after copying so a mistake or drive failure cannot affect both copies at once.
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When setting up a replacement iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, Apple’s documented path is Restore Backup. The exact source depends on where you made the backup.
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Restoring a computer backup
- Connect the replacement device to the computer that holds the backup.
- Open Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes and select the replacement device.
- Choose Restore Backup.
- Select the backup with the correct date and size.
- Enter the encryption password if the selected backup is encrypted.
- Keep the device connected until the restore finishes.
Completing iCloud content after the restore
Keep the replacement device connected to Wi-Fi and power after setup. Apple notes that iCloud content may continue downloading after the initial restore, so apps and other cloud-synced material may not appear immediately.
Troubleshooting an older device backup
iCloud Backup is unavailable or an old backup cannot be opened
First check the software version. If it is iOS 5, 6, 7 or 8, the 18 December 2024 requirement applies. Do not keep trying to create a new iCloud backup on that installation; update to iOS 9 or later when Apple offers a compatible update, or make the local computer backup.
The device is not listed in Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes
- Confirm that the cable carries data and is firmly connected at both ends.
- Unlock the device and respond to any trust or permission prompt shown on its screen.
- Quit and reopen Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes, then reconnect the device.
- Try another compatible USB port or a known-good data cable.
- If the device still cannot communicate, prioritize copying irreplaceable files manually while it remains usable and seek service before erasing it.
The backup appears to be old
Run Back Up Now again and wait for completion. Then inspect the displayed date and size. If they do not change, stop deleting data and check the computer’s free storage, the cable connection and whether the device remains unlocked for the trust prompt.
You enabled encryption and are asked for a password
Enter the password created when encrypted backup was enabled. Apple’s restore procedure specifically warns that the password may be requested. Keep the password with your other recovery information rather than on the device being replaced.
The device has no compatible update
That is a hardware or software-generation limit, not proof that the data is gone. Leave the device intact, create the local backup through the platform-specific steps, verify its date and size, and preserve an additional archive where practical.
A practical checklist for the final backup
- Record the model and software version in Settings > General > About.
- Determine whether the model meets Apple’s iOS 9 threshold: iPhone 4S or later, iPad 2 or later, or iPod touch (5th generation) or later.
- If an update is offered, install it on power and Wi-Fi, then confirm the new version.
- If no compatible update is offered, connect the device to a Mac or Windows computer immediately.
- Use Finder on macOS Catalina or later; use Apple Devices on Windows or iTunes on older macOS.
- Select Back Up Now and leave the cable connected until completion.
- Choose Encrypt local backup only when you can store and retrieve its password securely.
- Verify the newest backup’s date and size.
- Make a separate archive copy for irreplaceable material when possible.
- When transferring to a replacement, choose Restore Backup, select by date and size, enter the encryption password if asked, and keep the replacement on Wi-Fi and power.
What “support ending” does—and does not—mean here
In this Apple notice, “support ending” refers specifically to creating and accessing device backups through the affected iCloud workflow. It does not automatically erase the device or remove its apps, data and content. The safe response is to identify the iOS version, update when the hardware is eligible, and otherwise create and verify a local backup before making any change that could put the original data at risk.
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