Resolved How do you back up your iPhone to iTunes?

First, iCloud certainly does not cause issues. Works perfectly for both my iPhone and iPad.

Second, is backup enabled in preferences?

Fatalbert said:

In the iTunes preferences? I don't see any setting for backup. There's just the iCloud backup settings on the iPhone.

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Yes there are. I'm not near any computer with iTunes on it at the moment but I remember it was one of the tabs on the right side.

How do you back up your iPhone to iTunes?

Here's the article to explain how to back up your device via iTunes or iCloud:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US


This is what iTunes backs up:


Contacts* and Contact Favorites (regularly sync contacts to a computer or cloud service such as iCloud to back them up).
App Store Application data including in-app purchases (except the Application itself, its tmp and Caches folder).
Application settings, preferences, and data, including documents.
Autofill for webpages.
CalDAV and subscribed calendar accounts.
Calendar accounts.
Calendar events.
Call history.
Camera Roll (Photos, screenshots, images saved, and videos taken. Videos greater than 2 GB are backed up with iOS 4.0 and later.)
Note: For devices without a camera, Camera Roll is called Saved Photos.
Game Center account.
Home screen arrangement.
In-app purchases.
Keychain (this includes email account passwords, Wi-Fi passwords, and passwords you enter into websites and some other applications. If you encrypt the backup with iOS 4 and later, you can transfer the keychain information to the new device. With an unencrypted backup, you can restore the keychain only to the same iOS device. If you are restoring to a new device with an unencrypted backup, you will need to enter these passwords again.)
List of External Sync Sources (MobileMe, Exchange ActiveSync).
Location service preferences for apps and websites you have allowed to use your location.
Mail accounts (mail messages are not backed up).
Installed Profiles. When restoring a backup to a different device, installed configuration profiles are not restored (such as accounts, restrictions, or anything which can be specified through an installed profile.) Any accounts or settings that are not associated with an installed profile will still be restored.
Map bookmarks, recent searches, and the current location displayed in Maps.
Microsoft Exchange account configurations.
Network settings (saved Wi-Fi hotspots, VPN settings, network preferences).
Nike + iPod saved workouts and settings.
Notes.
Offline web application cache/database.
Paired Bluetooth devices (which can only be used if restored to the same phone that did the backup).
Safari bookmarks, cookies, history, offline data, and currently open pages.
Saved suggestion corrections (these are saved automatically as you reject suggested corrections).
Messages (iMessage and carrier SMS or MMS pictures and videos).
Trusted hosts that have certificates that cannot be verified.
Voice memos.
Voicemail token. (This is not the voicemail password, but is used for validation when connecting. This is only restored to a phone with the same phone number on the SIM card).
Wallpapers.
Web clips.
YouTube bookmarks and history.
* Your contacts are part of the backup to preserve recent calls and favorites lists. Back up your contacts to a supported personal information manager (PIM), iCloud, or another cloud-based service to avoid any potential contact data loss.



This is what iCloud backs up :

You get unlimited free storage for:

Purchased music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books
Notes: Backup of purchased music is not available in all countries. Backups of purchased movies and TV shows are U.S. only. Previous purchases may not be restored if they are no longer in the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBookstore.

Some previously purchased movies may not be available in iTunes in the Cloud. These movies will indicate that they are not available in iTunes in the Cloud on their product details page in the iTunes Store. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they have been refunded or are no longer available in the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBookstore.

You get 5 GB of free iCloud storage for:

Photos and videos in the Camera Roll
Device settings (for example: Phone Favorites, Wallpaper, and Mail, Contacts, Calendar accounts)
App data
Home screen and app organization
Messages (iMessage, SMS, and MMS)
Ringtones
Visual Voicemails

iCloud does not cause problems at all use it with both my iPad and iPhone. Is your phone plugged into the computer via USB?

1) Connect your iPhone to your computer with iTunes open.

2) On the left sidebar your phone will show up (if you have the sidebar disabled, go to the top menu bar: View—>Show Sidebar).

3) Right click on your device and select 'Backup to iTunes;' please note this will also transfer any purchases from your iPhone to your computer so make sure you have sufficient free space.

4) You'll see the progress bar either in the top window (where it shows your next song, etc.) or in a separate dialog box.

5) Click the disconnect symbol next to the device name on the sidebar to disconnect your iPhone when the process is completed.

6) Repeat this process when needed. The following backups will be incremental.

Fatalbert said:

Am I using some weird version of iTunes? This is all I get in iTunes 11.0.1:
Image
No option to back up.

Click to expand...

On your phone, do you have Restrictions set (it's an option in General—>Restrictions)?

After you pick "this computer", what happens when you hit sync?

Fatalbert said:

Yes, but disabling them did not change anything. I also used to not have them, and I still couldn't back up. I have them enabled to prevent Game Center from doing stuff and to make sure nobody can turn off Find My iPhone.

Click to expand...

Could as simple as what eastercat said.

Otherwise, do you have email accounts or configuration profiles that have set restrictions on this?

When you plug your phone into computer, does it even show it in itunes?