Before You Install iOS 18, Back Up Your iPhone the Right Way

Today is iOS 18 day. If you own an iPhone going all the way back to the iPhone XR, you can download and install iOS 18 today. That means before you install you want prepare your iPhone. And for that you need a good backup of your data.

Along with announcing the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models at its September event, Apple marked Sept. 16 -- Monday -- as the drop date for the release version of iOS 18. 

CNET© Provided by CNET

But you don't want just any backup -- you want a specific kind of backup that will make your life much easier in the unlikely event you need to return to iOS 17. With this solid backup in place, you will feel more secure when using new iOS 18 features such as text message improvements, enhancements in Apple Maps and mirroring your iPhone from a Mac in MacOS Sequoia. And here are seven iOS 18 settings you want to change as soon you can. 

Apple stopped including chargers with new iPhones a few revisions ago, which turned out to be an opportunity for us. Instead of adding another Apple charger to the pile, you can use one you already have.But why settle for the basic single-port adapter? This Anker Nano charger includes two USB-C ports that deliver 47 watts of power -- 27W from one and 20W from the other, enough to charge the iPhone via fast charging and an iPad or Apple Watch. Apple's basic, and larger, USB-C Power Adapter delivers just 20W. The Anker's prongs also flip down flush with the case for easier storage in a bag or purse.Yes, it's an extra $30 cost, but the dual ports, foldable prongs and higher-capacity output are worth it.

Juggling a phone in the car is not only dangerous but frustrating as hell. We're years into the smartphone era, and yet in most cars when you want to use your phone for driving directions, you end up dumping it in a cup holder. Not ideal.Instead, get the iOttie Auto Sense Qi Wireless Car Charger. This sturdy $42 phone mount clamps your iPhone in place and also charges it wirelessly with 7.5W of power. Position it at the best angle and lock it tight so even if Siri mysteriously takes you down an unpaved road, you'll still be able to see the map.

I love the basic concept behind MagSafe and Qi charging pads: You're bound to set your iPhone down on a surface, so why not pick up some battery power while it's there? For the price of Apple's basic $39 MagSafe Charger, you can pick up three $11 Anker 315 Wireless Charging Pads and put them wherever you tend to set your phone down, such as the bedroom, kitchen and living room table.It provides 10W of power, enough to fast-charge many devices, and a charging cable is included. You'll need to provide your own wall charger.

If you buy an iPhone 16 you'll need a new case. That's because the new Camera Control button on the side needs a cutout. We haven't had the chance to check out any iPhone 16 cases yet, but based on the ones we liked for the iPhone 15, here are a couple of iPhone 16 cases that should be good.Did you agonize over which iPhone 16 color to choose? Don't let your Apple device spend its days hidden under an opaque case. The $23 (minus a 5% discount via a clickable coupon) Spigen Ultra MagSafe Case shows off the iPhone's case color through its transparent durable material while also protecting the phone from dings and scrapes.

For when your iPhone 16 will have to navigate rougher environments -- even if that's just the kitchen or, well, anywhere gravity applies -- OtterBox has been the choice of cases that offer more protection. The $60 OtterBox Symmetry Series SoftTouch for MagSafe case includes bumpers around the cameras and corners as well as a MagSafe ring for easy charging and attaching other accessories.

The cable that comes with any iPhone is… well, let's just hope Apple is putting resources to better use elsewhere. Even with the iPhone Pro models, the cable is just 1 meter (about 3 feet) long.Save that one for emergencies and instead get this set of two Anker USB C Charger Cable 6-foot flexible braided charging cables on sale for just $10. Or for $13, spring for the bright red cables that are easier to spot when you're looking for a charge.

At its September event announcing the new iPhone 16, Apple did not release new versions of the AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds – and yet still managed to improve them.They're already top of class in noise cancellation and easy connectivity to all of your Apple devices. But coming this fall is a software update that will add hearing-health features such as automatic dampening of loud sounds and a new FDA-authorized hearing aid mode. AirPods Pro 2 are normally $250 but frequently drop to the sub-$200 range.

The MagSafe feature on the iPhone opens up true compact charging without the tangle of wires for those times when you need to top up the phone's battery on the go. The Anker 622 MagGo has proven itself as a reliable and easy to carry MagSafe charger that grips the back of an iPhone to charge. It's also frequently on sale for less than $35.A USB-C port is tucked into a corner for connecting non-MagSafe items like an Apple Watch charging cable. And above all that, the 622 MagGo can also double as a phone stand, strong enough to hold an iPhone 16 Pro Max in landscape orientation for Standby mode.

If there's one criticism I have of Apple AirTags it's that they're smooth little pucks. That's fine for stashing in a purse pocket but impractical for attaching to a keyring or dog collar.That's why you'll also want to pick up some AirTag holders, such as Belkin's $10 no-frills Apple AirTag Secure Holder or Apple's own AirTag Leather Key Ring. I've used the Belkin holder on my keys since the first batch of AirTags shipped and had no problems.

Why an archive is essential before installing a new version of iOS

You're probably accustomed to using iCloud Backup to maintain a regular fallback for your data. It works in the background (when you're asleep and charging your device) and involves the least amount of backup friction, as long as you have sufficient iCloud disk space available. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn on Back Up This iPhone if it's not already active.

www.expedia.comWashington Pet-Friendly Hotels

Ad

However, when it comes to moving to a full release version of iOS, such as from iOS 17 to iOS 18, an iCloud Backup introduces a problem: You cannot restore from that cloud backup if you revert back to iOS 17. And unfortunately, iCloud keeps just the most recent backup -- you can't pick and choose from previous backup iterations. If you try to use an iOS 18 cloud backup to restore back to iOS 17, you'll get an error. (Making an archive is also an important step when you install iOS betas.)

This is why you need to archive a backup on your computer.

iOS warns you if you try to restore from an iCloud backup made under the iOS beta. Jeff Carlson/CNET© Provided by CNET

Should you encrypt the local backup?

Before you create this archived backup, you should decide if you want to enable one of the options, Encrypt local backup. For security, this feature scrambles the data to prevent someone with access to your computer from accessing it. This option also preserves sensitive information in the backup such as saved passwords and personal data in the Health and Fitness apps.

Related video: Apple's iOS 18 improves messaging between Android, new iMessage features and customization (USA TODAY)

I'm Cody, and on this episode of Problem Solved, we're

Loaded: 3.52%

Play

Current Time 0:00

/

Duration 5:40

Quality Settings

Captions

Fullscreen

USA TODAY

Apple's iOS 18 improves messaging between Android, new iMessage features and customization

Unmute

0

View on Watch

The downside is that it requires you to create a separate password for the backup. If you forget or lose that password, the entire backup is useless. And so you should write this password down somewhere you can easily retrieve it. In the context of creating an iOS 17 backup as a fallback for installing the iOS 18 beta, you'll have to decide if that's an acceptable trade-off. 

Create a local iPhone archive on your Mac

Making this type of backup requires only disk space and some patience:

1. Plug the iPhone into your Mac.
2. Open a new Finder window (choose File > New Finder Window, or press Command-N).
3. In the sidebar at left, select your iPhone under Locations.
4. If you want to encrypt the data, click the Encrypt local backup checkbox and set a password. 
5. In the General tab, click Back Up Now.
6. Click Manage Backups.
7. Right-click (or Control-click) the backup you made and choose Archive. 

Create an archive backup of a connected iPhone on the computer (MacOS shown here). Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET© Provided by CNET

Taking the extra step of marking the backup as an archive protects it from being overwritten by the next local backup or automatically deleted if the Mac is low on space.

Set the backup as an archive. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET© Provided by CNET

Create a local iPhone archive on Windows

The iTunes app is still the main conduit for working with a connected iPhone under Windows. Open iTunes and do the following:

1. Plug the iPhone into your Windows computer.
2. In iTunes, click the iPhone button at the top left.
3. Click Summary.
4. If you want to encrypt the data, click the Encrypt local backup option and set a password.
5. Click Back Up Now.
6. Click Manage Backups.
7. Right-click the backup you made and choose Archive. Taking this extra step protects the backup from being overwritten by the next local backup or automatically deleted if the computer is low on space.

With an archive in place, you can start using the iOS 18 beta secure in the knowledge that should anything warrant a retreat to iOS 17, you can quickly get your iPhone back into service.