What is the difference between apple id and icloud. Difference between iCloud and iTunes backups

Once upon a time, one of the main drawbacks of the iPad (and the iPhone) was the need to connect it to your computer using a cord and back it up through the iTunes app. Starting with iOS 5, this need began to disappear. After all, now you can make a backup copy directly to the cloud. At the same time, the ability to make a backup copy via a computer the old-fashioned way remains.

I'm sure many users don't realize the difference between an iTunes backup and an iCloud backup. In this article I will popularly explain what it consists of.

Backup to iCloud

Apple provides each user with 5 gigabytes of cloud storage for free. To create backups to iCloud, you need to enable them through the settings:

Settings->iCloud->Backup->iCloud Backup

In the future, to create a copy you need to:

• or immediately click the “Create backup” button
• or connect the iPad to a power source (Wi-Fi must be connected and the iPad must be locked). Backups will be created automatically.

What is saved in iCloud backup?

• Purchase history (music, movies, apps, books) from the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store
• Photos and videos. If you have iCloud Photo Library enabled, photos and videos will not be uploaded to the cloud again
• Settings
• Application data
• Screen view and application layout
• iMessages, SMS
• Ringtones
• Medical data from the Health application and HomeKit configuration (smart home)

And now I’ll explain the nuances in simple language. This you need to know and understand:

a) When restoring from an iCloud backup, all the above data will be restored automatically. But purchased (officially downloaded) media content will be re-downloaded from the appropriate stores: applications from the App Store, music and videos from the iTunes Store, books from the iBooks Store.

That is, if an iCloud backup takes 3 gigabytes, this does not mean that the restoration will take 3 gigabytes of traffic. No, essentially you will re-download the amount of information that you had on your iPad.

b) 5 gigabytes of free space in the cloud is only enough for the first time and if you have one device linked to an Apple ID. If there are several such devices, then you will have to buy additional space in iCloud.

c) iCloud backups are subject to mandatory encryption. That is, it is understood that no one except you (not even Apple) can access the backup data.

d) You can restore a copy from anywhere if you have Wi-Fi. This does not require a computer.

e) Other data like Notes, Contacts, etc. are also saved in iCloud (not in a backup), only this is set separately in the iOS settings.

Also not saved in the backup:

• data stored in other cloud services. For example, Gmail.
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Touch ID settings
• content and data about it that you did not download from official stores. For example, pirated mp3 files.

iTunes Backup

To create a backup in iTunes, it is advisable (not necessary, but I recommend) to connect the iPad/iPhone to the computer via a wire. Turn on iTunes->Find device->Go to Browse->In the Backups section, click “This PC”. Then click “Create a copy now.”

Unlike your iCloud backup, your iTunes backup on your computer is not encrypted by default. To set a password for the backup, you must check the “Encrypt local copy” checkbox before creating the copy. This must be done if you are not sure that the data on your computer is sufficiently secure.

For example, several people use a computer. If you don’t encrypt it, then theoretically anyone can use special programs to read, for example, your SMS or application data.

The iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch backup is saved to the main drive in the system by default. It is possible to change the default drive and even write a backup to an external drive.

You can only create a backup via iTunes on OS X and Windows operating systems. Owners of alternatives like Linux are apparently forced to make copies in iCloud.

The backup copy includes almost all data and settings iOS devices except:

• photos and videos in iCloud Photo Library or Photo Stream
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Touch ID settings

The following types of data are backed up: if you are using encryption, which I wrote about just above:

• Wi-Fi Settings
• Saved passwords in keychain
• Medical data
• Website History in Safari

Apps from the App Store, Music and Movies and the iTunes Store, Books from the iBooks Store don't hit to a backup copy and in case of using iTunes. But unlike iCloud, here you can essentially backup them by synchronizing them.

What to choose?

Which backup method is preferable? In my opinion, the best option is to use both types of backup whenever possible.

A copy in iCloud allows you to rest assured that your current settings are safe. If everything works fine, then during each charge your iPad/iPhone/iPod will self-save. No connection to a computer is required.

On the other hand, iCloud backup is critical to Internet use. If you have slow internet (and this is the norm in small towns or villages), then I would recommend making backups through iTunes. And even with a fast Internet connection, restoring from a backup can take hours.

Also, a local backup is not limited by anything - only free space on your computer's disk, and an iCloud copy requires a monthly subscription. For 5 gigabytes for backup, iTunes library, etc. – it’s not serious. Especially if you have two or more devices.

Another advantage of an iTunes backup along with synchronization is that it allows you to save different versions of applications. There was an unsuccessful application update in the App Store, but you have an older version on your computer. They took it and rolled away. Or you accidentally deleted some important Contacts - they were already synchronized with iCloud. You can dig into your iTunes backup and restore it.

Apple has created quite a few branded services for iPhone users, which are successful to varying degrees - some are popular, some are not so popular. iCloud cloud storage definitely falls into the first category. However, there are users who do not understand what iCloud is and how to use it. It’s a pity, because this service contains a lot of useful options.

In this article we will talk about the functionality of the service and its subtleties.

Today, users store a lot of useful and important information in smartphones and, having lost the device, the owner often regrets more not so much about the material damage as about the lost data. This state of affairs forced IT companies to come up with cloud services. In the cloud, the user can store a backup copy of important data and, if the gadget is lost, restore the necessary information on another device.

iCloud is one of the cloud storage services that is available by default to all iOS users. Having purchased an iOS device of any model - iPhone 4 or iPhone 6 S, iPad Mini 1 or iPad Pro, etc., the user automatically receives 5 GB in the cloud (more space for an additional fee).

Physically, the “cloud” represents the company’s remote servers; in other words, it is a huge hard drive owned by Apple, on which the company shares space with each user.

Synchronization or backup

iCloud has two main functions - sync and backup. Don't you see the difference between these two concepts? And it is significant. Let's take it in order.

Backup

A backup can be created automatically or manually. In the first case, copying is performed whenever the device is charging and connected to a Wi-Fi network. In the second, the user decides when to make a backup. To create a copy:

That's it! Pretty simple, right? Now, if automatic backup is configured, you can never return to this menu, but if manual mode is selected, periodically go to the section and click “Create a backup copy”.

The iCloud backup saves almost all types of information that is on the iPhone, that is, both useful data, such as phone book contacts, and not so useful data, for example, some messages from Whats App and other instant messengers, can go there. Of course, if you bought additional space in the cloud and you have much more than 5 GB there, such waste is not very worrying, but if we are talking about 5 GB, the approach of storing everything at once does not seem very reasonable.

Synchronization

This is where synchronization comes to the rescue. If you return to the iCloud menu, to the level where the “Backup” item is located, you will see a bunch of other items, opposite each of which there will be a slider.

If the slider is active, synchronization with the cloud is automatically performed. For example, if the slider next to the “Contacts” item is green, then all phone book numbers are synchronized with the “cloud” via the Apple ID, which is registered in this iPhone. This means the following - if you lose this iPhone, buy a new one and register your old Apple ID in it, you will find all the contacts from the lost device, even if during the initial setup of the device you selected not “Restore from backup”, but “Set up as new” "

So, in essence, backup and sync are capabilities that give the user about the same practical outcome - the data is attached to the Apple ID and is easily restored. But! Synchronization can be controlled by turning on and off the corresponding sliders, rationally using space in the cloud.

Find My iPhone and iCloud Drive

We said a little higher that iCloud has two main options and looked at them. However, the service also has additional functionality. It's quite broad, but as part of this introductory article, it's important to mention two specific options.

Find iPhone

With Find My iPhone, Apple has implemented anti-theft protection. At some point, iPhones began to be stolen so often that it was simply impossible to sit idly by. And then “Find iPhone” appeared. If you turn it on, the so-called Activation Lock is activated. Every time after an update/restore/reset, an iPhone with Activation Lock enabled will prompt you for your Apple ID password.

What does this give? Look, a thief has stolen your device. The first thing he does, of course, is reset the information, because he won’t be able to sell a smartphone with someone else’s data. And after the reset, a surprise awaits him - a request for Apple ID parameters, which cannot be bypassed without knowing the login and password of this account. What remains? Only return the device for spare parts or return it to the user for a fee.

You can also activate Lost Mode using Find My iPhone. To do this you need:

When Lost Mode is activated, the iPhone is locked and a message from the user is displayed on the lock screen.

Another fun option is “Find iPhone”, which will certainly appeal to forgetful people. Next to the “Lost Mode” button, there is a “Play Sound” button; click on it if you don’t remember where you put your smartphone. And even if it is on silent mode, a loud beep will sound.

To enable “Find iPhone”, go to the iCloud menu, find the “Find iPhone” item, tap it and activate the slider of the same name in the menu that opens. This option activation method is relevant for all iPhone models - both the old 4 S and the new 6 S and “sevens”.

iCloud Drive

And finally, let's talk about the iCloud Drive option. In general, it’s easier to say that this is not an option, but an application; it is simply configured through the main iCloud menu.

The iCloud Drive application is pre-installed on iPhones with iOS 9 and later versions of the platform. This is, in fact, DropBox from Apple, or if you are not familiar with DropBox, it is a kind of file manager. Documents can be uploaded here manually, or you can configure automatic transfer - to do this, in the iCloud menu, move the corresponding sliders under the iCloud Drive item to the active position.

Unfortunately, not all users understand why iCloud Drive is needed on an iPhone and what to do with it. In our opinion, the easiest way to understand is with an example.

Let's say you started working on a file on your iPhone, but want to continue on your computer or iPad - you simply drop the document into iCloud Drive on your smartphone, then open this application on the device from which you want to continue working, and... actually, continue!

Moreover, directly from iCloud Drive you can download a document in the desired program. That is, if a file supports, say, working with six programs that are installed on a PC or iOS mobile gadget, you can click on the file and hold your finger on it to select the one you need from all six programs.

Let's summarize

iCloud is a very cool and useful service, and its functionality, of course, goes far beyond the scope of this article. However, now you know at least approximately what iCloud is on an iPhone and, for sure, you have a desire to get to know the service better. Detailed instructions and assistance in managing the service can be obtained on the official Apple website, by reading the relevant sections or by contacting the company’s support service.

We are starting a series of articles about Apple services. And the very first we will look at services such as Apple ID and iCloud.

What is this?! Apple ID is a user's personal account. Using one account you will have access to all services on all your devices. To create an Apple ID, you need a valid gmail.com email address and a strong password consisting of at least one uppercase letter, an uppercase letter and a number. There must be at least eight characters. You will also need three answers to security questions that are needed to confirm your identity and reset your password. You can also create one when you set up a new Apple device or when you sign in to iCloud or iTunes for the first time.

Don't forget to add a backup email address and confirm it after registration, it will make it easier to restore your data if you suddenly forget it. When creating an Apple ID, you will be asked to enter a bank card, which you can use to pay for applications in the App Store or to use Apple Music, as well as purchase additional space in iCloud. If you don’t want to link a card, there is one trick. Before creating an Apple ID, you need to select any free application in the AppStore and click download it, then click the Create Apple ID button. Only in this sequence will Apple give you the opportunity not to enter your bank card. If you nevertheless decide to take advantage of all the benefits of Apple ID and are going to link your bank card, then know that it must be registered and issued in the country in which you register your Apple ID.

Let's get to the heart of the matter.

1. If you don’t have a gmail.com email, then create one using the link.

2. Go to the App Store. If you decide not to link a bank card, then select any FREE application and click Get. Then create an Apple ID.

And if you want to make purchases and enjoy all the benefits of Apple services, you can immediately (without selecting a free application) click create an Apple ID.

3. Then you need to enter your email, a strong password (the password must contain at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, numbers and at least 8 characters)

It is advisable to enter an additional email; it will help in restoring your Apple ID.

4. If you chose the method of creating without linking a card, then the following menu will appear in front of you.

Everything is simple here, fill out and click Crete Apple ID.

For those who decide to link a card, you will need to select the type of payment system (the card must be personalized and from the country you indicate). You will need to enter your card details in the appropriate field.

6. Now go to iCloud and enter your data.

What is iCloud? This is a way to combine all the files from your devices in one place. You can access photos, videos, contacts and other files from anywhere and from any gadget. And for example, if your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can easily track the phone, block or display any message. And purchases made on iTunes will be available on all devices. Up to six people can share files. Which will be very convenient for family use. You will always know the location of your children.

In subsequent reviews we will tell you in more detail about the functions and capabilities of Apple services.

If you do not unlink the iPhone from the previous owner's iCloud account, then at one point the iPhone may be locked and you will no longer be able to use it. This can happen, for example, after updating iOS. After installing a new version of the operating system, you may see the message “ Activate iPhone. This iPhone is currently linked to an Apple ID ( [email protected]). Sign in with the Apple ID that was used to set up this iPhone." or "Activation Lock". iCloud blocking occurs on the Apple server. Therefore, neither resetting nor flashing the iPhone will unlock the iPhone.

The main thing you need to understand in this matter is that if the iPhone is linked to iCloud and you do not know the login and password for the account, then you will not be able to use it for a long time. The solution is to unlink the iPhone from the Apple ID of the current owner when purchasing it in person before payment.

The methods for deleting a previous user's account described in these instructions are legal. They do not exploit any iCloud or iOS vulnerabilities and do not hack anything. Naturally, you shouldn’t expect miracles from them. If you have an iPhone of unknown origin in your hands without a box and a receipt that requires you to enter the Apple ID with which it was originally activated, you will not succeed. This is precisely why the binding exists - so that if the device is stolen or lost, it will be impossible to use it.

Lost iPhones and unscrupulous sellers

There are also many cases when an unscrupulous owner sells an iPhone, deliberately leaving his Apple ID on it, and after receiving the money, after some time he blocks it and requires you to pay additional money for unlocking. Then you will see a message "This iPhone is lost" or "Missing iPhone". There is no way you can unlock such a phone. Therefore, if you bought such an iPhone, demand a refund from the seller and warn that you will write a statement to the police about fraud. (Well, if you find a really lost device, be sure to return the phone to the owner).

There are many advertisements on the Internet where they promise to unlock any iPhone for money. Don't mess with things like that. In the worst case, they will simply deceive you and won’t unlock anything, and in the best case, they will ask for a copy of the receipt, a photo of the box, serial number and other information to request from Apple, but you can do this procedure yourself - it is described below in the article. The main thing is that you have all these things available.

How to check if iPhone is linked to iCloud account using Apple ID or not

Step 1. Take your iPhone in your hands and press the Home key. If it asks you to enter your Apple ID and password or log in using Touch ID, it means it is not unlinked from your iCloud account and you cannot buy the device in this state:

If you come across instructions on the Internet about checking activation at icloud.com/activationlock, then you should know that Apple has closed this service and it doesn't work anymore:

Step 2: Clean your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase content and settings > Erase > Enter passcode, tap Erase iPhone (twice) > Enter iCloud password.

Naturally, you must first obtain the seller’s consent to this (and at the same time look at his reaction). After cleaning, go to your iPhone settings. Instead of the owner's name, you should see a prompt to sign in to iCloud.

How to unlink an iPhone from the previous owner's iCloud account

After you have checked the phone, you are satisfied with its condition and you want to purchase it in person, ask the owner to unlink the device from the current account using any of the methods described below.

Method 1: Unlink iPhone from Apple ID using a computer.

If the iPhone is not connected at the moment and the system cannot detect it, you can also click All devices and on the cross opposite the iPhone that you want to unlink from your Apple ID, and then confirm the deletion in the pop-up window:

As you can see, the warning says exactly what we need at the moment - deletion means unbinding the gadget from the current Apple ID so that this iPhone can be activated and used by another user with their iCloud account.

Method 2: remove the device from iCloud on the iPhone itself.

If everything went without errors, this means that you were able to successfully unlink your iPhone from your old iCloud account.

How to remove the old owner's Apple ID - sending an unlock request to Apple

This method allows you to unlock your iPhone if you have forgotten your login (email) and iCloud password, or you have purchased a device that requires you to enter someone else’s Apple ID, but you can confirm your legal ownership of the phone. This way you can unlock iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple TV. You will need:

1. Photo copy of the purchase receipt. It must indicate the address of the store where the iPhone was purchased and the serial number of the device. If the serial number is not printed on the receipt, write it by hand below S/N: 123456789XYZ and take a photo. A receipt is the most important argument when contacting Apple.
2. Photo of the back wall of the iPhone (without the case, of course).
3. Photo of the tray with serial number and IMEI.
4. Pack all photos into a zip archive.
5. Try to remember the last name, first name and security questions that you specified when creating your iCloud account. If this is real, it will be a big plus. If the account is not yours, skip this point.
6. If you don't have an Apple ID, create one.

It’s better to create all these things in advance, before contacting support, so that everything goes faster and easier. Otherwise, you will have to call back and explain to the new employee each time what you are trying to do and what stage you are at now.

Now you need to contact Apple support directly. There you will be asked for everything that I described above: a photo of the receipt with the serial number, a photo of the box. You will dictate your email, to which you currently have access, and they will send you a link to download files with photos of the receipt and other evidence of iPhone ownership. In this case, you will need to log in using your Apple ID. That's why you created it - so you don't get stuck at this step. In Russia, support number for unlocking iPhone: 88005556734

What happens in this case

If the information you provide is satisfactory to Apple and they believe that you are the legitimate owner of the iPhone rather than the other way around, they will contact the store listed on your receipt and verify the purchase. If the store confirms that the iPhone with the specified serial number was indeed purchased from them, Apple will most likely unlock your device and you will be able to sign in with your new iCloud account. The name of the seller matters here. The more reliable and respectable the organization that once sold this iPhone, the more likely it is that Apple will receive a response on time. And this influences the positive outcome of the issue. Let's say, it would be better if the phone was bought in the DNS trading network rather than from the individual entrepreneur Vasya Pupkin.

Important! After you delete your iCloud account, be sure to check again to see if your iPhone is unlinked. Once cleared, it should not ask for a passcode, Touch ID fingerprint, or require you to enter the old owner's Apple ID.