Do iPhone backups include emails?

Answered by Willie Powers

When it comes to iPhone backups, it’s important to note that iCloud backups do not include certain types of data, including emails. This means that if you rely on iCloud backups to protect your iPhone data, you should be aware that your emails will not be included in these backups.

The reason for this is that iCloud backups are designed to primarily focus on preserving app data and settings, rather than storing large amounts of user-generated content. As a result, data that is already stored in iCloud, such as Contacts, Calendars, Notes, iCloud Photos, iMessages, Voice Memos, text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages, and Health data, is not included in iCloud backups.

Additionally, data stored in other cloud services, like Gmail and Exchange mail, is not included in iCloud backups. This means that if you primarily use these services for your email needs, your emails will not be backed up through iCloud.

However, it’s important to note that while iCloud backups do not include emails, Apple Mail data is actually an exception to this rule. If you use the Apple Mail app on your iPhone and have your email accounts set up within the app, the app’s data, including your emails, will be included in iCloud backups. So, if you rely on Apple Mail for your email needs, you can rest assured that your emails will be backed up through iCloud.

It’s worth mentioning that there are alternative ways to back up your emails, even if they are not included in iCloud backups. Many email providers offer their own backup solutions, allowing you to store your emails on their servers. Additionally, you can also use third-party email backup tools or manually export your emails to a local storage solution, such as your computer or an external hard drive.

While iCloud backups offer a convenient way to back up your iPhone data, it’s important to be aware that emails are not included in these backups. If preserving your emails is a priority, you should explore alternative backup methods provided by your email service or consider using third-party backup tools.