Now that iOS 26.1 is out, you may be more comfortable updating to Apple’s latest version iPhone operating system. Or maybe it’s time for a bigger upgrade to a new iPhone17iPhone Air or iPhone 17 Pro? Before you do, take some time to make sure you’ve made a good backup that you can fall back on in case something goes wrong.
However, I’m not talking about a regular backup. Hopefully, your Apple account settings are already configured to automatically back up the phone to iCloud, which is invaluable for everyday peace of mind. I’m talking about creating a archive This can save your skin in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with the iOS 26 update.
Watch this: iPhone Air Review: A Joy to Hold, at a Price
Why an archive is essential before installing a new version of iOS
You are probably used to using iCloud Backup to maintain a regular backup of your data. It works in the background (when you sleep and charge your device) and involves the least amount of backup friction, as long as you have sufficient iCloud storage. Go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn on Back up this iPhone if it is not already active.
However, when it comes to upgrading to a full version of iOS, like from iOS 18 to iOS 26, an iCloud backup introduces a problem: you can’t restore from that cloud backup if you go back to iOS 18. And unfortunately, iCloud only keeps the most recent backup – you can’t choose from previous backup iterations. If you try to use an iOS 26 cloud backup to restore to iOS 18, you will get an error. (Creating an archive is also an important step when you install beta versions of iOS.)
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 on a newer version of iOS.
Should the local backup be encrypted?
Before creating this archived backup, you need to decide if you want to enable any of the options, Encrypt local backup. For security reasons, this feature scrambles data to prevent anyone who has 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.
The downside is that it requires you to create a separate password for backup. If you forget or lose this password, the entire backup is useless. You should therefore write down this password in a place where you can easily recover it. In the context of creating an iOS 18 backup as a fallback for installing iOS 26, you will need to decide if this is an acceptable compromise.
Create a local iPhone archive on your Mac
Doing this type of backup only requires disk space and a little patience:
- Plug the iPhone into your Mac.
- Open a new Finder window (choose File > New Finder Windowor press Command-N).
- In the sidebar on the left, select your iPhone under Locations.
- If you want to encrypt the data, click the button Encrypt local backup check box and set a password.
- On the General tab, click Back up now.
- Once the backup is complete, click Manage backups.
- Right-click (or Ctrl-click) the backup you made and choose Archive.
Create an archive backup of a connected iPhone on the computer (MacOS shown here).
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 runs out of space.
Set the backup as an archive.
Create a local iPhone archive on Windows
The iTunes app remains the primary way to work with a connected iPhone in Windows. Open iTunes and do the following:
- Plug the iPhone into your Windows computer.
- Open it Apple devices application and click on the icon iPhone button at the top left.
- Click General.
- If you want to encrypt the data, click the button Encrypt local backup option and set a password.
- Click Back up now.
- Click Manage backups.
- Right-click on the backup you made and choose Archive. This extra step prevents the backup from being overwritten by the next local backup or automatically deleted if the computer runs out of space.
With an archive in place, you can start using the iOS 26 beta safe in the knowledge that if anything warrants a pullback to iOS 18, you can quickly get your iPhone back up and running.
To find out more, here your reminder to clear your iPhone cache. And if you’re upgrading to a new iPhone, here are the ways to transfer your data securely.
