I'm trying to back up several iPhones to a Windows computer. My iPhone 13 Pro syncs normally, but my iPhone 16e won't connect through the Apple Devices app. I suspect the USB-C cable I'm using is either low quality or designed only for charging. I don't currently have an Apple-branded cable, so I'm wondering whether another backup program would work or whether I simply need a properly rated USB-C data cable.
1 Answer
You don’t need an Apple-branded cable for this. A reliable USB-C cable that supports data transfer—not just charging—should let the iPhone connect to the Apple Devices app and create a backup. Brands such as Anker or Belkin are commonly available options. The iPhone 13 Pro uses Lightning, while the 16e uses USB-C, so make sure the cable matches the phone and computer ports.
That likely explains the difference: the Lightning cables I have are Apple cables, while the USB-C cable I tried may only support charging.