I'm trying to back up several iPhones to a Windows computer. My iPhone 13 Pro syncs successfully, but my iPhone 16e does not. The 16e is connected with a generic USB-C cable, and I suspect it may only support charging rather than data transfer. I don't currently have an Apple-branded USB-C cable. Is there another app I can use instead of Apple Devices, or do I simply need a compatible third-party data cable?
2 Answers
The cable is probably the issue rather than the backup software. Lightning cables you already own may be genuine data cables, while the USB-C cable for the 16e may only provide power. Try a known-good USB-C data cable; Apple Devices should then be able to detect and back up the phone normally.
You don’t need an Apple-branded cable. A reputable USB-C cable from a company such as Anker or Belkin should work, as long as it supports data transfer and isn’t charging-only. The cable also needs to be connected directly to the computer, and you may need to unlock the phone and approve the trust prompt.
That would explain why the 13 Pro works while the 16e does not. The Lightning cables I have are Apple-branded, but the USB-C cable I used with the 16e was just a generic charging cable.