Can I Back Up an iPhone to Windows Without an Apple-Branded Cable?
Asked by
MellowPine47
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?
Answers
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.
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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.
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MellowPine47: 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.