Can I create an iPhone backup without transferring photos?

Hi, everyone

can i make a backup for my new iphone, but i dont want transfer the photos, only apps, contacts

Please help!



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Backup

iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Jul 28, 2025 01:13 AM

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4 replies

Jul 28, 2025 01:44 AM in response to martina287

in case you’re talking iCloud backups:

If you use iCloud Photos, they will not be included in your backup as they are already saved on iCloud.

if you do not use iCloud Photos and don’t want them included in your backup anyway, you can customize what to back up to your cloud storage in settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> iCloud backup -> [Device in question]

Jul 28, 2025 11:58 AM in response to martina287

martina287 wrote: … But when i turn off photos, ask me to delete the photos, i dont want to delete it. I want the photos stay in old iphone and transfer only apps in the new iphone

It sounds like you have already turned on iCloud Photos, and you've chose to Optimize your Photos storage. Is that right?


If you use Optimize Storage with Photos, then space on the phone is saved by keeping the original photo files at iCloud, and only smaller pictures stay on the phone. If you turn off iCloud, then the smaller, screen-sized pictures that are kept locally will be deleted. They will still exist at iCloud.com, but they'll be erased from the phone.


If you have room on your phone to hold all the pictures, you can turn off Optimize, but it could take a long time to re-load all the pictures, and you're never sure when it's done. But the pictures can be saved from iCloud.com.


I would read this before going ahead:

How to turn off iCloud Photos - Apple Support


Can I create an iPhone backup without transferring photos?

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