I back up my iPhone 14+ to my iMac.

[Whoopie]

It used ti be that I backed up once by a cable connecting the devices. Then there was a setting to back up by wifi. Now that wifi backup has not been happening. There is not a choice to do that and itI backed up again via a cable, but I miss the auto backup each night via my wifi. Why did this change? How can I make it occur? Before being asked, I back up my iPad to iCloud. I just have the free iCloud and prefer not to pay for more and there isn't enough space for the phone. My computer files are backed up to Dropbox.

 

[IWT]

How old is the iMac and what is the current Operating System (OS) on that Mac?

This could explain the change - at least you do have a Backup (BU) option via Cable for now.

And I presume your iPhone 14 has the latest OS?

Ian

 

[Whoopie]

I got the first M1 iMac when it came out. Both devices are at the latest update. There is plenty of unused storage room on the iMac too

 

[IWT]

Thank you for that.

Okay, here are some ways:

Back up and restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your Mac or to iCloud

On your Mac, back up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your Mac or iCloud and restore your device if needed.

support.apple.com

Sync content between your Mac and iPhone, iPad or iPod touch over Wi-Fi

On your Mac, sync content with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch over Wi-Fi.

support.apple.com

Ian

 

[MacInWin]

Here:

Back up iPhone

Back up iPhone using iCloud or your computer. If you replace your iPhone, you can use the backup to transfer your information to the new device.

support.apple.com

Apple says:

Back up iPhone using your Mac​

1. Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable.
2. In the Finder sidebar on your Mac, select your iPhone.
   To use the Finder to back up iPhone, macOS 10.15 or later is required. With earlier versions of macOS, use iTunes to back up iPhone.
3. At the top of the Finder window, click General.
4. Select “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.”
5. To encrypt your backup data and protect it with a password, select “Encrypt local backup.”
6. Click Back Up Now.

Note: You can also connect iPhone to your computer wirelessly if you set up syncing over Wi-Fi.

That link in the quoted text says this:

Sync supported content​

Syncing with the Finder or iTunes keeps supported content up to date between your iPhone and computer. For example, you can set up syncing so that when you add a movie to your iPhone, it also appears on your computer. After you set up syncing between your devices with a cable, you can set them to sync wirelessly and automatically whenever they’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
You can sync content like music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, photos, contacts, and calendars.

• To sync content with your Mac (macOS 10.15 or later): See Sync content between your Mac and iPhone or iPad in the macOS User Guide.
• To sync content with your PC or Mac (macOS 10.14 or earlier): See the Apple Support article Use iTunes to sync your iPhone or iPad with your computer.

If the files you want to share between your iPhone and computer aren’t supported by syncing or transferring with the Finder or iTunes, see Transfer files between your iPhone and your computer for other options.

So, if you set up WiFi sync, then Wifi backup may be available.

 

[MacInWin]

I see Ian beat me to it, but I'll leave the links I found up for reference.

 

[ferrarr]

The iPhone will sync when on Wi-Fi, but it will not backup, automatically. You have to initiate that in a Finder window on your Mac.

 

[Whoopie]

Thank you for that.

Okay, here are some ways:

Back up and restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your Mac or to iCloud

On your Mac, back up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your Mac or iCloud and restore your device if needed.

support.apple.com

Sync content between your Mac and iPhone, iPad or iPod touch over Wi-Fi

On your Mac, sync content with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch over Wi-Fi.

support.apple.com

Ian

I turned on the Sync feature and even though my iPhone was not connected to a charger t immediately backed it up to my iMac!! In the old days (before Mach 2024) there was an option back up over wifi when both devices are plugged in to charger. It happened nightly. That option is not there but this achieves the same thing. Thank you!

 

[Whoopie]

Here:

Back up iPhone

Back up iPhone using iCloud or your computer. If you replace your iPhone, you can use the backup to transfer your information to the new device.

support.apple.com

Apple says:

That link in the quoted text says this:

So, if you set up WiFi sync, then Wifi backup may be available.

Thank you also.