Top 6 Best iPhone Backup Extractor and Viewer [FREE & PAID]

Apple encourages everyone to have a regular backup for an iPhone, iPad, and iPod. This way, you’ll have a backup copy of your information in case your device is ever lost, damaged, and replaced. What if the “misfortune” really happens someday, how can you view iPhone backup files and extract photos, messages, and other files from your iPhone?

If you are using iTunes or iCloud backups, unluckily, there’s no official way to check the contents in your backups. And you can only do that with a professional iPhone backup viewer. So here we will list the best iPhone backup extractor and viewer for you to view all the backup files, and to extract files to your device or computer. Both free and paid tools are included. Now, keep reading and pick up the best iPhone backup extractor.

Also Read: If you need to back up your iPhone, please read Review of Top 7 Backup Software for iPhone/iPad >

What Is iPhone Backup Extractor?

Whenever an iPhone backs up to your computer or to the iCloud server, iTunes/iCloud keeps nearly all of your device’s data and settings, like the messages, notes, bookmarks, app settings, and so forth. Regarding the iTunes backup on a Mac, files synced from your iPhone are stored in a backup folder in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. Three common file types are:

• Info.plist file in each folder tells you which folder corresponds to which device.
• Manifest.plist contains an encoded manifest, a list of those files backed up by iTunes along with info like their digital signature, size, permissions, and so forth.
• Several backup files using my backup extension contain semi-encrypted versions of all the backed-up files.

So, what does iPhone Backup Extractor do? It locates and downloads your iTunes/iCloud backup folders, and it also reads the Info.plist and Manifest.plist files so as to let you extract files based on a variety of file types. Usually, an iPhone backup extractor is capable of extracting data on your computer, but rare ones let you transfer the extracted files directly onto a new device.

1. PhoneRescue for iOS – iTunes & iCloud Backup Extractor

As a professional iPhone backup extractor and viewer, PhoneRescue for iOS is the best one you should try to extract your data from your backups. It offers the iCloud backup extractor feature to help you view and extract what is in your iCloud backups. Besides, with this tool, you are able to view iTunes backup content and restore it as well. And different from other iPhone backup extractors, it allows you to extract data from backups to the computer as well as to your device directly. And you can also learn more about this iPhone backup viewer and extractor below.

• It is fully capable of extracting different types of files from iTunes/iCloud backup, like photos, contacts, messages, videos, notes, etc.
• You can preview and selectively choose certain data you want, and import them directly to iPhone, or to the computer.
• Unlike iTunes and iCloud, the data extracted will not wipe or overwrite the existing files on your device. No data loss!
• In addition, it can recover deleted data from your iPhone without a backup, such as photos, contacts, call history, messages, safari history, app data, voicemail, voice memo, and so on.
• It is a wonderful iPhone backup extractor for Windows and Mac too. The latest iPhone 14 is supported now.
• The iOS Repair Tool feature of PhoneRescue also allows you to fix iOS system issues when your iPhone is stuck or frozen.

You can now free download PhoneRescue for iOS on your computer to have a try:

Advantages:

• Extract lost/deleted iPhone data from iCloud/iTunes Backup, even if it is an encrypted one.
• Exported iOS files can be saved in your wanted formats, such as HTML/ V-Card/VCF/Text.
• Preview data before extracting, which means you can select and extract only your wanted items.
• [NEW] Integrated iOS Repairing Tools – PhoneRescue has expanded the recovery power from specific data to the whole iOS system. When an iOS device runs into a system crash, it can be fully fixed within a single click.
• [NEW] Phone-to-Phone Recovery – Directly extract data from iPhone/ iTunes/iCloud backup and import the data to a new iPhone on the fly.

Disadvantages:

• Free to scan and preview, but you need to pay for it if you want to extract some files from iTunes or iCloud backup to computer or iDevice. Check out the price plan of PhoneRescue for iOS.

How to View and Extract iPhone Backup?

How do I extract backup files from my iPhone? Follow the steps below to view and extract iPhone backup files with this iPhone backup extractor now.

Step 1. Run PhoneRescue for iOS on a computer.

Free download PhoneRescue for iOS on a computer and launch it once you installed it successfully. You can connect your iPhone iPad iPod to the computer or not. And then you can choose Recover from (iTunes) Backup or Recover from iCloud tab.

Step 2. Choose One backup and Download Files

Now you can choose one backup to download. The software was defaulted to download all the content the backup owned. You can unselect all contents and get the exact one. Like the messages, click on Messages and tap OK to go on.

Step 3. Preview Messages and Export Them.

Once the tool finishes the download and scanning process, you will see all these data are listed on the screen. You can click on the To Computer button to get them from backup to your computer, or (if you connected your iPhone to the computer) you can click on the To iPhone to extract these data to your device.

Well, you can also use PhoneRescue for iOS to extract your backup data from iCloud as easily as from iTunes backup. As a professional iPhone backup viewer and extractor, you can retrieve the exact ones as you want with PhoneRescue for iOS while iTunes/iCloud won’t provide a choice, no matter whether you got a device beside you or not, no matter the device is broken or works great. Just give it a free try and make things easier.

2. AnyTrans – iOS Backup Viewer

AnyTrans – iPhone Data Manager is acknowledged as a must-have iPhone backup viewer and extractor. As a complete iOS data manager, it does a great job of managing, viewing, and extracting your iPhone and iCloud backup. And it can also act as an iTunes backup extractor to help you browse and extract data from your iTunes backup. And it only takes a few minutes to extract thousands of data. Here are some of the key features of this iPhone backup extractor.

• It allows you freely view and manage your iTunes backups. And you can also extract these files from iTunes backup without restoring.
• You can also use the iCloud backup extractor feature to log in with multiple iCloud accounts to view, download, and extract data from iCloud backup to the computer or to your iPhone.
• It allows you to view and extract all data types from the backup including photos, contacts, messages, call logs, calendars, etc.
• You can make a regular backup of your iPhone without iTunes, after that, you can also freely view and extract the iPhone backup you made with one click.
• You can use it to manually back up your iPhone or just use the Air Backup feature to back up over the air.
• AnyTrans also does you a big favor on data transferring, it’s quite easy to transfer data from one iPhone to another, or from Android to iPhone, or from iPhone to computer, and vice versa.

Here you can freely download AnyTrans on both your Windows and Mac to have a try:

Advantages:

• It is a full-way iPhone manager, that cannot only extract your iPhone backup but also backup and transfer your data;
• The simple and clear design brings everything into focus, extracting your iPhone backup data in a few clicks;
• Fully compatible with all iPhone/iPad/iPod models and iOS versions;
• It also lets you transfer data among iDevice, computer, iTunes, and iCloud.

Disadvantages:

• Free to scan and preview backup files, and you have items limits for export so you need to upgrade to the pro version if you want to extract more files from backup. Check the price plan of AnyTrans here: Buy AnyTrans >

Also Read: You may also like this tip How to Archive and Print Text Messages from iPhone >

3. iPhone Backup Extractor

Another software we want to introduce is named “iPhone Backup Extractor”, which is compatible with all the iDevices and available on both Mac/PC operation systems. With this iTunes/iCloud backup extractor, you can easily get your iTunes and iCloud backup information and extract data from backup on a computer. And the following are the main features of this iPhone backup viewer and extractor.

Advantages:

• Available on Mac/PC operation systems.
• Can extract data from iPhone backup or iCloud backup.
• With expert mode to extract iPhone backup.
• Recover deleted iPhone data.

Disadvantages:

• It’s not a free iPhone backup extractor.

4. iBackup Extractor

iBackup Extractor is also a good iPhone backup viewer & extractor. It can find all iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad backups on your computer and lets you recover your files with ease. With iBackup Extractor, you can extract iMessages, call logs, bookmarks, calendars, and other data from iTunes backup. Read on to learn more about this iPhone backup extractor.

Screenshot of iBackup Extractor

Advantages:

• Can extract files from any iTunes Backup of iOS devices.
• Available on Mac and Windows computers.
• Free trial to extract 50 items and can retrieve deleted iPhone data.

Disadvantages:

• Cannot extract data from iCloud backup.
• Cannot fully scan iTunes backup.
• With few Export-formats available.

5. iSkysoft Toolbox – Data Recovery (iOS)

iSkysoft Toolbox – Data Recovery (iOS) is similar to PhoneRescue for iOS, it can help you view iPhone backup files and extract data from iPhone backups. It supports the iPhone iPad, iPod touch and works on PC and Mac. It has also managed to rank among the top iPhone backup extractors due to its practicality and convenience. And here are some highlights of this iPhone backup viewer.

Advantages:

• Scan your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch directly to recover lost data.
• Extract data from the iTunes Backup for you to recover selected files.
• Extract data from iCloud Backup to retrieve selected files.

Disadvantages:

• You cannot use this iPhone backup extractor free. Instead, you need to pay if you want to extract photos or other data from iPhone backup.
• It doesn’t support encrypted iTunes backup files.

6. iBackup Viewer

iMacTools iPhone Backup Viewer (iBackup Viewer) supports extracting almost all kinds of data from iPhone backup, including contacts, call history, messages, internet, photos and App data. With this iPhone backup explorer, you can easily scan and view data on your iTunes backup on the computer.

iPhone Backup Viewer – iBackup Viewer

Advantages:

• Can find all of the iPhone backups on the computer.
• Can Browse and extract data from iTunes backup.
• Simple interface and easy-to-use.

Disadvantages:

• Not freeware, you have to pay for it.
• Can’t recover the data that has been overwritten (not only PhoneRescue but also other iPhone backup extractor tools can’t).

What Is the Best iTunes Backup Extractor? (Criteria)

The criteria for the best iPhone backup extractor vary from users’ specific demands. Here are some key factors to consider when you need to extract iPhone backup.

1. Compatibility

As Apple keeps rolling out a new version of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, compatibility is one of the key criteria for choosing a suitable iPhone backup extractor. You’d better check the model and iOS of your device to see if it is listed on the developer’s product specification page.

2. Design & Easy-to-use

No one can bear the resident apps on his or her computer is ugly or hard to use. That’s why the design and usability of a Backup Extractor are also one of the key criteria.

3. Cost

It’s our failure that we hardly deliver you all the BEST yet FREE iPhone/iTunes Backup Extractor solutions. As recovering your important personal information is crucial to your life, we believe commercial software products with expert support would bring the best result. Therefore, almost all the products we will review are paid software.

FAQs: iPhone Backup Extractor Related Questions

Now you have known the top iCloud and iTunes backup extractors. And here we wil answer some related questions.

Is it safe to use iPhone Backup Extractor?

Yes. iPhone Backup Extractor is safe to use. For user privacy and data security, it will not search for backups created by other users on your computer. And vice versa. And it also has two-factor authentication and tokenization to keep websites and tools free from malware and malicious content.

What is iPhone backup?

iPhone backup refers to the copying and archiving of iPhone data with iTunes/iCloud, so it can be used to restore an iPhone from the original after a data loss or iPhone upgrade event. iPhone backup usually has two purposes. One is to recover iPhone data after an iOS data disaster, be it for rescuing from iOS data deletion. The other is to set up an iPhone with the data from an earlier backup (how to transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone).

Where are iPhone backups stored?

Windows 10/8/7:

• C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
• Or C:\Users\Your username\Apple\MobileSync\Backup\

Mac:

• ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

If you still cannot find the backup, you can refer to this article to know the details about the backup location in PC/Mac.

The Bottom Line

The basic principle of choosing the best iPhone backup extractor is to freely view your iPhone backup and extract data directly to your iPhone or the computer. So if you want to extract files from backups in clicks, just go and free download PhoneRescue for iOS and start to extract now!

PhoneRescue for iOS full version allows you to extract iPhone backup from iTunes or iCloud safely with no data loss or erasing. Before extracting, you can freely view and select photos, videos, etc. to extract. Besides, you can recover deleted files even without a backup. Why not give it a free try?