iPad Tips Tricks: How to back up your iPad data on iTunes

As shiny and sexy as the iPad may be, it is a complex electronic device, and as such may crash. Sooner or later someone somewhere will have their iPad crash so badly that all apps and data will be inaccessible. What do you do? If you haven’t backed up your apps and data, there’s not much actually. You may have to take your iPad back to the store to get it repaired. However, to back up your data is a straight forward process and can be set up immediately you set up your iPad for the first time.

Backing up data to iTunes
1.    Connect your iPad to your PC/Mac via the USB connector and run iTunes. You would have to do this anyway if your iPad is new, so you can set up your backup at the same time;
2.    Click ‘Devices’. Your iPad should be listed. Sync the two devices using the onscreen sync button;
3.    Every time you perform the ‘sync’ function between your iPad and PC/Mac iTunes backs up your data;
4.    Your files are backed up in the appropriate files. For example, in Windows 7, photos can be found at: c:UsersUsernamePicturesiPad Photo Cache
5.    You can manage your backed up files by going to ‘Edit’, ‘Preferences’, and ‘Devices’

Backup apps you have bought from iTunes
1.    Again, all paid-for and free apps you’ve downloaded from iTunes are backed up during the sync-ing process;
2.    iTunes will also inform you of all apps to have downloaded to your iPad, and when the next updates will become available.

Updating from iTunes
1.    Essentially, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes downloaded on you PC/Mac;
2.    Connect using the USB;
3.    Select your iPad when it appears in your devices list;
4.    Select ‘Summary’;
5.    Select ‘Check for Update’.

It is important that you do not initiate the ‘Restore’ function from iTunes by mistake. There is a check window that asks you if you really do want to restore; this is a clear warning that a restore is not a reboot! If you proceed with the restore your iPad memory will be wiped and you will be back to a blank, factory-default, iPad ready to begin again from scratch. Be warned!