Archiving a backup essentially locks that backup so that it is not overwritten by subsequent device backups made to iTunes. Again, iCloud has no impact on backups in iTunes. You can backup to both iCloud and iTunes if desired.
Archival backup is a type of data backup in which all files are copied to a backup storage device. Archival backups are also called full backup. Contrast with incremental backups, in which only modified files are copied.
On Windows
From the Finder Sidebar, click on your iPhone name and Trust if asked. Click Back Up Now and let it complete. Once the back up completes, click Manage Backups. Right-click on today's backup file and choose Archive.
Open iTunes and select your device from the top-left of the window. If prompted, enter your passcode and agree to Trust This Computer. Select the Summary page from the sidebar. Click Restore Backup and select your archived backup from the drop-down menu.
You can easily change the task after it has been created.
After a backup is archived, it is saved and not overwritten when you connect your iPhone to Mac and make a new backup. In other words, after archiving a backup, you have at least two backups for that device. The first one is the archived backup which remains untouched.
Tap “Settings” Tap “iCloud” or the user banner at the top of the screen, then tap “iCloud” Scroll down and tap either “backup” or “iCloud backup” Tap “Back Up Now” to backup iPhone text messages to iCloud.
The back up process is the same. That is, in iTunes, locate your iPhone and click Back Up Now. Once that's done, click iTunes from the top menu bar and choose Preferences > Devices. Here, right-click on the backup file and select Archive.
Definitions: A backup is a copy of your current data that you use to restore original data if it's ever damaged. An archive is historical data you must keep long-term retention reasons, such as compliance.
– Archive: Archive solutions are often used to retain inactive or older data for extended periods of time. Archives are optimized for low-cost, long-term storage. Archives hold production data, meaning a loss or corruption of an archive system will likely result in the permanent loss of production information.
Archive the Backup