[WolfGaiden]

I want to make it clear that I don't have any smart phone of any kind, I don't like phones. What I do like is downloading backups from phones to my computer. But I digress and move on to my questions.

If I have someone's Apple password, have iTunes and iCloud manager downloaded on my PC, can I make their phone back itself up? I've run into several people I want information On that either have a ridiculously out of date backup file, or don't even have a backup at all despite having their device for years.

I've also tried logging into their iCloud accounts and creating one of two reminders:
Create Backup
Dear ______, our records show that you haven't created a backup file, it is very important to do so in case your device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Update Backup
Dear ______, our records show that you haven't updated your backup in quite some time, it is very important to keep your backup up to date in case your device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Almost never works, even when they don't get a notification about someone else logging in. So my only option is to somehow make their phone back itself up.

[D3xus]

If their phone backs up to iCloud, you would have to get another iPhone and restore it from that backup. Without having a local backup, which requires access to the physical phone, you're limited to what's available on iCloud (which, to the best of my knowledge, is a trimmed down version of the full iTunes backup).

Additionally, you have to have the physical phone to change where it backs up to. You can plug it into a computer and choose to make a local backup on the spot, or go into Settings on the phone and choose to backup to iCloud. Either way, without having the phone in front of you, it's difficult.

[WolfGaiden]

If their phone backs up to iCloud, you would have to get another iPhone and restore it from that backup. Without having a local backup, which requires access to the physical phone, you're limited to what's available on iCloud (which, to the best of my knowledge, is a trimmed down version of the full iTunes backup).

Additionally, you have to have the physical phone to change where it backs up to. You can plug it into a computer and choose to make a local backup on the spot, or go into Settings on the phone and choose to backup to iCloud. Either way, without having the phone in front of you, it's difficult.

I use Wondershare to download the backups, so I get the full thing. But there's no way at all to remotely access their phone settings? And if not, anyone know a better way to trick someone into backing their phone up?

[D3xus]

I use Wondershare to download the backups, so I get the full thing. But there's no way at all to remotely access their phone settings? And if not, anyone know a better way to trick someone into backing their phone up?

No. Through the iCloud Control Panel (just looked at it myself), there doesn't appear to be a way to force a backup without having the device in front of you and choosing to do so.