IPhone 16 recovery [no backup stored]

Backups go to iCloud or to a Mac or PC. To be super safe, some users back up to both iCloud and a computer.

Yes, it is possible to backup to iCloud and then switch future backups to a Mac or PC, or vice versa.

Not sure what you mean by "Recovery", but if you are planning to Recover the iPhone, that process will erase the iPhone, so you will need to make sure that you have a current backup of your iPhone......before......you begin the Recovery process.

Yes, you can swap where your iPhone 16 recovery data goes by tricking Windows into saving it on a different drive (like an external drive or a D: drive) using a symbolic link. Neither iTunes nor the Apple Devices app lets you change this in their default settings, so a quick command line trick is required.

Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run box, then copy and paste the path that matches how you installed your Apple software: 

• If you downloaded iTunes or Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store: Paste %USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync and hit Enter.
• If you downloaded iTunes directly from Apple's website: Paste %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync and hit Enter. 

Step 2: Move the folder

1. Inside that folder, you will see a folder named Backup.
2. Right-click the Backup folder and select Cut.
3. Go to your secondary drive (e.g., your D: drive or an external hard drive) and Paste it there. (For example, paste it so its new path is D:\Backup).