Pauleduc
Level 1 (9 points)
Mac OS X

Q: How to do a COMPLETE iTunes backup to computer?

I just bought a new iPad Air 2, and after backing up my old iPad Air with iTunes to my computer, I was very upset that the restore to the new iPad took so long... like over 24 hours!  Then I learned that the backup set on my computer was only 3.5 GB, and that my iPad actually was over 70 GB.  In talking to an Apple rep, he said that apps are not backed up, only a catalog which is then used to download all the apps again from the iTunes store in the restore process.

 

To me this is totally unacceptable.  Fortunately, I have an unlimited internet plan, albeit, not the fastest. But think of someone who has a limited plan.. to download 60 to 70 GB of apps would be unacceptable, and in fact, probably not possible without going over the cap. Not to mention unbelievably long!    

 

The Apple rep said that with iOS 9, they changed the backup process to "save space on the user's computer", and thus forcing restores to use the store.

 

My question: is there ANY way around this fiasco, that would permit me to make to total backup to my computer?  And thus restore much faster than downloading all the apps again from the net?

Posted on Jan 7, 2016 9:44 AM

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Pauleduc

Q: How to do a COMPLETE iTunes backup to computer?

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  • by rockmyplimsoul,

    rockmyplimsoul rockmyplimsoul Jan 7, 2016 10:01 AM in response to Pauleduc
    Level 5 (7,197 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 7, 2016 10:01 AM in response to Pauleduc

    That is correct, your backup does not contain apps or media ... otherwise a backup could be HUGE and impractical to save with each backup cycle (especially if one backs up to iCloud ... but even a computer backup would take forever).

     

    All your iTunes apps and media should be in your computer's iTunes library with no need to re-download anything from Apple.  However, if your computer is not up to date re: apps or media you've previously downloaded directly to the iPad, then your computer's library has not been kept current, and if you're not keeping your library up to date then I don't see how that's Apple's responsibility.

     

    Note that many people (not me) prefer to not keep their purchases on their computer to save disk space -- but that is their choice.

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Jan 7, 2016 10:11 AM in response to Pauleduc
    Level 10 (95,725 points)
    iPad
    Jan 7, 2016 10:11 AM in response to Pauleduc

    Pauleduc wrote:

     

    The Apple rep said that with iOS 9, they changed the backup process to "save space on the user's computer", and thus forcing restores to use the store.

     

    My question: is there ANY way around this fiasco, that would permit me to make to total backup to my computer?  And thus restore much faster than downloading all the apps again from the net?

    The apps should be in your iTunes library and can be synced back to the device. They are not stored in the backup.

     

    Apple changed this to save space on your iOS devices by using App Thinning.

    http://www.imore.com/app-thinning-ios-9-explained

     

    You only download what you need for your particular device. If you have a Universal App that is optimized for the iPhone and the iPad, you only download what you need for your device. Apple is doing you a favor by saving space on your devices. <sarcasm intended>.

     

    It is my contention that Apple would love nothing better than for every user to have rely on their cloud services ..i.e. Using iCloud for backups....iCloud Photo Library for your photos, and so on. Apple just can't resist letting us know what is best for us users. <more sarcasm intended>

     

    As far as I know, you can not change the way that this works now.

  • by Pauleduc,

    Pauleduc Pauleduc Jan 7, 2016 12:16 PM in response to rockmyplimsoul
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 7, 2016 12:16 PM in response to rockmyplimsoul

    Thank you for the reply.

     

    re:  All your iTunes apps and media should be in your computer's iTunes library with no need to re-download anything from Apple.

     

    Please tell me how I am supposed to accomplish this?  I did a backup of my ipad to my computer.. this did not put any apps into my library.. I know this, because the size of my itunes folder was only 3.5 gb on my hard disk.  I had approx 60 gb of apps on the ipad.

     

    I have the space, and want to backup everything.. so, please advise how I can do this?

  • by rockmyplimsoul,

    rockmyplimsoul rockmyplimsoul Jan 7, 2016 12:32 PM in response to Pauleduc
    Level 5 (7,197 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 7, 2016 12:32 PM in response to Pauleduc

    While connected to iTunes, right-click the iPad's name and select "Transfer Purchases".

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Jan 7, 2016 12:42 PM in response to Pauleduc
    Level 10 (95,725 points)
    iPad
    Jan 7, 2016 12:42 PM in response to Pauleduc

    The Transfer Purchases option no longer works for apps for the reason (app thinning) that I explained above. You will have to download all of your apps into iTunes on your computer in order to put them into your iTunes library. I was assuming that you had been syncing with iTunes for a while, in which case your apps would have been in the iTunes library - at least prior to the release of iOS 9.


    To ensure that all of the new apps that you download on the iPad appear in iTunes, turn on Automatic Downloads in iTunes.

    Turn on Automatic Downloads - Apple Support