BACKUP in itunes is too slow

Well...back to the drawing board, Apple.

Or...I wonder if it's getting a good sync and then the sync times will be lower after that? After you sync it (maybe tomorrow when you have some time), disconnect the iPhone from the USB cable, restart iTunes, plug the iPhone back in, and try syncing again. Maybe you had a corrupted backup and it's creating a good one right now, and I was lucky enough to not have a corrupted backup in the first place. I know I'm really reaching here, but why not...we all have plenty of time if syncs are going to take hours. You weren't planning on having a life, were you? 🙂

I too can confirm that after installing iTunes 7.7.1, my backup time decreased from about an hour and a half last night, to less than 10 minutes today.

It is perhaps worth noting that in that time, I uninstalled a couple applications and didn't add anything new, but I'll try and get a few more free apps to put on and see if that affects the time at all. Regardless though, I don't think that uninstalling 3 or 4 applications that combined took up less than 10MB would affect things that much.

If this really was an improvement brought about by the new version, I'll be more than happy to wait 10 minutes a day for a full backup. Until things are a little more cleared up though, I would still recommend leaving off the auto-backup feature and just doing a full sync when you know you have time (otherwise, make a small change and hit apply to perform a sync without the backup in only a minute or two).

I hope you're right.

I just updated to 7.7.1 yesterday but didn't sync.

My backups were taking about 4 hours.

I felt really bad when others are stating 30 - 45 min.

Give it a try now, just backed up and restored a full 14GB in under 30 mins! 😀

What's backup for anyway? I mean, it already syncs, surely the backup is redundant...?

anyway Gizmodo has a tip on how to disable it:
http://gizmodo.com/5029121/how-to-disable-iphones-backup-process

I haven't tried it yet, because I googled it about 20 minutes into my current backup... it's been 2 hours now... Faaaaark!!

Or you could download this one click app for Windows and Mac...

http://www.iphoneuserguide.com/apple/2008/07/28/iphone3g/tip-one-click-solution- to-stop-itunes-backup-of-iphone-every-sync/

bdinmstig wrote:
What's backup for anyway? I mean, it already syncs, surely the backup is redundant...?

anyway Gizmodo has a tip on how to disable it:
http://gizmodo.com/5029121/how-to-disable-iphones-backup-process

I haven't tried it yet, because I googled it about 20 minutes into my current backup... it's been 2 hours now... Faaaaark!!

It's not redundant at all. The backup comes before the sync. All the files (applications and their data) are backed up. The sync is contacts, calendars, photos, music, video, podcasts, etc. That comes after the backup.

If you disable the backup, you do so at the risk of any data that you have stored for any of your apps. So, if you play a game that stores your scores, they are lost if you ever have to restore. If you use a task management app, all the tasks are gone. Password manager, like eWallet? Gone. Etc, etc.

Turning off the backup might work for a number of people who do not do anything with their iPhone that requires the saving of important information. For me, and many others, however, this is not an option.

Nope, with 7.7.1.11 the backup I am running now is taking over 2 hours and it isn't even half way done. I am using a USB 2.0 port on my PC that is known to be working fine. This is ridiculous.

When is this going to be fixed?

I'm still waiting around 10 minutes EVERY TIME I sync for the backup to complete - even if I only synced half-an-hour ago.

Come on Apple!

Let me join the complaint list on the ridiculous time it take to backup.

I really don't know how long it currently takes. The longest I have tried is about 2 hours when it is about 1/4 the way thru. I then just 'x' to stop.

I have tried all the hacks posted about this with no help.

To all App Developers - you should not be happy that your clients data about your program is not being backed up due to this problem.

BTW - try moving 16gb to a flash drive. 3 to 5 minutes max on most machines.....

JerryBoffin wrote:
BTW - try moving 16gb to a flash drive. 3 to 5 minutes max on most machines.....

The problem is that it's not just a simple file copy from the iPhone to the desktop. Backup files (.mdbackup) are being created on the desktop, and these are created at about 1.54 files per second. When the total number of files is more than 5,500...well, you do the math. Apple needs to speed this process up, or, at least, ensure that backups do not get corrupted so easily. That's the real problem. I can live with a 15-minute backup (but I won't like it), but when a backup gets corrupted and all files have to be created again, it takes hours, and it's just too easy to corrupt a backup.

My backups are ridiculously long. Every time I connect to iTunes.

This is a serious flaw. It doesn't matter to me why it is happening. If I wanted to know why problems happen and enjoy convoluted work-arounds, I would be a PC user. (no offense to PC users)

If anyone has a simple "mac" like solution that doesn't involve tricking the iphone, or skipping backups, or using the terminal application, please post it.

Thanks.

*Honestly people here is the solution! I promise it works!*

*Go into iTunes Edit/Preferences the last tab sync disable auto sync for all iPod and iPhones. This does not fix it it is just the first step do not stop here.*

*Next connect your iPhone to the computer. Once it shows up in iTunes go into the last tab Applications. Uncheck sync all apps. not Click apply. Now click sync. it will remove all the applications! After it is finished unplug the iPhone. I bet you will have at least one app still on the Iphone, maybe more. Hold any icon down until they jiggle. tap the x's and delete all the remaing apps. You may notice after you delete each app that a little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you delete the next app.*

*Once you have deleted all the remaining apps (That had corrupt data that was causing your long back ups!) do a hard reset. To do this hold the sleep/wake button and the home button until the red slider appears at the top of the screen. Slide it over and the phone will power off. You will again notice the spinning circle. Once it finishes wait a few seconds and power the iPhone back on by pressing the sleep/wake button.*

*While it is booting back up go into iTunes again turn the auto sync back on! Now connect the iPhone to the computer, let it backup and sync. I bet you a million dollars it goes so fast you want to cry or laugh. Now after it finishes go back to the applications tab. Click sync apps again, but make sure you have the 2nd circle checked. This box is sync selected apps. Make sure all the boxes are unchecked! Now slowly begin adding apps back to the iPhone. I have done as many as 5 at a time. Check the boxes then click apply, then sync. It will backup then add the applications and sync all other information.*

*Someone try it and confirm to these people it works. I'm willing to put money on it! I have done it on both my iPhones and 4 others.*

*Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!*

I couldnt agree more.
Install all apps with itunes only.
And one by one.
My iphone back ups so quickly now with like 30 aps on it.
But some apps can cause problems even if installed with itunes.
If you install 1 by 1 you can see after which app the back up slows down.

It's also been suggested to keep the number of apps you install to a minimum. They recommend you install and uninstall for what you will use that day. The reason being that all apps and their data are stored on a 500meg partition. IF you average app is say 20 megs with data and you have 20 apps that's 400 megs of shared memory. Shared memory is extremely slow. It causes a workstation with gigs of ram to lagg th ink about what it will do to a hand held.