Can not backup iPhone to my computer using iTunes

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Darrarski Author

Level 1

8 points

Can not backup iPhone to my computer using iTunes

I would like to make a full encrypted backup of my iPhone to my MacBook using iTunes:

According to Settings → General → iPhone Storage, I have about 50GB of data on my iPhone:

There is about 130GB of free space on my computer, as read in About This Mac → Storage:

and Disk Utility:

Unfortunately, iTunes tells me there is not enough space on my computer:

This looks like a bug, as backup of 50GB of data on my iPhone should fit in my MacBook's 130GB free space more than twice. Not sure where the problem is. How could I make a full backup (including Health and Activity data) to my computer?

My setup:

iPhone Xs 256GB with iOS 12.3.1
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) running macOS Mojave 10.14.5
iTunes 12.9.5.5

iPhone XS, iOS 12

Posted on Jul 21, 2019 6:33 AM

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Answer 1

askbarnabas

Level 10

103,577 points

Jul 21, 2019 12:00 PM in response to Darrarski

Here is a link that may help. Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

essentially I want you to delete any backup from your computer that you think you do not need (you only need one backup) Force reboot the phone [Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.]

Also hold the power button of your MBP until it shuts down and then turn it back on.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

264,261 points

Jul 21, 2019 4:32 PM in response to Darrarski

Thinking about that third screen shot in your original post (where you highlight “available” on your SSD), what types of clues do you get when you pursue “Manage”? The gray space shown in the bar graph of that screen shot seems quite large.

How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Darrarski Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 22, 2019 12:05 AM in response to askbarnabas

I did run Disk Aid and got this:

Disk Aid Run 1

Some issue were detected, but not fixed, so I restarted my Mac into Recovery Mode and run Disk Aid again. I don't have logs from that run, but it was telling me the disk is ok and something about invalid snapshots that will be deleted after restart. I restarted my Mac again into normal mode and run Disk Aid once again. This is the result:

Disk Aid Run 3

Not sure what that errors means. How can I try to fix those?

Backup still fails with the same error message (not enough space).

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Answer 4

Darrarski Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 21, 2019 2:22 PM in response to askbarnabas

Thanks for your reply @welafever

I did what you asked:

Deleted all mobile device backups from my MacBook - actually there where none in iTunes preferences and ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ was empty
Force rebooted my iPhone
Force rebooted my MacBook

After doing it, I tried to backup my iPhone again, but got exactly the same error about not enough space on my computer.

I noticed that despite unsuccessful backup operation, a new empty backup directory is created in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/. I deleted it afterwards as well.

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Answer 5

Darrarski Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 23, 2019 6:53 AM in response to Darrarski

After updating my MacBook to macOS 10.14.6 and my iPhone to iOS 12.4, Disk Utility First Aid no longer report any issues with my disk. Unfortunately, I am still not able to backup my phone using iTunes. Same error occurs: "not enough free space".

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Answer 6

askbarnabas

Level 10

103,577 points

Jul 21, 2019 3:58 PM in response to Darrarski

Just out of curiosity, will you run first aid on the MBP HD? I want to see if that fixes an issue that may not be obvious.

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Can not backup iPhone to my computer using iTunes

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