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Why backup so massive?

Argh!!!!!!


'iPhone XR wants to backup 9.5GB. Only a few apps selected for backup with the largest one at 100MB.

No photos being backed up.

iCloud storage reports 6.5MB/5GB used.

Messages doesn't appear in list of apps o backup so guess this is automatic but that only accounts for 950MB.

All backups have been deleted.


Is there a huge amount of stuff that Apple magically backs up without telling users and if so what?



Posted on Aug 5, 2021 1:15 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 5, 2021 1:42 AM

Watch the iTunes BackUp Size on a GIF below


Note this is a compressed backup size. (During restoration it will expand)

See the GIF which shows as 28.03 GB used space on iPhone 6 and the Backup Size id 5.26GB




Same is true for iCloud Backup too. What you see the size is compressed Size


iCloud backup size on iCloud is 3.5 GB for the same iPhone same date that is because iCloud backup doesn’t include information that are synced and stored in iCloud, like Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, Mail, Notes, Voice Memosshared photosiCloud Photos*, Health data, call history, and files you store in iCloud Drive.

*-If you had turned on iCloud Photos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud. 


Watch the GIF below


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7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 5, 2021 1:42 AM in response to snoz52

Watch the iTunes BackUp Size on a GIF below


Note this is a compressed backup size. (During restoration it will expand)

See the GIF which shows as 28.03 GB used space on iPhone 6 and the Backup Size id 5.26GB




Same is true for iCloud Backup too. What you see the size is compressed Size


iCloud backup size on iCloud is 3.5 GB for the same iPhone same date that is because iCloud backup doesn’t include information that are synced and stored in iCloud, like Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, Mail, Notes, Voice Memosshared photosiCloud Photos*, Health data, call history, and files you store in iCloud Drive.

*-If you had turned on iCloud Photos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud. 


Watch the GIF below


Aug 5, 2021 2:33 AM in response to SravanKrA

Absolutely 100%. When you add up the items to backup, the backup size should be in the vicinity of 1GB.


One thing hidden from the backup summary is Messages. If you review the "Choose data to backup", Messages does not show so one cannot see the amount of space Messages is taking in the backup. There may be other system files backed up but what else is included in the backup that we have no visibility of?


The cause in this case was Messages which contained photos, videos and content that pushed the backup over the 5GB available in iCloud. With messages kept for 1 year all photos and videos from messages needed to be deleted manually (no select all/delete all here) after which the backup worked.


Apple, if you're reading this the size summary doesn't after deleting photos/videos from messages. You need to close settings and return to the Storage | Messages settings.



Aug 5, 2021 1:38 AM in response to snoz52

What Does iTunes Backup on your computer


On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15, you can use Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or a Windows PC, you can use iTunes to make a backup of your device using your computer. Syncing your device with your computer isn't the same as making a backup. A backup from a computer includes nearly all of your device's data and settings. A backup from your computer doesn't include:


  • Content from the iTunes and App Stores or PDFs downloaded directly to Apple Books
  • Content synced from iTunes, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos
  • Data already stored in iCloud, like iCloud Photos, iMessages, and text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages
  • Face ID or Touch ID settings
  • Apple Pay information and settings
  • Apple Mail data
  • Activity, Health, and Keychain data (to back up this content, you'll need to use Encrypted Backup in iTunes.)



Aug 5, 2021 1:37 AM in response to snoz52

What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support


iCloud backup doesn’t include information that is synced and stored in iCloud, like Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, Mail, Notes, Voice MemosMessages*, shared photosiCloud Photos*, Health data, call history, and files you store in iCloud Drive.


*-If you had turned on Messages in iCloudiCloud Photos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud and is available on all devices that use the same Apple ID

Why backup so massive?

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