Update iPhone Without Backing Up

Question

Update iPhone Without Backing Up

I'd like to update the iOS on my iPhone 13 Pro Max using macOS 12.2.1 (latest)(yes, I know I can update via OTA on the iPhone itself). When I try to update, it forces Backup of my device. I do not want to backup my device. If I press the 'X' to stop the backup process, the whole update process gets canceled.

I've tried a suggested terminal command solution suggested here: Update iPhone through iTunes without back… - Apple Community and it seemed to work on an iPhone 6S Plus, but it is not working on my iPhone 13 Pro Max. Is there an updated terminal command? Or method in 2022, to update iOS using Finder without backing up? Thanks!

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Posted on Mar 14, 2022 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

NextelMichaelG Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 14, 2022 4:46 PM in response to NextelMichaelG

i found the updated terminal command!

(source: https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/pw2ohc/disable_automatic_back_up_of_your_ios_devices/)

If you are synchronizing on a Mac:

Close Music on your Mac.

Launch Terminal

Type

defaults write com.apple.AMPDevicesAgent.plist AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true

and press Enter.

4. If you want to re-enable automatic backups, type

defaults write com.apple.AMPDevicesAgent.plist AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false

and press Enter.

Reboot your Mac.

In case you need to backup, you have to do it manually now: press the "Back Up Now" button of the iOS device in Finder.

Enjoy.

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Answer 2

Mar 14, 2022 3:51 PM in response to NextelMichaelG

back in the day there was an option to download the update by holding the option key on mac (or alt?) and clicking the download/update button or something like that, then you pick the location to download it to.

I don't remember if this method will allow you to bypass back up though.

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,267 points

Mar 14, 2022 3:43 PM in response to NextelMichaelG

If you have iCloud Photos on, then they should not backup, since they are in iCloud.

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Answer 4

Mar 14, 2022 3:23 PM in response to deggie

backing up 500GB simply takes too long and uses unnecessary hard disk space; all my stuff is in iCloud anyway (except for device backup, i do not backup my device), i have no need to backup my device (everything syncs to iCloud anyway)

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Answer 5

Mar 14, 2022 3:29 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

i have 400GB of photos, original and saved on the device, with iCloud photos enabled; are you telling me if I let macOS/Finder backup my iPhone, it won't try to backup those 400GB of photos?

If so, that is GREAT news! and I can stop trying to fight the backup (regardless, we used to be able to 'X' it and skip it, and we have the option to skip it when restoring-why are all those options missing with update?)

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