When I back up my iPad to my Mac, I don't think it is backing up my downloaded movies.

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Level 5

4,220 points

When I back up my iPad to my Mac, I don't think it is backing up my downloaded movies.

Since my previous iPad backup, I added about 150GB of downloaded movies. (These are movies I can watch with no Internet connection.) On my iPad, these movies are found in the Apple TV app.

Prior to backing up my iPad, my Mac said that it had 2.47GB available. After doing the most recent back up, that number only dropped to 2.46GB. The numbers are not adding up. Also, the backup only took about two minutes. These things make me suspect the movies are not really in the back up. I don't even know how to check this.

Thank you for reading.

Posted on Jun 16, 2024 11:43 AM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

277,802 points

Jun 16, 2024 1:45 PM in response to Ziatron

My response above says: “See the second bullet under ‘Backups from your computer’ here.”

That bullet says: “[A backup from a computer doesn’t include:]

Content synced from your Mac or PC, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos”

You looked at and quoted the incorrect second bullet.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

277,802 points

Jun 16, 2024 11:59 AM in response to Ziatron

See the second bullet under “Backups from your computer” here.

Backup methods for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Ziatron Author

Level 5

4,220 points

Jun 16, 2024 2:47 PM in response to sberman

Thank you, I think I found it.

I think the answer to my question is that when you back up your iPad it's only a PARTIAL back up. What's sad about this for me is, it was a fair amount of effort to get the movies onto the iPad Apple TV app along with the associated artwork. I have these movies on an external hard drive and I could certainly restore everything, but it would be a days work. It's hard to understand why Apple would exclude my own movies from the backup process.

I'll have to look and see if there are any third-party programs that can back up closer to everything.

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Answer 4

LotusPilot

Level 10

322,088 points

Jun 16, 2024 4:12 PM in response to Ziatron

This support page outlines the natively supported backup methods for iPad and iPhone:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Native iOS/iPadOS backup and restore processes are dependent upon iCloud, or connection to either Windows PC (with iTunes for Windows installed) or a Mac (with iTunes or Finder - as appropriate for the installed version of macOS).

Natively supported methods offer full system backup (subject to caveats already identified by sberman) consisting of data and device settings.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

It is possible to use a third-party App to backup a broader range of data (but not device settings) to a variety of external storage options - including third-party Cloud services, external media devices and network storage. One App that comes readily to mind is FileBrowser Professional by Stratospherix:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/filebrowser-professional/id854618029

You would be well advised to review the extensive online Manual and help files to determine suitability for your needs.

https://www.stratospherix.com/products/filebrowserprofessional/filebrowser-professional-user-guide.php

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Answer 5

Ziatron Author

Level 5

4,220 points

Jun 16, 2024 1:17 PM in response to sberman

I did that.

"Storage depends on your Mac or PC's available space"

I have about 6 times the storage on my Mac to handle these movies. I don't see how the above explains anything.

Also, if I'm running the back up procedures, I would expect it to tell me any items that are not being backed up.

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Answer 6

Ziatron Author

Level 5

4,220 points

Jun 16, 2024 9:15 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you for all of that information. I looked at all of the links that you provided, much of it goes right over my head.

I have successfully backed up and restored about two dozen iPhones and iPads over the last 10 years or so. I've always been very happy with the results and found the process easy.

Recently, I've been putting some of my home movies into the Apple TV app on my iPad. I use WaltrPro to accomplish this. It is extremely easy to use. You just drag and drop MP4 movies into their app and the movie appears in iPad Apple TV app. I then have artwork that goes with my movies that I can select, which makes the process very nice on the iPad.

https://softorino.com/waltr/

It takes time to do this. So, when it's time for me to get a new iPad, I'll have to go through this whole process again. All I'm trying to do is find a simple way to transfer everything that is in the iPad Apple TV (Downloaded section) app into the new iPad.

I have always done this using my Mac because that's how I keep my backups in case my iPad should fail. I have never tried connecting 2 iPads together. I don't know if that would help me or not.

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Answer 7

Ziatron Author

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4,220 points

Jun 16, 2024 1:33 PM in response to sberman

I owe you an apology. I made a mistake in my initial post. My Mac has. 2.47 TB, NOT 2.47 GB Storage available.

It seems to me I have plenty of storage to handle these movies.

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When I back up my iPad to my Mac, I don't think it is backing up my downloaded movies.

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