How do I ensure a local iPhone backup to Mac won't erase photos not available elsewhere?

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Level 1

8 points

How do I ensure a local iPhone backup to Mac won't erase photos not available elsewhere?

Trying to ensure doing a local backup to Mac of iPhone wont erase photos not available elsewhere. How to know what is being overwritten? Normally I backup to iCloud, but finding a lack of reliability in iCloud due to recent loss of data in Calendar app. This made me aware Calendar has no none cloud instances and when rolled back to a date that wipes data leaves no option to recover if data loss becomes worse.

Anyways, as a method to have none cloud backup of my photos I want to back up to my device and trying to sort out if a prior backup contains any content currently not on my iPhone so I know I wont be erasing anything old in a prior back up. Is there a way to know the date range of photos and number of photos in the archives?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Mar 24, 2025 7:51 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

216,160 points

Mar 24, 2025 10:27 AM in response to Pty-art411

Do you have something listed when you click on "Manage Backups"? If so Control (right) - click on it and select "Show in Finder". What's its file name and were is it located.

Be sure to untick backing up to iCloud.

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

216,160 points

Mar 24, 2025 11:25 AM in response to Pty-art411

Do you have a current Time Machine backup of your MBA? If so go ahead and backup the iPhone to your MBA and then check to see what was removed if anything.

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Answer 3

Mar 24, 2025 8:32 AM in response to Pty-art411

I'm not sure what you're saying, and you haven't provided much information at all. I guess I can tell you what I do:

I have all my devices connected through iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos. I do not have "Optimize" storage selected on my Mac, so the full Photos Library is on my M3 MacBook with 15.3.1. I use Time Machine to make at least daily backups of my Mac, so that includes the stuff at iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos. In addition, roughly monthly, I copy all my Photos Libraries to an external drive.

I hope that helps.

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Answer 4

Pty-art411 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 24, 2025 10:17 AM in response to Old Toad

very helpful Old Toad. My current Device Backup area has nothing in it, but there is a pop-up saying another version something like this: "SCOTT DT Computer (3)" will be overwritten > Sync and replace is option or cancel...

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Answer 5

Pty-art411 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 24, 2025 10:34 AM in response to Old Toad

Nothing listed there. I am pretty sure just in the Cloud. The listing I get to replace and sync is from an older imac pro I am planning to offboard anyways and I am doing this sync on a MacBook pro so altogether a different device. I just hope doing so doesn't erase content that was on the older Photos of the desktop machine, but appears like I have no option.

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