Difference between Sync and Backup?

You do not have to create a backup when you sync, because iTunes creates the backup for you. The reason that you use the backup feature is that it is simply a precautionary measure. You control when the backup takes place - you can backup without syncing - in order to make sure that the iPads contents are saved at that particular point in time - and you do not have to sync with iTunes. It would be no different that saving your computer files to an external drive in case the hard drive "takes a trip south"

If you want to return the iPad to the condition that it was in before it "went south" you must restore from the backup. You cannot simply sync the iPad with iTunes to restore the data to the iPad's pre "trip south" condition.

So the answer that I think you are looking for is you must restore from a backup if the iPad goes south in order to return the iPad to the condition it was in before the ill fated trip south.

I still find this backup and sync confusing. I agree, it's redundent. They basically do the same thing.
I've backed up my iphone on my new pc multiple times but when I go to sync it warns me that it will overwrite all my apps with the apps on the pc which "should" be exactly the same since I just backed it up.
I want the phone to be the master copy since I change data in my apps on the phone and add apps to the phone not to the pc. Apple makes it look like the pc has the master copy of all your data with a sync and/or a backup. This is not what users want and their wording of it all is horrible but most companies are bad with wording.

I want to know if I sync my phone will it just copy over the data on my phone with the last backuped data? Or will it erase all app data with the app data that is on my pc from the first time I backed up my data to this new pc?

And yes this pc is enabled with itunes or whatever and I did transfer app purcheses.

My goal is to upgrade my phone to 5.0.1 but it's not asking me to backup my phone first, which I thought it was supposed to do.

For the simplest easy to use phone on the market it gets pretty complicated when you want to make sure all your phone data is safe. Lets not even start talking about syncing contacts.

Thanks 🙂

still find this backup and sync confusing. I agree, it's redundent. They basically do the same thing.

It's not redundant and they do not do the same thing.

I've backed up my iphone on my new pc multiple times but when I go to sync it warns me that it will overwrite all my apps with the apps on the pc which "should" be exactly the same since I just backed it up.

Did you also sync it (which is different than backing up)?

I want to know if I sync my phone will it just copy over the data on my phone with the last backuped data?

If you sync it, it will maintain the data on the iPhone. If you Restore from backup, it will restore from the last backup.

My goal is to upgrade my phone to 5.0.1 but it's not asking me to backup my phone first, which I thought it was supposed to do.

Why not simply selectthe iPhone then right click - Backup?

Then update the iPhone.

In early posts it says that syncing also creates a backup. Were they wrong?

"If you sync it, it will maintain the data on the iPhone. If you Restore from backup, it will restore from the last backup."

Then why when you sync does it say it will erase all the data on the phone and replace it with the data on the pc? As far as apps are concerned I mean.

I couldnt just backup the iphone and update as I wasnt sure what is all backed up. I couldnt find anything that said my contacts and photos were also backed up after a backup. And if I updated would my contacts and photos be restored if they were just backed up and not synced?

I'm sure once you understand all this it's simple but there are a lot of people that find it confusing.

Thanks for the help Chris. You've cleared it up a little bit for me. I'm still afraid to sync as it might delete my app data and if I update I might find my pics and contacts gone and they are not synced with anything, they are only backed up by iTunes backup.

Last week I synced my iPhone with Itunes yet Under ITUNES>Preferences>Devices the last backup that's listed is from October 2011. So if I restore from backup now, won't l be getting the Oct 2011 version of my iphone instead of my "last week's" version of it?

so, may i ask if i have latest notes on my new iphone (by doing a restore from the itune using last backup of the old iphone which was a gap of months' back) but would like all other latest stuff in my old phone (apart from notes which were lost by accident ) to all go into my new iphone, do i do a backup of the new iphone or backup and sync? anyone know how i can merge the two info into one? am very confused....search the whole url for the past few days but still very confused. any advice is greatly appreciated...

I just went through this with my sister. She upgraded her iPhone 4 to the 4s and noticed that it only had data from last August 3rd 2011. I had her right click on her DEVICE when it was plugged in via USB to her computer. The information showed her last back up was August 3rd 2011.....

She claimed that she plugs the phone in and selects the "SYNC" button a couple of times a week- so how could this be!

I guess that is all it is doing...syncing. IF you want a back up as well, you also need to do an additional step to Backup your phone or iPad. So she right clicked her DEVICE and selected "backup" and now her device is backed up to that current date/time.

I have had an iPhone since the 3G and can't remember what version iTunes I was on then, but I have always stayed current/updated. I remember you could select one button and the sync and back up would occur.

Maybe there is a setting to change to allow for this dual purpose function? Purchases are transferred automatically now in my version, so I no longer have to manually select to do so (unless I am missing something)

Still, it is too confusing for even an above average tech person to deal with...you would think Apple would streamline this or give the option of what you want your sync button to do (one or all 3 actions).

We have a lot of customers who are confused by sync vs backup, so I wrote up this explanation (which is meant to be in plain english 🙂) and made a video as well:

http://decipher-media.blogspot.com/2011/05/itunes-sync-vs-backup-how-to-ensure-y ou.html

I hope it is helpful!

Chris CA wrote:

Kelly Wilkerson wrote:

We have a lot of customers

Who is "we"?

My apologies, I was trying to keep my post from being blatant advertising 😉

"We" is Decipher Media, a small software company -- we do mobile development and desktop software. One of our products is a tool for reading messages (texts or voicemail) out of the backups, so we spend a lot of time talking with folks about the backup process and managing their backups.

I found this thread today because I was doing some background reading for the launch of a new beta application we're doing today. Decipher Backup Browser will actually let you browse around the iPhone/iPad/iTouch backups in a view that's much easier than the pile of mangled-hashcode-named files. It's nice for recovering files from the backups (like app data, camera roll, or voice notes, etc), or if you're just curious what's in the backup.

It should be up here later this evening http://deciphertools.com, but if you want to contact us through the support form, I can send you a copy before the site is updated.

This may help. If you are doing a "sync," look at the little box at the top where it tells you what operation is being performed. It will say "syncing" but it may or may not ALSO ssay "backing up." If it does say backing up, then you will know that you have both synced and backed up. If it does not say backing up, then it has only synced. My experience it will say backing up maybe half the time. Simple as that. If it does not, in addition, say backing up, then you can feel free to make your own backup, which you know how to do, ie. right clicking and selecting back up, doing it manually. You can always check to see what your latest backup is, by simplying going to edit/preferences/devices...and you will see exactly when your last backup was, time and date.

Thanks for the help everyone, but I'm still not 100% it's clear. As an example, take this situation and then answer my question.

I have an iPad which is due to be replaced. The iPad contains apps, no music or videos, possibly some calendar data and has had it's settings changed in line with general use.

I launch iTunes by holding alt and clicking the icon in the launcher. This prompts me to choose a library or create a new one. I create a new, empty iTunes library just for this iPad.

I plug the iPad in, do not Sync it but instead just right click on the iPad in the iTunes sidebar and select Backup. Once this is done I unplug the iPad and take it to the Apple store, where they swap it for a new one (the old one had a dodgy Home button BTW).

Step 4 or 5 of setting up a new iPad (after selecting the language etc.) gives you the option to restore from backup. I choose it, plug the iPad into my Mac and select the backup I made earlier.

So, here's my question: Will the iPad now be identical to the one I just returned to Apple?

Glenn Broadway wrote:

I launch iTunes by holding alt and clicking the icon in the launcher. This prompts me to choose a library or create a new one. I create a new, empty iTunes library just for this iPad.

You already have an iTunes library on your computer.

Just backup, plug in the new iPad then Restore from backup.

Creating a new, empty library will do nothing (except leave you with a new, empty iPad).

You're right of course, but I just wanted to make a point that after two pages it still wasn't really clear on this thread that that was the case. The Apple 'genius' certainly told me the wrong thing - that the backup contains a complete snapshot of your iPad.

(sorry don't know how to quote on this forum)

The reason I created a new iTunes library is because the last time I backed it up on my normal library it completely messed up his (my son's) home screens - moving all the icons around and emptying his folders.

It still seems very strange. I think I have to plug in the iPad, stop any Syncs that attempt to start and then go in and work out what to check and uncheck in the Sync settings. I'm still not really sure what settings will ensure that two different iPads on the same Library don't start messing each up.

You can sync five iDevices to the same iTunes library and not mess anything up. You can turn off auto sync as well so that you don't have to stop the sync process. You can check the sync settings before you sync. I sync 3 devices to the same iTunes library and each device has its own content.

Launch iTunes and go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices. Check the box at the bottom that says ...Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from automatically syncing. Click OK. Quit iTunes,

Connect either of the two iPads to your Mac and launch iTunes. Click on your iPad name under the devices heading. Click on the Summary Tab. Check - "Sync only checked songs and videos". Then go into each tab in iTunes ... Apps, music, photos, books .... Select the exact content that you want to sync to that iPad and click on Apply in the lower right corner after you are done making your selections. iTunes will remember your sync settings the next time that to sync. You can make changes every time that you sync if like. Just click on Apply after you make the changes.