turn off auto backup

Ok just an update as of May 2015. The correct code to for the terminal is:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool YES

This is what you must type in the terminal for it to work! Everything else talked about here DOES NOT WORK. Even the old code listed for the terminal.

It is proposterous that the phone has to do an backup EVERY time and for those of us who have a 64Gb phone, wow makes syncing unusable! In the past I basically dismissed those that have dissed iTunes but I can see why. Apple really doesn't want you to do anything BUT get all your music from iTunes. Problem is a lot of what is out there IS NOT on iTunes.

Thabo Da Husky wrote:

It is proposterous that the phone has to do an backup EVERY time

Note that it only backs up what is new/changed. It is not a full backup.

So the longer you wait between backups, the longer the backup will take...

and then when you forget to backup and you need to restore your iPhone...

If you don't like how Apple does things, you are free to make other choices.

I'm getting soooooooo close from moving away from this rat-trap. Indeed, your glib attitude is a reflection of Apple's crappy customer attitude. There is no way Apple will be my first choice for my next computer.

But for Windows users that doesn't help.

Fundamentally it appears its just a bad design from Apple in iTunes, because a user absolutely should be able to separately manage the occurrence of backup and sync.

We all know that backup is important and should be done regularly but when it takes several minutes to do it and the data isn't changing that much, I don't need a backup done every time I plug in to sync. Most of the time, I'm plugging in to get my outlook calendar to sync with the phone's calendar. I want that done at the end of the day and quickly.

Having the ability to control when backup happens is missing - auto-backup if its not happened in the past 7 days, ok. Or have me press a button to backup on demand. But to tie sync with backup so tightly is a bad design.

There's a checkbox in itunes for "Automatically sync when the iPhone is connected". There should be one for "Backup automatically (if not backed up in x days)" as well.

Itunes is still too much a 'media push/management' tool, and not a 'device management tool' - I think most of us use it to manage our devices most of the time..
Itunes needs a major rewrite. As time goes on, it becomes "the worst itunes ever" <in jonny ive's voice>

just select icloud option in

Akrasky wrote:

Hi all.

I'm desperately searching for a way to DISABLE the annoying backup of iTunes that starts automatically EVERYTIME I connect my iPhone.

I've tons of data on my iPhone and the backup take a very long time each time.

Be warned: I do not want to disable the auto sync, I want to disable just the backup so please, do not tell me how to turn off the sync, I already know how to disable sync..

I need the sync and I want sync it but I DO NOT WANT the backup performed everytime.

What's the way?

So pretty hard and difficult!

Thank you very much for your help!

You can do it from the phone. Go to settings, iCloud, backup.

THis is the screenshot after you choose "Backup"

The backup is part of the Sync process. All you can do is disable the sutosync when you connect your device. Just uncheck that option under Options for your connected device.

I found this site, with some instructions to "disable" the automatic backup

http://www.nyakhar.com/2010/07/disabling-itunes-automatic-backup-for-the-ipad-ip hone/

Yes this works too! But if you do lots of syncing it will drive you crazy!

Ruthy73 wrote:

You can do it from the phone.

No you can't.

Go to settings, iCloud, backup.

That has nothing to do with backing up to the computer using iTunes (this thread).

This was a great solution. Thanks!

I have just synced my laptop with ipad and iphone and all contacts were deleted. It then backed up automatically!

just select icloud in backups and it will take a minute to sync without any backup to computer nor to icloud😊