allansasu

Q: iPhone Backup Cannot be Saved Because of Not Enough Space on Computer

Hello,

 

When I come to sync my iPhone with my computer it tells me that my backup cannot be saved because there is not enough space on my computer. I have tried EVERYTHING I could possibly find on the internet to solve it but I can't. This included using a different USB port and cable, trying to sync it with a different computer (I actually got a new one and it still won't work), updating softwares on both my Mac and my phone, resetting my devices, deleting backups both on iTunes and manually in Finder and even calling Apple support! (They told me to back up using iCloud but that won't work either. Before I did it we hung up because I knew it would take some time.)

 

I've started to believe it is an error in the phone's operating system (iOS 7) as some features are notably different like when opening an app or a folder: instead of zooming into it or make it appear from the center of the screen a fading effect brings up the app or the folder, which I think is pretty weird. Restoring it would be the perfect solution, but I need a backup first!

 

This has been going on for some time, so any help is appreciated.

 

Thanks!

iPhone 5, iOS 7.1

Posted on Aug 14, 2014 6:50 PM

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Q: iPhone Backup Cannot be Saved Because of Not Enough Space on Computer

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  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 14, 2014 6:55 PM in response to allansasu
    Level 9 (57,012 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 14, 2014 6:55 PM in response to allansasu

    How much room do you have on the hard drive of the computer? You say you tried a new one, what is the setting in your iTunes for sync/backup? Do you have it set to backup to the computer or iCloud? On the new computer, was the error the same, that there was not sufficient room on the computer?

  • by allansasu,

    allansasu allansasu Aug 14, 2014 6:58 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 14, 2014 6:58 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    I mean new as in brand new... I bought it two days ago. I have 110 GB of free space, so I think this isn't really the problem. It's already the third computer I try it on, including my original one and my brother's. I've tried to play with syncing on iCloud and on the computer, but it won't work either way. Right now it's on iCloud so it doesn't try to back it up to the computer every time I connect it, and can go straight to syncing my media.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 14, 2014 7:07 PM in response to allansasu
    Level 9 (57,012 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 14, 2014 7:07 PM in response to allansasu

    What troubleshooting have you done on the phone? The current user steps are restart (power the phone off/on), reset (hold the sleep/wake and home buttons until you see the Apple logo and release), restore from a backup and restore as new. The first two steps will not affect any data.

     

    I could understand a sync causing an error if there was not enough room on the phone, but not on the computer. I cannot think of a reason you would see that error if you have sufficient room on the hard drive of the computer. Don't take this wrong, but you sure the error is stating not enough room on the computer, and not something else?

  • by allansasu,

    allansasu allansasu Aug 14, 2014 7:49 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 14, 2014 7:49 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    I have both restarted and reset my phone. I haven't restored from backup because I don't have a backup (I deleted it as I read it solved the problem, but it doesn't), and I don't want to restore as new. I do have a lot of used space on my phone and deleted a lot of information on it, but it still won't work.

     

    I have the error message practically memorized from the many times I've tried and the many times it has popped up. I'll copy it for you: "iTunes could not back up the iPhone '[my iPhone]' because the backup could not be saved on the computer."

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 14, 2014 8:44 PM in response to allansasu
    Level 9 (57,012 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 14, 2014 8:44 PM in response to allansasu

    Sounds like it could be a permissions, or security issue on the computer. Check out this support document and see if anything there helps. iOS: If you can't back up or restore from a backup in iTunes

  • by allansasu,

    allansasu allansasu Aug 14, 2014 9:27 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 14, 2014 9:27 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    I've seen that page before and I tried everything on it again, but saw no succesful result.

     

    I think the problem is with the device itself as I have an iPad that does back up when I connect it, so it has nothing to do with the computer. I want to clarify that this started happening after I did an update of iOS 7 long ago. Before that I did have backups of the phone, but had to delete them as I was recommended I do that by Apple experts and forum discussions that I found. It seems the problem is with the OS, but restoring it would mean erasing all the data I have, which I don't have backed up. If I could restore the OS without having the data on the device deleted it would be ideal. Then again, the problem may be elsewhere, but from all I know about Apple devices (which I like to believe is a lot) this seems to be where the problem lies.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 15, 2014 3:24 PM in response to allansasu
    Level 9 (57,012 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 15, 2014 3:24 PM in response to allansasu

    I cannot make any further recommendations. Have you tried to backup the device without trying to sync, just clicking on backup? Does that not work either? Since you have restarted and reset the device, unfortunately the next step is a restore, first from backup and then as new. Since you do not have the data backed up, you would lose it. However, if you have been syncing, the loss would be minimal, such as SMS, app data. Photos would already have been imported, and apps and music are already in iTunes, and calendar and contacts should already be synced to a supported application. If you do not want to try this, you can try making an appointment at the Genius Bar to see if they could help. I would be sure to explain to them that you have not been able to create a backup.

  • by rockmyplimsoul,

    rockmyplimsoul rockmyplimsoul Aug 15, 2014 5:24 PM in response to allansasu
    Level 5 (7,121 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 15, 2014 5:24 PM in response to allansasu

    Can you successfully complete a backup to iCloud, yes or no?  I mean, connect to external power while on a Wi-Fi network and manually initiate an iCloud backup (Settings/ iCloud/ Storage & Backup/ iCloud Backup/ ON).

     

    If iCloud backup will not work, perhaps your backup is quite large due to many photos in your Camera Roll.  If you have a large Camera Roll start there by transferring photos that you want to keep to your computer, then emptying Camera Roll.  In my experience, those with backup issues are carrying around way too many photos.

  • by allansasu,

    allansasu allansasu Aug 15, 2014 8:38 PM in response to rockmyplimsoul
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 15, 2014 8:38 PM in response to rockmyplimsoul

    I have tried to back it up to iCloud, and even telling it not to back up my pictures yet it still won't work. I just went through a thorough process of deleting pictures on my phone and it significantly reduced the used space on it, but it still won't back it up.

  • by Karakal75,

    Karakal75 Karakal75 Aug 15, 2014 11:29 PM in response to allansasu
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 15, 2014 11:29 PM in response to allansasu

    How much memory have your iPhone? Are the 110Gb of free space on your computer on the same unique partition?

  • by Anonymous Vendetta,

    Anonymous Vendetta Anonymous Vendetta Aug 15, 2014 11:52 PM in response to allansasu
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Aug 15, 2014 11:52 PM in response to allansasu

    Hi ,

     

    Its look like u already have a crashed system , have you try to connect the another iphone with your computer ? If its still same problem , its mean your computer got problem with system , if not your phone got system problem . Kindly to try the computer with another iphone .

  • by Branden1987,

    Branden1987 Branden1987 Aug 16, 2014 8:03 AM in response to allansasu
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 16, 2014 8:03 AM in response to allansasu

    Maybe you should back up iPhone first without using iTunes, see the guide:

    How to Backup iPhone without iTunes

  • by tbone2009,

    tbone2009 tbone2009 Dec 20, 2014 11:25 AM in response to allansasu
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 20, 2014 11:25 AM in response to allansasu

    i have this same issue with my iphone 6 plus! i dont know what to do! says my computer doesnt have enough space and i know it clearly does. please help! im unable to back up my phone and i need to

  • by Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall Dec 20, 2014 11:38 AM in response to tbone2009
    Level 6 (8,090 points)
    Apple Watch
    Dec 20, 2014 11:38 AM in response to tbone2009

    Hi Since ios 7 you don't need to use your PC for backups this can be done over WiFi to the iCloud When you charge your iPhone /ipad it backs up Automatically to iCloud. If you get another apple device all you need is the same Apple ID & Password. I haven't use PC for over a year for iPhone / IPad. Just use your WiFi at home. Cheers Brian

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