Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

43 points

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

Best reply

Harry Evans

Level 1

8 points

Posted on May 19, 2017 3:46 AM

I have been having this same issue, and it took me awhile, but I figured out what was going on (at least in my case):

1. I tried deleting old backups and lock files etc, and none of that worked.

2. According to CMD-i on my HD, I had plenty of space for the backup.

3. Console was giving -36 error

I went to terminal and typed "df -g" and the free space on the main Filesystem ("/dev/disk0s2" in my case) showed a different and significantly smaller amount of free space than cmd-i on my "Macintosh HD".

The difference turns out to be something called "local snapshots" for timemachine. (see here for more information on the concept: Time Machine MobileBackups and here for how to turn it on and off: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/85805/how-to-wipe-huge-mobilebackups-f older ). These have nothing to do with your phone, but they do have to do with time machine lying to you about how much disk space is "actually" free. iTunes should be able to access all the space reported by "cmd-i" on your HD, but it seems that it can only access the space reported by "df -g" in the terminal. I am going to file this as a bug in the morning.

I turned off mobile backups at the command line as shown, waited a minute or two for the file deletes to finish, and then turned them back on. At that point both "cmd-i" on my HD and "df -g" reported similar free space. I then restarted iTunes (just to be sure nothing was cached) and my backup proceeded without a hitch.

I think folks who were making files to "fill up space" to make their iTunes backups work were just causing timemachine to fall below the 20% threshold of free disk space and delete the mobilebackups incidentally. I think anyone who has seen that work, this will work for as well.

I hope this is helpful, but I obviously can't make any guarantees, YMMV, etc.

TL;DR:

1. open a terminal

2. type "df -g" in the terminal and compare free space of largest filesystem with "cmd-i" on "Macintosh HD". If they are (nearly) the same, STOP, the below won't work for you.

3. type "sudo tmutil disablelocal" in the terminal and then your password (if/when prompted)

4. wait a couple of minutes (for files to delete in the background)

5. type "sudo tmutil enablelocal" in the terminal and then your password (if prompted)

6. Compare "df -g" and "cmd-i" on "Macintosh HD" again, and see that the free space values are almost the same.

7. (re)Start iTunes, and do your phone backup.

Thanks,

Harry

View in context

50 replies

allansasu Author

Level 1

43 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.

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?

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 .

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

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 😟

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

Dec 20, 2014 12:58 PM in response to Briansyddall

I use it for not only backing up my phone but updating the music on my phone as well as notes pictures text messages etc...

Jan 25, 2015 6:50 PM in response to Briansyddall

I had the same problem, BUT i FINALLY figured out the problem!!! go to settings and turn OFF find my iphone. (logging out doesnt do it, you must turn it off from the settings). I hope this fix works for you like it worked for me!!

bsomer

Level 1

5 points

Apr 12, 2015 1:36 AM in response to allansasu

Hi, I've had same issue for a few weeks and finally got it sorted by doing a few of the various suggestions.

Steps -

Saved back up on my windows computer and saved to desktop, just in case - steps to do this (where does itunes save my backup for my ipad and my wifes Iphone?)
Made sure I was on latest version of iTunes - Had to download from website as iTunes wouldn't do an update as it normally would, would give a "can not connect to iTunes server" error.
Turned off FindMyIphone in settings
I located the Lockdown folder iTunes: How to reset the Lockdown folder - Apple Support, But instead of deleting the folder as per the link, I removed all the files from this folder, EXCEPT the System Configuration file. I did save the others on my desktop (just in case).
Deleted all prior back ups on my iTunes via the Preferences > Devices menu.
Restarted laptop and connected iPhone.

Hope this helps someone

Apr 27, 2015 1:22 AM in response to bsomer

Turn off find my phone and disconnecting Mac & phone from wifi before plugging phone into laptop.

I feel it's a campaign to get us all into the cloud, as this was emphasized by 2 different Mac stores that backing up to the cloud was the "only" solution ...

Jun 1, 2015 5:03 AM in response to allansasu

Did you get a solution? I have developed this too - backup failed to icloud (no reason given) - deleted last one in case of corrupt file, still wont. Mac AND work PC backup fails due to "not enough space". Whilst this could be the issue on home mac, def. not on work pc! Very frustrating! Any tips (that do not involve ddelteing backup as I've done that)

NethMaph

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2015 3:36 PM in response to bsomer

Thanks bsomer for providing the steps to backing-up my iPhone via iTunes. No memory error issues once following each of your steps. But will add that users should reenable Find My iPhone as soon as their back-up is completed!

steveald

Level 1

24 points

Jan 7, 2016 7:53 PM in response to bsomer

All good steps. I have one additional note to add.

Deleting all prior back ups on iTunes via the Preferences > Devices menu doesn't necessarily mean they stay deleted as I discovered. I tried that, quit iTunes, restarted iTunes and they were back.

The solution was to control-click on one of the backups listed and select Show in Finder. In the window that appears are folders with long alphanumeric names. I deleted all of them and emptied the Trash. Then, back in iTunes Preferences, I did another Delete Backup. Quitting and restarting iTunes that time confirmed they were gone.

Then, and only then, was I able to do a complete backup and sync of my iPhone via iTunes on \my Mac without that blasted not enough space error.

RodMcK

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2016 6:11 PM in response to theballoongirl

In Addition to "Turning Off" - Find my iPhone I did a Hard Reboot of my iPhone & Re-Started my PC Computer & it worked Perfect! Thanks for the Tip... It Saved me a Huge Amount of Time!

May 30, 2016 1:18 AM in response to allansasu

I have just had this problem.

Mine is a work phone that is automatically linked to our work server. So of course i would not be able to back up 100Tb of data.

To fix i put the phone in Flight mode: Restarted the phone: and then backed up.

Worked a treat.

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