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

backup iphone to external drive windows

How do I backup iphone to external drive using windows? My hard drive on my PC is smaller than my iphone memory.

Thanks!

iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jul 6, 2016 11:28 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 8, 2017 6:14 AM

Hi Frank. mklink is built into cmd.exe, and cannot be run by itself. Open a command prompt as Administrator, and enter just mklink. How are you running it?

More info can be read here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16226/complete-guide-to-symbolic-links-symlinks- on-windows-or-linux/
and here (about why it doesn't work in powershell):
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/894430/creating-hard-and-soft-links-using-po wershell

Here is what my cmd prompt looks like:

User uploaded file

Good luck,

Doug

13 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 8, 2017 6:14 AM in response to FZAW

Hi Frank. mklink is built into cmd.exe, and cannot be run by itself. Open a command prompt as Administrator, and enter just mklink. How are you running it?

More info can be read here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16226/complete-guide-to-symbolic-links-symlinks- on-windows-or-linux/
and here (about why it doesn't work in powershell):
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/894430/creating-hard-and-soft-links-using-po wershell

Here is what my cmd prompt looks like:

User uploaded file

Good luck,

Doug

May 31, 2017 4:23 PM in response to rz_racer_69

Hi,


I have done all this and create the Backup folder on my external hard drive. But when I run my Backup from iTunes, it still won't go through the end. it still said that there's not enough memory to finish the back up. But I do have lots of free space on my external hard drive.


Please help me. I need to back up my Iphone 7. I have lots of pictures that I want to back up. I'm using a PC, windows 8.1 version.


Thank you so much!

Jul 6, 2016 12:26 PM in response to MFS9721

From one of the top experts on this forum:

"You need to point iTunes to the library on the external drive. Hold down the OPTION key while opening iTunes. You will be prompted to select a library. Navigate to the external drive to select the iTunes library you wish to use. From that point on when you sync the phone the backups will go to the iTunes library on the external drive."

How to Back Up iPhone to External Hard Drive via iTunes?

Oct 11, 2016 1:47 AM in response to MFS9721

Some 3rd party software can do this if you don't mind.😕😕 They can transfer files from iPhone/iPad to external drive directly, so they can solve your problem well. But you should make sure your external drive can connect to your computer.

You can google iPhone transfer is OK. And I only used the FonePaw iOS Transfer which is really helpful. And most of them will have tutorials on their website. Like this is about how to backup iPhone to an external drive.

Dec 27, 2016 4:49 PM in response to MFS9721

You simply have to create a symbolic (virtual) link in Windows, to a folder on your external drive.

I followed the instructions found here: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/backup-iphone-external-drive-72349.html


You close iTunes first, then navigate to your MobileSync folder for your user account:

Something like: “C:\Users\yourWindowsusername\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync"

There you will find the normal "Backup" folder location. If it exists, rename Backup to Backup.old.

Then create a folder in the root of your external drive named "iPhoneBackup" (or whatever you want).


Next, you run a command prompt, and enter the following Windows command:

mklink /J "c:\users\(yourusername)\appdata\roaming\apple computer\mobilesync\Backup" f:\iphonebackup

(Assuming your external drive is drive "F".)


* If you want to see more about mklink first, simply run "mklink /?" to see the help info.


Then run iTunes, and it thinks it is working in the old "Backup" folder, but it is actiually working in the "f:\iphonebackup" folder. You can even move the contents (included folders) of "Backup" to "f:\iphonebackup", and they will show up in iTunes as backups. The new virtual link shows up as a folder with a link "arrow" icon on it. It can be deleted like any file, but this does not affect the target folder on your external drive.


Hope this helps.


Doug

backup iphone to external drive windows

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.