Onnaderuion

Q: Update iPhone through iTunes without backup?

Hi,

I keep getting an error when trying to update my iPhone 6 to 9.3.4 over-air, and after research tried to update it using iTunes on my Mac. However, every time I try to update, iTunes forces me to back up my phone first. I do not have enough space on my Mac to backup my phone, so an error pops up and the update stops. I do not want to back up my phone, but I do want to update my phone. Does anyone know how to update your phone through iTunes without being forced to back it up first? Thanks.

PS Over-air, the update downloads but cannot install. I have tried using a different wifi network, redownloading the update, refreshing my phone, updating at full charge. I've heard that the error can occur when there are a lot of people updating at once, but I've been having the error for a few hours now. I contact Apple support and they did not have a solution to the over-air issue.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Aug 16, 2016 8:56 PM

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Q: Update iPhone through iTunes without backup?

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  • by roaminggnome,

    roaminggnome roaminggnome Aug 16, 2016 8:59 PM in response to Onnaderuion
    Level 10 (97,037 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 8:59 PM in response to Onnaderuion

    Backup to iCloud

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Aug 16, 2016 9:38 PM in response to Onnaderuion
    Level 9 (79,523 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 16, 2016 9:38 PM in response to Onnaderuion

    Onnaderuion wrote:

     

    Hi,

    I keep getting an error when trying to update my iPhone 6 to 9.3.4 over-air, and after research tried to update it using iTunes on my Mac. However, every time I try to update, iTunes forces me to back up my phone first. I do not have enough space on my Mac to backup my phone, so an error pops up and the update stops. I do not want to back up my phone, but I do want to update my phone.

    So with not enough room on your Mac to even back up your iPhone, when your Mac crashes (and it will), you will lose everything on your Mac in addition to all data on the iPhone.

     

    You should keep a minimum of 10% free space on your computer.

    Also, you should regularly back up your iPhone.

  • by Onnaderuion,

    Onnaderuion Onnaderuion Aug 17, 2016 1:04 PM in response to roaminggnome
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 17, 2016 1:04 PM in response to roaminggnome

    I don't want to back my phone up at all. I simply want to update through iTunes.

  • by javaliga,

    javaliga javaliga Aug 17, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Onnaderuion
    Level 4 (3,497 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 17, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Onnaderuion

    If you do not want to back up your phone first, you are living VERY dangerously.  However, its your phone, so try this:

     

    Get help with over-the-air iOS updates - Apple Support

     

    Have you tried:

     

    Remove and download the iOS update again

    If you still can't install the latest version of iOS, try downloading the update again:

    1. Go to Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage. Under Storage tap Manage Storage.
    2. Find the iOS update in the list of apps.
    3. Tap the iOS update, then tap Delete Update.
    4. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and download the latest iOS update.

     

     

    https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 17, 2016 1:25 PM in response to Onnaderuion
    Level 7 (24,450 points)
    Aug 17, 2016 1:25 PM in response to Onnaderuion

    My guess is if you do not have enough free storage space on your Mac to backup, you almost certainly do not have enough space to download the update, uncompressed it and run it.  Your problem is your Mac has far too little free disk space.

     

    Similarly on your iPhone, if the update downloads but cannot run, you are likely too short of free space on the phone itself.

  • by javaliga,

    javaliga javaliga Aug 17, 2016 1:29 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 4 (3,497 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 17, 2016 1:29 PM in response to Michael Black

    Michael Black wrote:

    ...

     

    Similarly on your iPhone, if the update downloads but cannot run, you are likely too short of free space on the phone itself.

     

    But, as I recall, the update should tell you that.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 17, 2016 1:35 PM in response to javaliga
    Level 7 (24,450 points)
    Aug 17, 2016 1:35 PM in response to javaliga

    I believe  it should, but as the free space gets critically low, iOS (or OS X too) can get flaky and behave in unexpected ways.

  • by Onnaderuion,

    Onnaderuion Onnaderuion Aug 17, 2016 2:47 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 17, 2016 2:47 PM in response to Michael Black

    I have 4 gigabytes left, and when I notified an Apple Support employee, they said the storage space wasn't a problem.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Aug 18, 2016 6:05 AM in response to Onnaderuion
    Level 9 (79,523 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 18, 2016 6:05 AM in response to Onnaderuion

    Onnaderuion wrote:

     

    I have 4 gigabytes left, and when I notified an Apple Support employee, they said the storage space wasn't a problem.

    It may not be the only problem but it is an issue. You will see a noticeable improvement if you get more free space (larger hard drive/delete some stuff off current drive).