Itunes backup error message: Attempting to copy to the disk "Mackintosh Hd" failed. A duplicate file name was specified

Question

Itunes backup error message: Attempting to copy to the disk "Mackintosh Hd" failed. A duplicate file name was specified

Trying to sync and backup my ipad in itunes (ipad air 1 and most up to date ios and Osx operating systems) I get the error message: " Attempting to copy to the disk "Macintosh HD" failed. A duplicate file name was specified"

Backing up this ipad to this mac has always worked in the past and I am still successfully able to back up my iphone to the same mac without this error message.

iPad, iOS 4.3.3

Posted on Sep 3, 2016 10:27 PM

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Answer 1

Teddy_B

Community Specialist

Sep 4, 2016 2:40 PM in response to Tantimongoose

Hi Tantimongoose,

It looks like you're getting an error when trying to backup your iPad to your Mac. From what the error message says, there might be an iPad backup file saved in iTunes with the same file name as the new iPad backup that you are trying to create. What you can try to do is remove any older iPad backups that you do not need and try it again. Alternatively, you can use iCloud to backup your devices. Please check out the links below to learn how to manage your iOS backups on your Mac and backup with iCloud

Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

This should have your backup running smooth as you expect it to. Thanks for using Apple Support Communities to post your question. Have a nice day.

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Answer 2

Sep 21, 2016 12:53 AM in response to Teddy_B

Please help - I am still battling with this error message and really need to make an encrypted itunes backup before updating my ipad to ios10. I have deleted all the ipad backups as suggested (from itunes preferences devices) but it still gives the same error " Attempting to copy to the disk "Macintosh HD" failed. A duplicate file name was specified".

Any other suggestions please?

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Answer 3

rose_10

Community Specialist

Sep 21, 2016 7:59 AM in response to Tantimongoose

Hey there,

If you are still having issues with backing up the device via iTunes on that particular Mac, please try starting up in safe mode and trying again. If safe mode does not allow you to backup as expected, you may need to try backing up on a different computer.

OS X El Capitan: Start up in safe mode

This should have you backing up in no time.

Take care.

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Answer 4

Sep 21, 2016 7:46 PM in response to rose_10

Is there anything else I could try? Is this a common error message? I can't find much about it in google search. Not sure if it is related but I occasionally get a error message from Microsoft office that makes me think my problem with itunes backup is part of a bigger problem/issue as seems similar. The mircosoft office (word) for mac error message says:

"Word is unable to save the Autorecover file in the location you have specified. Make sure you have specified a valid location for autorecover files in preferences and that you have permission to write files to the location you specified"

Even though I have been using word for sometime without a problem and have never specified an autorecover location - just let it sort itself out when it installed.

Just thought that might give some clever person some more clue to my problem.

Any advice would be very gratefully received.

Thanks

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