Change iPhone backup to external hard drive?

It is possible on a Mac or Windows. You simply "fool" iTunes by creating a symbolic link from the default location to the external drive. Here is a detailed recipe, for those who don't know what I just said:

https://www.cultofmac.com/426217/how-to-back-up-your-iphone-or-ipad-to-an-extern al-drive/

The process for Windows is similar; if I can find a link I will post it.

I just did this for my iPhone 6 backup on my PC (Windows 10).

I followed the instructions from this website:

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/backup-iphone-external-drive-72349.html

As a side note, I did run into a problem where it kept saying the file was created in the msdos cmd window when I was trying to create the symbolic link. I ended up deleting the "Backup" drive first in the C: drive, and then typing the mklink cmd again. I found that solution here at this website, while also has other solutions to other similar problems as well (just in case you encounter something similar to me).

https://superuser.com/questions/597551/mklink-error-cannot-create-a-file-when-th at-file-already-exists

Hope that helps. Goodluck!

You actually can do this and I just did and it works: https://support.imazing.com/hc/en-us/articles/203504123-Storing-your-iPhone-Back ups-on-an-Alternate-Location

You can do it without imazing; just create a symbolic link from the default location to your external drive.

You can't do it. It's better if you free some space in your PC.

You can copy your backup (the entire folder) from iTunes on your windows PC (see this article Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support) but you MUST make your backup via iTunes using the default route.

You can also decide to make a backup via iCloud, but check how much space is involved in this operation, and see if you have enough storage in your iCloud.

Regards

Giulio

You will have to move some other files to the external drive. iDevices can only be backed up to iTunes, wherever you keep the iTunes library.

Do check if there are old or unneeded backups: iTunes > Preferences > Devices. You can delete them from this window.

Hi

Go to iCloud make sure iCloud back up is on Then backup now

When you charge an iphone /ipad it automatically backs up to iCloud Over your wifi when you charge.

If you need more iCloud space in the UK it,s 0.79p a month for 50G

But you cannot increase memory on iPhone.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

Yes this is very problematic, especially if your mac book pro only have 256 GB solid SSD and your phone have the same size of memory ... then you will never be able to do a full backup of your iPhone ... very disturbing!

Any solutions soon?

That's possible using a 3rd party application, but not via iTunes.

Thanks for your info.

Giulio

Thank you, Lawrence. I didn't know it.

Regards

Giulio

Off topic: Can you help with this post? safe note

I'll try at once, Lawrence.

Thanks and regards and... hapy new year again.

Giulio

Done.

See my post in this thread above dated October 11 2017

Thanks, and Happy New Year again 🙂