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Change iPhone backup to external hard drive?

How do i change the back up location for my iTunes/iPhone back up from my internal drive to an attached external hard drive.? My internal drive does not have enough space. Thank you!

iPhone 7, iOS 10.3.3, iTunes on a PC with Windows 10

Posted on Sep 6, 2017 12:35 PM

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Posted on Sep 6, 2017 12:57 PM

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

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Sep 6, 2017 12:57 PM in response to Johnwjs

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

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Oct 13, 2017 8:34 PM in response to Johnwjs

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!

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Oct 11, 2017 2:36 PM in response to ProustGiulio

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.

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Sep 6, 2017 12:45 PM in response to Johnwjs

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;

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Sep 6, 2017 12:46 PM in response to Johnwjs

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.

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Change iPhone backup to external hard drive?

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