By Michael | Last Updated
Usually while you back up iPhone through iTunes on Windows or Mac, the backup file will be automatically saved in default location on the limited disk space. In order to release the disk space the backup files occupy, you can backup iPhone to external hard drive instead.
This post will tell you how to backup iPhone to external hard drive, such as USB flash drive on Windows and Mac.
Before manually backup iPhone to external hard drive, please make a copy of original backups that have been ever saved on the default backup location. And then delete this folder "Backup".
As is known to all, when we create the iPhone backup on Windows computer, it will overwrite the old ones. Yes, you can backup iPhone to external hard drive via iTunes. It is a little complicated but I believe you can handle it. There is another way to backup iPhone to external hard drive on Windows computer—using iSunshare iSyncGenius , the iTunes alternative for iPhone backup.
Preparation:
1. Format USB flash drive to Windows NT file system (NTFS)
2. Create a new folder called "iPhoneBackup" in the root of USB flash drive
3. Delete or rename the backup folder in this path: C:\Users\yourWindowsusername\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\
You just need to simply create a symbolic (virtual) link in Windows, to a folder on your external hard drive. Connect prepared USB flash drive to Windows computer. If a mklink symlink creation error appears, see how to fix it at first.
1. Close iTunes and run Command Prompt as administrator on Windows computer.
2. Type following command lines and press Enter.
mklink /J "C:\Users\yourWindowsusername\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "H:\iPhoneBackup"
Note:
3. Instantly you will see there is a new folder called "Backup" created with an arrow on it in the default iPhone backup location.
Connect your iPhone to Windows computer, and open iTunes. When iPhone is checked by iTunes, click on its icon and tap on Back Up Now to wait for backing iPhone to connected USB flash drive.
As long as you don't cancel the Mklink routing to the external drive with command below, the iTunes backup will be stored on external drive from then on.
iSunshare iSyncGenius is the easy-to-use iTunes alternative for iPhone backup, which allows users to backup full iPhone data or partial iPhone data to your Windows computer or external hard drive. This program is designed with the intuitive using interface so that users can easily create the iPhone backup.
1. Connect iPhone and the external hard drive with your Windows computer.
2. Download iSunshare iSyncGenius on your computer and the complete the installation.
3. Start the application and iSyncGenius will detect the connected iPhone. You just need to choose the device model and click on the Next button.
4. You can view all the data that will be backed up. Then click on the Choose button to set your external hard drive folder as your backup location.
5. Click the Start button to begin the process.
It will take times to backing up iPhone data as you save so many files on the iPhone.
6. Finally, the iPhone is backed up successfully on your external hard drive. You can view the iPhone backup in your external hard drive folder.
1. Connect your USB flash drive to Mac.
2. Format USB flash drive in MS-DOS (FAT) on Mac.
While you find USB flash drive is read-only on Mac, please run Disk Utility to erase it with format MS-DOS (FAT). It will allow you to read and write files in USB flash drive on Mac.
3. Create a new folder iPhoneBackup in the root of USB flash drive.
4. Go to FinderApplications Utilities and choose Terminal to run on Mac.
5. Type following commands to tell iTunes the new locations of your iPhone backups.
ln –s /Volumes/External/iPhoneBackup ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync
Note:
Make sure you have deleted the Backup folder from ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync before running Terminal. "External" means the name of your external drive. Then the process of backing up iPhone to external drive on Mac is similar to descriptions on Windows.
How can you copy file or folder path in Mac OS X?
Right click the target file or folder, press and hold on Option key, then choose Copy "xxx" as Pathname from context menu. Paste it on a text and you can get the file or folder path. It is better for you to directly paste the folder path in Terminal than typing path manually.
Summary:
This is an effective tutorial of backing up iPhone to external hard drive on Windows and Mac computer. It is also a useful guide for you to change iTunes backup location, save and move iPhone backup to external drive.
Related Links:
