About iPhone backups
Posted 30 April 2008 @ 1pm in Guides/How-Tos
Apple has posted a new Knowledge Base article about iPhone/iPod Touch backups that is definitely worth a read. The article describes when backups occur, the difference between syncing and backing up, and how to restore from backups. It also details the process for deleting unwanted backups:
“You can also use iTunes to create a backup of settings and certain other information on your iPhone or iPod touch to use in case you want to restore the software on your iPhone or iPod touch or transfer this information to a different device. Backup information includes information such as mail settings, text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, certain network settings, and other preferences.”
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4 Comments
Posted by web+iphoneatlas
30 April 2008 @ 7pm
One this it doesn’t mention is where those files are stored. My wife and I share an iTunes library on our MBP. The backups are stored somewhere in the user directory, not the iTunes library. I’m searching for them now, but I’m sure someone else knows where they are. The reason I mention this is that in situations like ours, you need to be sure you sync while under the correct account if you want to keep the number of backups down to a minimum.
Posted by lance_1012
1 May 2008 @ 3am
2 comments, really:
1) To the first poster, if I read the article correctly, each of your backups will show in the iTunes>Preferences>Syncing pane.
2) I inferred from the article that backups are only done when syncing is automatic. From the article:
If you have configured your iPhone or iPod touch to automatically sync with iTunes on a specific computer, iTunes will back up the iPhone or iPod touch after you connect it to that computer and sync with iTunes. iTunes will not automatically back up an iPhone or iPod touch that is not configured to sync with that computer. iTunes only makes one backup each time you connect, even if you sync multiple times before disconnecting.
The only other times a backup is made is from updating or restoring software. I do not auto sync nor have I done either of the other two, yet iTunes does sow a backup done the last time I did a manual sync.
Posted by libertyforall1776
1 May 2008 @ 12pm
Backups are stored here:
/Users/XXYYZZ/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup/
Posted by it.is.me42
2 May 2008 @ 2am
You can also tar up the backup directoryunder the backup path mentioned above.
This is usefull when moving to a new PC, or keeping the backup in a diferent folder before a new firmware update invade somthing was to get corrupted.