Existing users, 
Speeding up iPhone Backups
Posted 8 September 2008 @ 6am in Troubleshooting
iPhone backups through iTunes after the OS 2.0.x update are inordinately long for some users, literally taking hours in some cases.
We’ve now received reports indicating that the slow backup issue may be caused by the presence of certain applications. Specifically, several users have reported that removing the application VoiceNote results in faster backups.
Some sample reports from an Apple Dicussions thread:
- “Solution for me: Deleted the VoiceNote app and all my VoiceNote files on the iPhone and in iTunes. TADAA! Sync time decreased from 1 hour+ to less than a minute!”
- “(VoiceNote) was an app that I had downloaded and used a few times over the weekend. I decided to delete it 1st and then sync my iPhone to see if it made a difference. Wow! What a difference - from 2 hours to backup and sync to 2 minutes. I think this shows that it’s the apps that affect the backup times.”
We are also receiving reports indicating that a number of the fixes for sync issues we noted almost a a year are effective at speeding backup times. These include connecting the iPhone directly to a computer’s USB port rather than through a USB hub; switching USB ports if you’re having problems with one and more.
Feedback on this issue? Let us know.
Print This Post
6 Comments
Posted by sithel
8 September 2008 @ 8am
I’ve had delays after installing big apps like HoldEm (poker). In this case the large data size is due to the program itself with video, etc. I resolved this by downloading the app to my computer separately so that no sync to/from the phone was necessary. This trick probably won’t help with things like VoiceNote where the large data is due to dynamic content recorded by the user.
Posted by marcel.rabino
8 September 2008 @ 9am
My iPhone 2,5G uses firmware 2.0.2; takes >2hours to complete a sync. I tried to remove ALL apps a ALL midia content from it and the sync time reduced to about 1 hour!!!!! Restored it twice and got the same results.
Absolutely frustrating… Have been using it without backing up; just praying to not have an incident until Apple fixes this inconvenience.
Posted by daniel4510_dotmac
8 September 2008 @ 11pm
How to speed up backups:
Let the first backup finish, no matter how long it takes.
If you are concerned that the backup process has stalled, look in User > Library > Application Support > Mobile Sync > Backups and open the folder. Watch for any activity. If you see files being saved, the process is working. (I have over 17,000 files in my backup folder; that’s a lot of copying even for my desktop, much less USB).
Sync at night, or when you are not expecting calls. Getting a call during the backup process (or by canceling a backup that you think is going to slow) will force a complete backup the next time you sync. Ordinarily, a backup will only backup files that have changed since the previous backup. If you cancel a backup, it will start from scratch.
Set iTunes so that it does not perform a sync everytime the iPhone is connected to the dock. Then you can quit iTunes and at least charge your phone without opening iTunes to perform a backup.
My backups used to take 3-5 hours. Now they take 3-5 minutes following the ”rules” above.
Posted by lleachie
9 September 2008 @ 5am
I’ve also noticed that the longer you wait to back things up, the longer the backup takes. Probably a big “duh”, but for those of you who are postponing the sync because you fear the long wait times, you’re only prolonging the agony. Sync early, sync often.
Posted by outaru
9 September 2008 @ 5am
works fine for me… thanks iphone atlas..
Posted by jjboston75
9 September 2008 @ 10am
First I need to say thanks to iPhone Atlas for this website and the above article it has helped out but disappointing nonetheless that we have to rectify Apple’s issues.
I stumbled upon your website when I bought the brand new 3G iPhone and was looking for other users experiencing these problematic issues like mine that you have been reporting. Guess what it’s almost every single issue you guys have covered. I decide I need to sign up here and let my voice as a consumer be heard as well. I hope the class action lawsuits win and were offered a real solution.