Iphone with pc users

[phillyman36]

Just wanted to know for those of you using your iphones with a pc how are you backing up your iphone? Are you using the cloud or do you backup on the pc itself? What is your process when you build a new pc and installing all you iphone settings/content on the new pc?

 

[Tweak155]

It's been a long time since I used iTunes on the PC but I remember it being pretty much the same thing.

I think the best bet is to back up to PC because with iCloud, you'll just have to keep buying more room. I remember you could do the photo sharing on PC, but I can't remember if you can do wireless backups. If you can, it should be pretty easy.

 

[swanysto]

That is an interesting question. I have always backed up on my PC, but when I get a new PC or reformat etc. I have never actually brought the back up over, I just unlink the computer from the Apple account, then relink when I reinstall itunes. I then run a backup for my iphone.

 

[Aikouka]

I back up to my desktop machine, and when I build a new machine, I import specific folders over. Most notably are the pertinent folders in AppData, which includes Apple's back-ups. My iTunes library is actually on a separate hard drive, so that just goes with the PC, and when I start iTunes for the first time, I simply hold SHIFT to change the location.

 

[freeskier93]

It's been a long time since I used iTunes on the PC but I remember it being pretty much the same thing.

I think the best bet is to back up to PC because with iCloud, you'll just have to keep buying more room. I remember you could do the photo sharing on PC, but I can't remember if you can do wireless backups. If you can, it should be pretty easy.

The 5GB of free iCloud storage is plenty for a standard settings/app/data backup. The only reason to buy iCloud storage is for photos. Personally I use OneDrive to backup all my photos and I use Spotify for music. I can't even remember the last time I plugged my iPhone into a computer.

And yes, you can do wireless backups to a PC.

Also worth noting that iCloud backups don't backup actual apps, only app data. When you restore from an iCloud backup it just re downloads the apps from the store. If you happen to have some really old apps that aren't on the store then you want to make sure you keeps those apps on your computer. Most people don't realize you can install any legitimate (signed) app from a .ipa file and install it on an iPhone using iTunes.

That reminds me, I think I have an old Tetris game from when the App Store was first introduced. The game was quickly pulled though due to copyright issues. Might have to see if I can find it...

 

[Tweak155]

The 5GB of free iCloud storage is plenty for a standard settings/app/data backup. The only reason to buy iCloud storage is for photos. Personally I use OneDrive to backup all my photos and I use Spotify for music. I can't even remember the last time I plugged my iPhone into a computer.

And yes, you can do wireless backups to a PC.

Also worth noting that iCloud backups don't backup actual apps, only app data. When you restore from an iCloud backup it just re downloads the apps from the store. If you happen to have some really old apps that aren't on the store then you want to make sure you keeps those apps on your computer. Most people don't realize you can install any legitimate (signed) app from a .ipa file and install it on an iPhone using iTunes.

That reminds me, I think I have an old Tetris game from when the App Store was first introduced. The game was quickly pulled though due to copyright issues. Might have to see if I can find it...

I have no idea why it keeps telling me my iCloud storage is full then. I have a 16gb phone, and I don't have many apps at all.

 

[freeskier93]

I have no idea why it keeps telling me my iCloud storage is full then. I have a 16gb phone, and I don't have many apps at all.

You probably have photo library backup turned on since it's on by default. Go into backup settings (Settings -> General -> Storage & iCloud Usage -> Manage Storage (iCloud), here you will see what is taking up all your space. Under "Backups" select your phone backup to see details, you'll probably find "Photo Library" is turned on and is what's taking up all your space.

 

[Tweak155]

You probably have photo library backup turned on since it's on by default. Go into backup settings (Settings -> General -> Storage & iCloud Usage -> Manage Storage (iCloud), here you will see what is taking up all your space. Under "Backups" select your phone backup to see details, you'll probably find "Photo Library" is turned on and is what's taking up all your space.

You're right, I do have photo backups on. However, according to the statistics, that is taking up 21.2mb (I regularly remove photos from my phone, don't know if that helps?). Looks like the majority is other apps... LinkedIn is 204.6mb wow. What on earth could it even be storing?

I also see it is backing up my iPad which I don't feel I really need. If that thing fails I couldn't care less, so maybe I'll just take that off so this thing quits bugging me about space.

 

[freeskier93]

You're right, I do have photo backups on. However, according to the statistics, that is taking up 21.2mb (I regularly remove photos from my phone, don't know if that helps?). Looks like the majority is other apps... LinkedIn is 204.6mb wow. What on earth could it even be storing?

I also see it is backing up my iPad which I don't feel I really need. If that thing fails I couldn't care less, so maybe I'll just take that off so this thing quits bugging me about space.

Your guess is as good as mine. Some apps are apparently developed by college interns who don't understand how to prune data.

 

[phillyman36]

I back up to my desktop machine, and when I build a new machine, I import specific folders over. Most notably are the pertinent folders in AppData, which includes Apple's back-ups. My iTunes library is actually on a separate hard drive, so that just goes with the PC, and when I start iTunes for the first time, I simply hold SHIFT to change the location.

So when you back up do you use the Back up my device option or are you just manually copying the content to the new pc?

 

[Aikouka]

So when you back up do you use the Back up my device option or are you just manually copying the content to the new pc?

It's an actual (encrypted) back-up through iTunes.

 

[nerp]

I don't back up. I connect my iPhone to my PC and drag the DCIM folder over, name it "Nerps Sept. 2016 iPhone Dump," move it to my file server then I open the photo gallery on the phone and delete everything when its full. (Something you can't do on a Mac easily--have to use crap Apple apps to move photos off).

All other info on the phone can be redownloaded after a reset in just a few minutes. Apps can all be reinstalled in seconds and I hold no personal data on my phone other than photos. And though I move the originals to my home server regularly, they're also being dumped into the cloud using OneDrive in real time. I have 1TB storage via my office 365 account so I use that as a secondary photo backup for my phone.

All my email is IMAP, etc, and other than that, there's nothing on my phone that would be "lost" if I had to start over with no backup.

I don't use Apple's iCloud or other services. Never liked them and they've never been reliable for me. Plus the space limits and pricing is really not that great.

Backups for my phone are basically a waste of time. I spend less time grabbing apps and signing into my accounts on my phone than I do creating and storing backups.

Turns out my PCs are the same these days. I can go from a bare Windows 10 install to fully setup and configured in 5 minutes. 10-15 minutes if you include the time to install the OS. All my personal stuff is either on my file server with redundant storage (plus mirrored to a space machine with a pair of HDs using storage spaces then synced to Carbonite) or in the cloud itself: OneDrive, IMAP, etc.

I like not having to deal with traditional "backups." They consume tons of space and with fast internet, fast computers and all my data synced and stored both on my home server and the cloud, my PCs and devices are mere terminals when it comes to accessing personal data.

It extends to games, even. With Steam, I don't give a crap about CD-Keys and stuff. Wipe drive, reinstall Windows, install steam, click on the games I want installed, get that going, hit minimize and move on to the next thing as that streams in the background.

Man, I love computers these days.

 

[sxr7171]

I have not connected the phone to a PC in years. That goes for Mac or Windows.

 

[Tweak155]

Well just to pop back in and comment - I did my switch from iPhone 6 to 7 using my PC this time. It had most of the same options as the Mac I used previously, biggest difference is syncing music. Otherwise, seemed the same.