Backing up your iPhone to an external drive on your Mac is an important task to make sure you don’t lose any valuable data in case your iPhone gets lost, damaged, or replaced. While iCloud offers online backup options, it might not be enough depending on the amount of data you have. In this blog post, we’ll cover several methods you can use to backup your iPhone to an external drive on your Mac.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of How to Backup iPhone to External Drive Mac
Apple’s iOS devices are designed to sync with iTunes to backup data, but not everyone likes iTunes. For example, iTunes might be slow to launch, requires too many clicks to access and can be difficult to use. Additionally, users might be storing their iTunes backups in their computer’s hard drive and running the risk of running out of space.
Storing backups on an external hard drive on the Mac will resolve these issues. However, more often than not, users are not aware of how to do this or think that it is a difficult process. In reality, it’s a relatively simple process that can be done with a few clicks.
Things You Should Prepare for
1. A Mac device (running OS X 10.10.5 and higher)
2. An iPhone or iPad (running iOS 9 or higher)
3. An external drive that you want to use for backup
4. iTunes application
Method 1: Using Time Machine
Time Machine is a built-in backup feature on your Mac that lets you make automatic backups of your data.
Before starting, make sure your external drive is connected to your Mac device.
1. Click on the Apple logo on the top left corner of your screen, then go to System Preferences > Time Machine.
2. Click Select Backup Disk.
3. Choose the external drive that you want to use for backup, then click Use Disk.
4. You now have the option to encrypt your backup by ticking the selection to “Encrypt backup disk”. This is optional, however will provide additional security.
5. Turn on Time Machine by clicking on the On/Off switch.
6. Connect your iPhone/iPad to your Mac device using the USB cable.
7. Open iTunes and click on the iPhone/iPad icon in the top left corner.
8. Select Backup Now under Manually Back Up and Restore. The backup process will take some time, so be patient.
Pros:
– Automatic backups on Time Machine
– Easy to setup and configure
– No additional third-party software required
Cons:
– Must keep external drive connected to your Mac at all times
– May take up a lot of space on your external drive
Method 2: Via Finder
The Finder also offers a way to manually backup your data to an external storage device.
1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
2. Open Finder, then click on your iPhone under the Devices list.
3. Click on the Finder menu, then choose the “Backup” option.
4. Select the external drive you want to use for backup, then click “Backup Now”.
Pros:
– Quick and easy to backup with Finder
– No additional software installation required
Cons:
– No automatic backups like Time Machine
– Only available for macOS Catalina and above
Method 3: Third-Party Backup Software – iMazing
iMazing is a third-party backup software that is compatible with Mac and iOS.
1. Download and install iMazing on your Mac device.
2. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using the USB cable.
3. Open iMazing, then click on your iPhone under the Devices list.
4. Select “Backup” from the menu.
5. Select the external drive you want to use for backup, then click “Backup Now”.
Pros:
– Offers additional features such as selective backups
– No limit of backups on external drive
– User-friendly interface
Cons:
– Limited free version, premium version comes with a price
– Not a built-in feature on Mac
Method 4: Automator
Automator is a built-in app on Mac that allows users to create workflows and automate repetitive tasks.
1. Launch Automator on your Mac device by finding it in the Applications folder.
2. In Automator, choose Application from the prompt, then click Choose.
3. In the library column, select Files & Folders, then drag Copy Finder Items onto the workflow area.
4. Select your external drive from the drop-down menu.
5. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
6. Open iTunes, and make sure your iPhone/ iPad is selected from the top left corner.
7. From the iTunes menu bar, select File, then select Backup.
8. Once the backup is complete, click on the Finder and navigate to “User > Library > Application Support > MobileSync > Backup”.
9. Drag the latest backup folder to the external drive in the Automator workflow.
10. Save the workflow by choosing “File > Save As” then choose “Application” from the “File Format” option.
Pros:
– No additional software required
– Customizable workflow
Cons:
– Automation can still be confusing for some users
– Lack of control over backup options
Why Can’t I Backup My iPhone to External Drive Mac?
1. Outdated Software: Before attempting to back up, make sure your Mac device is updated with the latest software.
2. Storage Space: Ensure that your external drive has enough space to store backups.
3. USB Issues: Check your USB cables and ensure that they are functioning correctly.
4. Hardware Limitations: Some older Mac device do not support certain external drives.
Additional Tips
1. Keep your external drive in a safe place to avoid any physical damage.
2. Don’t forget to regularly update and check backups.
3. Use password protection or encryption if possible.
5 FAQs about How to Backup iPhone to External Drive Mac
Q1: Can I backup multiple iOS devices to the same external drive?
A: Yes, you can backup multiple iOS devices to the same external drive, but it might be a good idea to create a separate folder for each device to avoid confusion.
Q2: Can I stop a backup in progress?
A: Yes, you can stop a backup by clicking on the small “x” symbol located next to the progress bar in iTunes.
Q3: Can I backup my iPhone to a network drive?
A: Yes, it is possible to backup to a network drive, but it requires additional configurations that can vary depending on your network setup.
Q4: Can I backup to the external drive without iTunes?
A: Yes, backup can be done via Finder.app.
Q5: How do I find my backup files on the external drive?
A: Backup files are saved in ‘MobileSync/Backup’ folders. These backups can then be transferred to a new device or restored back to the original device.
In Conclusion
Backing up your iPhone to an external drive on your Mac device is a wise choice to keep your important data safe. Whether you choose to use Time Machine, Finder, third-party backup software or Automator, it’s important to have a reliable backup strategy. By preparing both your Mac device and external drive, following one of the four methods above, and keeping backups up-to-date, you can avoid losing any important data.