Backing up iPad 256G on an MacAir? Easy way to use external drive?

[wbeasley]

Hi,

While I have other Macs, I would like to sync and backup my iPad Pro to my MacAir.

There isn't enough physical memory to do so wondering if there is a way to plug in an external drive and use that for backups (would be good for storing iTunes files too rather than clutter up the limited storage - yes, I know iTunes had a Preference to choose storage location - does iTunes also have a hidden location for backups?)

Cheers!

 

[ericwn]

Check the iTunes preferences. All you need is probably there. Moving the iTunes library to an external drive is no problem. Just remember to always attach the drive first before launching iTunes.

 

[ventmore]

I think this is what you're looking for:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/29207054#message29207054

Hi,

While I have other Macs, I would like to sync and backup my iPad Pro to my MacAir.

There isn't enough physical memory to do so wondering if there is a way to plug in an external drive and use that for backups (would be good for storing iTunes files too rather than clutter up the limited storage - yes, I know iTunes had a Preference to choose storage location - does iTunes also have a hidden location for backups?)

Cheers!

 

[millydog]

You can either run your entire iTunes library on the external drive or have the iOS back up files saved there, or both. I do both.
I actually had created a new iTunes library on the external drive by holding down the Option key during start up of iTunes and creating a new library in an iTunes folder on the external drive. Then I imported apps and music, etc, from my previous iTunes location.
If you do that, your backups are still on the local drive, so you also need to create a Backups folder on your external drive, move any previous iOS backups to it, then remove the Backups folder from your local drive and then create a symbolic link. This means that iTunes will then attempt to save it to the local Backups folder, but the link will mean that it points to the external folder and they will save their instead.
You will find step by step guides by Googling "iTunes Backups symbolic link mac".
I can move my entire iTunes library and Backups between different macs with this configuration. All I need to do on the second mac is to also create a symbolic link on it to the Backups folder as well and hold down the Option key while loading iTunes (one time only) to select the .itl file on the external drive to load that library.

 

[wbeasley]

I think this is what you're looking for:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/29207054#message29207054

thank you so much for the link... going to see what I can do now. figured a lot of people with large phones/ipads and small Mac drive must have this issue too. Apple need to address this and make easier as the problem is only going to get worse as mobile devices get larger memories...

You can either run your entire iTunes library on the external drive or have the iOS back up files saved there, or both. I do both.
I actually had created a new iTunes library on the external drive by holding down the Option key during start up of iTunes and creating a new library in an iTunes folder on the external drive. Then I imported apps and music, etc, from my previous iTunes location.
If you do that, your backups are still on the local drive, so you also need to create a Backups folder on your external drive, move any previous iOS backups to it, then remove the Backups folder from your local drive and then create a symbolic link. This means that iTunes will then attempt to save it to the local Backups folder, but the link will mean that it points to the external folder and they will save their instead.
You will find step by step guides by Googling "iTunes Backups symbolic link mac".
I can move my entire iTunes library and Backups between different macs with this configuration. All I need to do on the second mac is to also create a symbolic link on it to the Backups folder as well and hold down the Option key while loading iTunes (one time only) to select the .itl file on the external drive to load that library.

thank you. going to try this now. be very handy to move between devices easily. cheers

 

[ventmore]

thank you so much for the link...

No problem at all!

 

[masotime]

thank you so much for the link... going to see what I can do now. figured a lot of people with large phones/ipads and small Mac drive must have this issue too. Apple need to address this and make easier as the problem is only going to get worse as mobile devices get larger memories...

There is a solution. Apple expects you to use iCloud (and pay for the space you need) rather than your own physical storage.

I'm not saying I agree with using iCloud (I don't), but Apple won't "address" this because they believe they already have.