iCloud backup (iTunes vs. Device Direct)

[gopherhockey]

Now that my yearly iCloud subscription is due, I have some questions about how iCloud works for backups.

First, I have never had a successful backup from my iPad to iCloud without removing a number of apps from the backup... yet via iTunes, I get a backup just fine when selecting "Back up to iCloud"

Interestingly enough, iCloud does not seem to "charge" me for the space it takes to back up my iPad via iTunes. If I look via my iPad, it shows that my iPad takes up just 2gb of space... yet the backups I get via iTunes are more like 15gb.

This tells me either my iTunes backups aren't really going to iCloud, or they are "free" and not at all connected to the backups happening locally on the device.

Does anyone understand the dynamics between iCloud via iTunes and iCloud via the device directly?

 

[hafr]

Now that my yearly iCloud subscription is due, I have some questions about how iCloud works for backups.

First, I have never had a successful backup from my iPad to iCloud without removing a number of apps from the backup... yet via iTunes, I get a backup just fine when selecting "Back up to iCloud"

Interestingly enough, iCloud does not seem to "charge" me for the space it takes to back up my iPad via iTunes. If I look via my iPad, it shows that my iPad takes up just 2gb of space... yet the backups I get via iTunes are more like 15gb.

This tells me either my iTunes backups aren't really going to iCloud, or they are "free" and not at all connected to the backups happening locally on the device.

Does anyone understand the dynamics between iCloud via iTunes and iCloud via the device directly?

Have you had iCloud for a year without ever reading anything about it? Apps don't count against the space since there is no point for Apple to back up something that they already have on their servers. Imagine how many copies of the Facebook app they would have, should everyone back up a copy each...

 

[WesCole]

Have you had iCloud for a year without ever reading anything about it? Apps don't count against the space since there is no point for Apple to back up something that they already have on their servers. Imagine how many copies of the Facebook app they would have, should everyone back up a copy each...

While this is true, app data does get backed up, and in some cases can be quite large. For example, my Fragger backup is ~250MB.

 

[gopherhockey]

Right, I didn't mean "app backup" without data. Data is what we all want backed up, I assumed that was a given so didn't spell it out. Goodreader, for example, has over 2gb of data my iPad.

What I'm getting at is the difference between an iCloud backup via iTunes, and an iCloud backup via direct off mobile device. Both *should* be backing up "data".

I just don't understand how iTunes can report its backing up correctly, but when I check my iPad it can show that no backup exists at all and I can't get it to back up unless I strip out many of the apps (that have data).

I've successfully upgraded and restored the iPad via iTunes so assume that backup is working.

I assumed at the beginning that my iPad backup via either message would be one and the same backup - available to restore via iTunes or via the device (say I'm on vacation and have an incident). As it is, it seems I may not be able to restore remotely but can do it via iTunes... which says its saving in iCloud but I really doubt it actually is.

 

[superstrikertwo]

There is no such thing as "iCloud backup via iTunes" When you backup via iTunes it will backup your device to your computer not iCloud.

This:

Simply tells iTunes to not automatically backup your device when you connect it.

 

[gopherhockey]

Simply tells iTunes to not automatically backup your device when you connect it.

Really? Wow... makes sense based on the behavior, but not at all clear.

When set to "Back up to iCloud" what exactly is it doing then when it says its backing up? (I can right click and select backup device, and it still does something.... that data must be going somewhere..?)

I would think that would allow the iPad to push its backup files to the iCloud folder, then replicate.. allowing the device to use the same backup location for its restore or backup.

I guess I'll switch it to "back up to this computer" for all my iDevices and keep trying to fix my iPad so it will actually use iCloud.. then switch back. Or I'll have to toggle back and forth.

I see many have the same or similar issues that I do. I hope this gets fixed or works better in iOS 6.

 

[hafr]

Really? Wow... makes sense based on the behavior, but not at all clear.

When set to "Back up to iCloud" what exactly is it doing then when it says its backing up? (I can right click and select backup device, and it still does something.... that data must be going somewhere..?)

I would think that would allow the iPad to push its backup files to the iCloud folder, then replicate.. allowing the device to use the same backup location for its restore or backup.

I guess I'll switch it to "back up to this computer" for all my iDevices and keep trying to fix my iPad so it will actually use iCloud.. then switch back. Or I'll have to toggle back and forth.

I see many have the same or similar issues that I do. I hope this gets fixed or works better in iOS 6.

It doesn't matter if you have "back up to iCloud" or "back up to iTunes" checked, because right clicking and choosing "back up this device now" in iTunes ALWAYS backs it up to the computer. The reason why a backup to the computer is larger than a backup to the cloud is because your apps are being backed up on your computer, but to the cloud only the user data and settings are being backed up. Also, you might have disabled certain information from being backed up to the cloud (check iCloud settings).