As the title says, is there any way to fully back up a iPad Pro 12.9” M2 to an external drive? The iPad is already backed up to iCloud, and I know I can back up the files in the Files folder to an external drive, but I can’t backup the Photos app. Is there any app or software that would allow me to backup the entire Photos app? Thanks in advance. Ps: I know I can back up the iPad to a Mac, but I would like to back it up to an external USB-C Hard Drive.
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iPad Pro Is there any way to fully back up a iPad Pro 12.9” M2 to an external drive?
- Thread starter firoze
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You can back it up to a Mac and then copy/symlink the backup folder to an external drive.
You can copy or even sync the photo library with the included albums as folders using for example FileBrowser (Pro) or FE File Explorer on the iPP. I use for quite some time T5 and T7 SSD for this.
These apps provide background copying, can copy directly between 2 different connected SSDs (without copying to the iPad), FileBrowser allows for comfortable renaming of multiple files, and much, much more. Highly recommended.
These apps provide background copying, can copy directly between 2 different connected SSDs (without copying to the iPad), FileBrowser allows for comfortable renaming of multiple files, and much, much more. Highly recommended.
I'll second this on FileBrowser. FB Pro has been one of my favorite apps for years.
To use my external hard drive, I had to update to version 18 beta, then it allowed me to format and works fine.
Well, most if not all external USB-C SSDs or USB-C sticks come preformatted. Usually ExFat. These work perfectly fine with iOS/iPadOS 15/16/17.
But the format-option in 18 is nice to have. 🤜🤛🥹
Thank you, I will check this out. I just looked on the AppStore and there are so many Filebrowser apps with similar names so I am not sure which one you are referring to. Would you please post a link to the App here? Thanks.
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Yep, those worked. But when I put in my 5tb HDD, nope, not matter how I formatted with windows.
With 18, I just plugged it in, formatted on the ipad, and worked everywhere.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/filebrowser-documents-manager/id364738545
I use the Pro version:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/filebrowser-professional/id854618029
A comparison of the versions:
https://www.stratospherix.com/products/comparison.php
The iPad isn't a real "computer", you need a real computer like a mac to back it up. Apple makes more money when you buy both, so they don't have a reason to give you that function.
- Backing up or syncing all data and photos with e.g. FileBrowser is easy.
- Reinstalling any app you bought/have installed, as well as all login credentials, passwords, notes, calender entries, automations or shortcuts, etc. is easy even with the - admittedly far too small - free tier of iCloud. Go to your “purchase” history, everything is there, just install.
So no, you do not need a Mac or other lap/desktop for backup.
nota bene: your user name seems - in this contexts -inadequately chosen. 🤓
Well, sorry, maybe not - it indicates you think that you know about Macs… only, right?
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Hate to tell you pal, but you are dead wrong on two counts.
1. iPad is a real computer...not debatable. May not be a laptop or desktop computer, but it's for sure a real computer. Fact is, it's a tablet computer.
2. You don't need a desktop or laptop, Mac or PC to backup an iPad or iPhone. Like @Slartibart said, your forum name is anything but credible at this point. You may want to read this before commenting again.
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That makes the iPad a computing appliance, not a general purpose computer. If the iPad is a computer, then an iPod is a computer too. Your first link even says an ATM and calculator are computers too.
It's a computer....no if in's or buts about it. It has a cpu, gpu, ram, ssd, has i/o, wifi, Bluetooth, runs apps, plays games, surfs the web, can be used with mouse/trackpad, and external monitor. I've used my M1 iPad Pro 11 to run the mobile side of my real estate and property management business for over two years now. Live in denial all you want, but the ipad is definitively and practically a real computer!
You are wrong about this, just like you are wrong about the backups...
From the article...
"Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet."
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It's great you can run your business with an iPad,all that proves is you don't need a computer to run your business. An iPad is "technically" a computer, it has the parts a normal computer has but the OS is so crippled, you need a real computer to manage it.It's a computer....no if in's or buts about it. It has a cpu, gpu, ram, ssd, has i/o, wifi, Bluetooth, runs apps, plays games, surfs the web, can be used with mouse/trackpad, and external monitor. I've used my M1 iPad Pro 11 to run the mobile side of my real estate and property management business for over two years now. Live in denial all you want, but the ipad is definitively and practically a real computer!
You are wrong about this, just like you are wrong about the backups...
From the article...
"Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet."
I can’t say what I’m really thinking in a forum, but I can make you disappear.
These arguments about "real computer" are absurd. I've been a s/w & h/w professional for almost 50 years now and you could push these ludicrous arguments onto any number of devices that are indeed "real computers".
computer (n.)
1640s, "one who calculates, a reckoner, one whose occupation is to make arithmetical calculations," agent noun from compute (v.).It’s a four hundred year old word that predates micro chips. You’ll never agree what it means in the context of modern computing machines.
But a quick rule of thumb. If someone or something does computations they/it can be called a computer.
That timer on your air fryer, it’s a computer, please don’t try and back it up to your SSD though!!!
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If I interpret this sentence right, well, this would make "classic" Macintosh, Amiga, Atari&Co. hard- & software-wise similarly computing appliances, wouldn’t it?
But we don’t even have to go back in time, where do you draw the line that differentiates?
Oh, I see… well, or better: so I assume any operating system with a database, middleware, security, runtime, and hypervisor integrated into the stack is a general purpose computer? Everything else is not? 🥹
EDIT: “manage”? Are you a “school”? 😉
Taking additionally into account your comment below - I assume you are referring for example to the partly arbitrary limits or restrictions set by Apple regarding programming environments/software development on iPadOS.
But that is a classic non sequitur, isn’t it? 🤣😂
But, hey, I’ll bite, you probably just overlooked this (?):
To anticipate some potential follow ups: yep, that’s local. yep, comes with each iPad for quite some time. no, you do not need a paid developer account.
nota bene: to be clear - and I have mentioned it here before - it boggles my mind that there are arbitrary restrictions set by Apple which limit software development on one of the, if not the fastest, currently available mobile device.
Of course I would love to being able e.g. just to download the sources, compile, run and use my favourite FOSS. Technically I actually can and I have compiled successfully these programs - but the current restrictions set by Apple does not make it IMHO suitable to use them beyond prototyping small projects. As always: YMMV.
And to everyone pointing out that there is often an online solution- particularly related to coding or data science: that’s true, but personally I really like “local” 🤓 - aaaaaand IMHO for various personal reasons this is often a not enjoyable approach. But again: YMMV.
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@macfacts : may I direct you to this currently 271 pages long and ongoing thread here on MR? There are a lot comments and arguments how - or not - and why - and why not - an iPad covers all computing needs for some, and these comments go beyond the occasional “tribal” comments, which are there too. 🤪
You can back it up to an external hard drive
Just place iPad on desk
Put hard drive behind it
Then slowly back up the iPad until it’s touching hard drive
iPad has been backed up to external hard drive
Just place iPad on desk
Put hard drive behind it
Then slowly back up the iPad until it’s touching hard drive
iPad has been backed up to external hard drive
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Did you have a look at iMazing already? https://imazing.com/
I haven‘t used it in a while, but they have the option to back up devices and save the backups on an external drive.
Just be aware that they‘re using their own backup format