Backup Iphone To Usb Drive Mac

  1. How To Backup Iphone To Usb Drive
  2. Mac Iphone Backup Location
  3. How To Backup Iphone To Hard Drive

If you backup your iPhone or other iOS devices regularly, it’s worth running CleanMyMac X periodically to make sure no outdated files are left lingering on your Mac. CleanMyMac X is Mac’s leading utility tool, designed to rid your system of junk files to free up space and maintain smooth performance. Copy the backup to the external hard drive Let's do the easy bit first. Get hold of an external drive with plenty of space. Make sure it's formatted correctly and create a folder on the drive with. USB 3.0: This is the third version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. The main reason you'd want it for your iPhone flash drive is because it transfers data ten times faster than USB 2.0. The main reason you'd want it for your iPhone flash drive is because it transfers data ten times faster than USB 2.0. USB 3.0: This is the third version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. The main reason you'd want it for your iPhone flash drive is because it transfers data ten times faster than USB 2.0. The main reason you'd want it for your iPhone flash drive is because it transfers data ten times faster than USB 2.0. Open iTunes and connect your iPhone. Click the device icon in the top left, then click “back up now.” Once the process is complete, go to the iTunes backup folder (“%appdata% Apple.

'I want to back up my iPhone to an external hard drive. I don't have enough storage space on my MacBook's hard drive. I have already moved all my iTunes libraries and media folders to the external hard drive, but I need to know how to get the hard drive to be the default storage for my iPhone backup. Does anyone know how to do this?'

Backing up your iPhone to your Mac can no doubt wreak havoc on your storage space. That's why most people will often try to back up the device to an external hard drive. In this article, we are going to show you how to set up Mac OS X, so you can easily back up your iPhone to an external drive.

How to Backup iPhone to an External Hard Drive on Mac

In order to successfully back up your iPhone to an external drive, you will need to have a little bit of knowledge of directory structures and command line. This is because we will be using symbolic links to get that done. Not to mention you will also need the usual iTunes, a USB cable, the iPhone itself and an external hard drive.

It is also worth mentioning that this process will work on all versions of Mac OS X, all iOS devices with all versions of iOS and all versions of iTunes. That said, here's a step by step guide to help you get it done.

Step 1: Quit iTunes of its still open on your computer.

Backup Iphone To Usb Drive Mac

Step 2: If you haven't already done so, connect the external hard drive you intend to use to the computer and then create a new folder on the drive that will be dedicated to your iTunes backups. You can name the folder anything as long as the file name denotes that it will be an iTunes backup folder.

Step 3: Open the Finder window and then hit Command+ Shift + G and enter the following path ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/

Step 4: In this directory, find the folder called 'Backup' and then copy that folder to the folder you just created in the external hard drive.

Step 5: Now back in the ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/ path, rename 'Backup' to 'Backup-Old'. You can also just delete it but only if you are certain you have copied it to the external hard drive.

Step 6: Launch the Terminal application. You can find it in /Applications/Utilities/ and then type following command:

ln -s /Volumes/FileStorage/Name of Backup File/

~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync

Replace 'Name of Backup File' with the actual name for the backup file you created in the external hard drive

Backup Iphone To Usb Drive Mac

You may also need to replace 'FileStorage' with the name of the external drive.

Step 7: Now, quit Terminal and then go back to ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync. In the Finder, the backup folder should be a generic file with an arrow on it. This signifies that there is now a direct link between that 'Backup' and the location on your external drive.

Step 8: Open iTunes and connect the iPhone. Select it when it shows up within iTunes and select 'This Computer' as the backup location.

Step 9: Click 'Back Up Now' to start the backup process.

Step 10: Once the backup is complete, confirm its location by going to the folder on the external hard drive. There should be a 'Backup' folder containing a subdirectory. This is the backup you've just created.

That's it. Your backups will now be saved to that external drive as long as it is connected to the Mac. Be advised that the backup will fail if the external drive is disconnected.

How to Create External iTunes Backups Entirely with Command Line

For more advanced users, you can complete the entire process of directory creation from the command line. If you choose to, this is how the general syntax would look.

mkdir /Volumes/ExternalFileStorage/iTunesDeviceBackups/

cp ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ Volumes/ExternalFileStorage/iTunesDeviceBackups/

cd ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/

rm -r Backup/

ln -s /Volumes/ExternalFileStorage/iTunesDeviceBackups/Backup/ ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/

The iTunes backup will back up to the external drive once the symbolic link has been achieved. It is however a good idea to keep backing up via iCloud as well, you never know what could go wrong.

SUMMARY: Have running short of storage on both your iPhone and your computer hard drive and want to learn how to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive? Using SyncBird you can find a easy and quick solution.

SyncBird - iPhone Photo Transfer/Backup Photos Try it FREE


It's glad to see Apple ceased 16GB model since iPhone 7. But it's still amazing how quickly a 64 GB iPhone fills up with just these Live Photos, 4K videos, and high resolution portrait images. It would be another pain if your computer is also short of storage. So would it be possible to transfer and backup your photos from your iPhone to an external hard drive? Read on this article to find a solution (Learn How To Transfer Photos from iPhone To Computer).

Table Of Content:


Part 1: FAQs About Transfering Photos from iPhone To External Hard Drive

If you have a large collection of photos on your iPhone, you should consider have multiple-layered backup option for your photos since it's hardly to regain these moments and memories. If your SSD hard drive of your computer is also running out of storage, and you have no plan to upgrade your iCloud storage plan, backing up your photos to an external hard drive would be a great choice. Here are some FAQs for your reference.

This Complete Guide Shows How To Transfer Photos from iPhone To External Hard Drive via @MiniCreo_Apps Click To Tweet
  • Q: How do I move my iPhoto library to an external hard drive? A: The best way to transfer your photos from iPhone to an external hard drive is by using SyncBird Pro. Steps: Download SyncBird Pro on your Mac computer > connect your iPhone to your Mac > Open SyncBird Pro > Device > Photos > Send To External Hard Drive.
  • Q: Can I use iTunes to transfer photos from my iPhone to my seagate external hard drive? A: No. iTunes doesn't have an option to backup your photos on iPhone to an external hard drive. So it's suggested to choose a third-party iPhone Photo Manager software like SyncBird Pro.

Read Also: The Best Way To Transfer Music from iPhone to Mac >


Part 2: How To Transfer Photos from iPhone To External Hard Drive

The hard way to export photos from your iPhone to an external hard drive is by using Photos app on your Mac or Windows 10/Windows 8 computer. It requires you to get photos off your iPhone, then move that iPhone photo library from computer to the external hard drive.

The most troubling of all is that, with big chances, you may fail to get it done because this procedure requires large amounts of storage for your computer. So you should use SyncBird Pro - a versatile iTunes alternative which is made to manage your iPhone photos with great flexibility and easeness. Here are easy steps to transfer photos from iPhone to an external hard drive with SyncBird Pro.

Steps:

  • Step 1:Download and install SyncBird Pro on your computer > Open SyncBird Pro.
  • Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your Mac > On the left side of SyncBird Pro, click Device > Photos:
  • How To Transfer Photos from iPhone To External Hard Drive

  • Step 3: Choose the photos you want to move from iPhone to your external hard drive > Click Send To Mac button > Choose your external hard drive as the target output folder, click Open > SyncBird Pro will start copying these photos directly to your external hard drive.
  • How To Transfer Photos from iPhone To External Hard Drive

  • Step 4: After a while, SyncBird Pro will finish moving photos from iPhone to your external hard drive:
  • How To Transfer Photos from iPhone To External Hard Drive

Pro Tips: Not a fan of iTunes? SyncBird Pro is also a complete iTunes alternative utility which may help you out of the iTunes not syncing issues. It can also transfer your music, pictures, videos, contacts, messages and more between your iPhones, iPods, and Macs.

SyncBird Pro - iPhone Photo Transfer/iPhone Backup Try It for FREE

The Bottom Line

Now have you get your photos moved from your iPhone to your external hard drive with SyncBird Pro? Drop a line in comment box below if you still have any question. One last thing is that, with SyncBird Pro, you can also free up space on your iPhone, browse iPhone backup content, slim down bloated iTunes library, to just name a few. So free download it here to start evelating your iPhone, iPad and iTunes experience.

Free Download Get A Pro License
100% Secure. Verified daily by McAfee® & Norton™.

How To Backup Iphone To Usb Drive

More iPhone/Mac Related Tips

Mac Iphone Backup Location


How To Backup Iphone To Hard Drive

Tags: iPhone TricksiTunes AlternativeiPhone Data TransferiPhone Photos