Backing up takes 1 hour+??

[nojokews6]

i read all the posts and changed the option of never sending my crash reports and it still takes forever. it used to take 60 seconds but since i updated to 2.0.1 it takes forever.. is there something wrong? thanks in advance John

[iBookfan]

i read all the posts and changed the option of never sending my crash reports and it still takes forever. it used to take 60 seconds but since i updated to 2.0.1 it takes forever.. is there something wrong? thanks in advance John

Try a restore

[TimothyB]

I think I've encountered my longest backup.

It's now been 1 hour and 42 minutes, and the backup bar is only two 3rds full.

This is a 16gig 3G 2.0.1 with only 1.8gigs used, so why does it take this long?

My phone was shutdown and turned back on last night, where I only played Auroa Feint for the first time, then a little this morning before syncing the phone due to low battery. So the phone should have been pretty fresh and running well. I did a restore once a day or so after launch. The 2.0.1 update was done a few days ago.

Usually, backup is around 10-30 minutes for me.

[Geckotek]

I actually go a step further and keep the crash reports directory completely empty. This seems to have helped.

[prupsicle]

When my backup was stuck in the same place for about an hour, I just removed imy iPhone from the dock.

Worked perfectly and the second backup was super fast.

[TimothyB]

Now 2 hours, and the progress bar does seem to have moved since my last post, so it's not stuck stuck. It might go faster if I did try to restart it.

I actually go a step further and keep the crash reports directory completely empty. This seems to have helped.

How do you find those on a PC?

[Cynicalone]

Err something is not right with that...

I have 8 apps and 8+ GB of iTunes Media on my phone and it takes about a minute at most to backup.

Sad to say it but it might be time to visit Apple.

[bert68ku]

I have the exact same issue. It started with the upgrade from 2.0 to 2.01. It takes several hours to backup. Once it completes I can sync quickly / normally a few more times then a day or so later it takes the hour + to sync.

[JML42691]

If it is only the actual backup that is taking you this long to sync, then try this code in Terminal Application to disable them:

defaults write com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true

This will have the iPhone automatically skip right over the backup part of the sync each time it is connected to the computer, and if you would like to backup again, then replace "true" in the last code with "false" or by using this code:

defaults write com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false

--credit goes to the guys over at Macworld in their most recent video podcast, here is the link to the online version of the podcast and the show notes that have the code in them:

Macworld Link (http://www.macworld.com/article/134912/2008/08/mwvodcast62.html)

[sk8mash]

That sucks. On my iPhone it only takes 10 seconds.

[nojokews6]

will a restore help at all? What could my problem be?

[JML42691]

will a restore help at all? What could my problem be?
I don't think that there is any real problem, as it seems to affect many if not most people. Try that code that I gave a few posts back, unless if you are on a PC in which case it would not work. The backup is for your apps and their stored information, so if you don't want to try my suggestion, then your next best bet would be to remove any apps from your device that you do not use regularly in a hope that it will speed up the backup time. But otherwise your only real choice is to wait it out until Apple gives out the next iPhone/iPod touch firmware update or an update to iTunes, one of those could make the backup time quicker, or make it backup less often (maybe every other day, once a week, or something like that).

[nojokews6]

I have a pc, so the coding won't work. I guess I'll just have to wait it out.

[Geckotek]

Now 2 hours, and the progress bar does seem to have moved since my last post, so it's not stuck stuck. It might go faster if I did try to restart it.



How do you find those on a PC?

Mine are here:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Logs\CrashReporter\MobileDevice\%nameofiphone%

Replace %username% with your Windows account name
Replace %nameofiphone% with the name you gave your device during setup

[TimothyB]

Since my aborted back-up that was taking 2 hours, I just tried again tonight, and It was over 2 hours again, with what seemed like another hour left.

I gave up and hit the small cancel button at the top of iTunes and now it's syncing.

I'm going to try and clear all the crash reports like someone suggested.

[skubish]

Mine takes forever as well. It started acting this way since 2.0 so I believe something in the OS isn't working quite right.

[BrownManUPS]

If it is only the actual backup that is taking you this long to sync, then try this code in Terminal Application to disable them:

defaults write com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true

This will have the iPhone automatically skip right over the backup part of the sync each time it is connected to the computer, and if you would like to backup again, then replace "true" in the last code with "false" or by using this code:

defaults write com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false

--credit goes to the guys over at Macworld in their most recent video podcast, here is the link to the online version of the podcast and the show notes that have the code in them:

Macworld Link (http://www.macworld.com/article/134912/2008/08/mwvodcast62.html)

Good job on posting this. I think this should be a sticky because I know a hell of a lot of people having this problem. I for one turned it off the moment I saw this "fix". I hope in 2.1 they fix this because it is very annoying.

[taibien86]

I think I've encountered my longest backup.

It's now been 1 hour and 42 minutes, and the backup bar is only two 3rds full.

This is a 16gig 3G 2.0.1 with only 1.8gigs used, so why does it take this long?


I have this same issue although I have 7 gigs worth of media on my iphone so I always thought that was the reason why mine took so long.


Usually, backup is around 10-30 minutes for me.

i am sometimes able to back up in 5 minutes, but i restored my iphone and what i found out is that you can only restore from the full 2 hour backup that you did. luckily i roughed it out and let it back up for that long or else i would have lost a lot. all my short backups didn't even show up as options when restoring. so just as a warning, everyone should let their iphone backup for two hours occasionally so that you don't lose everything

[HawaiiMacAddict]

Aloha everyone,

I had other issues as well as the long backup issue, but here's a possible solution.

1. In iTunes, leave the Sync Applications checked, but UNCHECK all individual applications. This will delete the apps from your iPhone, which may take a bit of time depending on the number of apps installed. It is important to get back to only a "stock" load.

2. Once that process is complete, unmount your iPhone (eject it from within iTunes and disconnect the syncing cable). Once completed, mount your iPhone again (connect the syncing cable) and get an initial "stock" backup, which should take between 1 and 2 minutes (but probably the former).

3. Now that your iPhone has its initial "stock" backup (ie., no 3rd party apps), add those apps still available in the App Store (I wouldn't add NetShare at this time, for example) and repeat step 2. This initial "fully loaded" backup will take a bit of time, once again depending on the number of apps now installed. For example, my initial "fully loaded" backup took right around 20 minutes (I currently have 47 apps loaded).

4. Once this backup has been completed, repeat step 2 once again and your backup should be between 1 and 2 minutes only. I'm not sure, but this seems to be an incremental backup only.

In other words, you will perform a total of three backups - once after all apps have been deleted, once again after the apps have been re-installed, and finally once again for incremental purposes. In other words, it appears that once the backup performed in step 3 has been completed, each subsequent backup in an incremental backup, vice the full backups we've all been experiencing.

Apparently some corruption occurs with either the 2.0.1 firmware or iTunes 7.7.1 - I'm not sure, but in addition to the long backup times, I also suffered deletion of all iPod content (audio and video) and the ability to run any 3rd party applications (including Apple's Remote app). My only solution, previously, had been to restore my iPhone as a new phone and literally start all over again. After doing quite a bit of troubleshooting and some internet research, I came across the the solution detailed above. It solved all of my issues as well as battery life. In other words, I've also seen much better battery life than before. I'm currently charging my iPhone to 100% now, in order to conduct yet another battery life test and will post screenshots later.

HawaiiMacAddict

[JML42691]

snip
Or you could try the much easier and less complicated process that I suggested above.

[bbplayer5]

Google it. You can run a terminal command to disable backups.

[cWeems]

yea this backup has been worthless, i could retype all my numbers manually by the time a backup has completed if i ever needed to lol

[JML42691]

Google it. You can run a terminal command to disable backups.
This has already been posted in this thread, see the ninth post ;)

--JML

[taibien86]

yea this backup has been worthless, i could retype all my numbers manually by the time a backup has completed if i ever needed to lol

thats just retarded.

[TimothyB]

Google it. You can run a terminal command to disable backups.

I think that was posted already, and I don't think you can do that for PC.

But, it only takes a second to click the cancel button during a back-up to allow the normal sync to follow. Or I hear sliding the lock button the phone does the same.

[HawaiiMacAddict]

Or you could try the much easier and less complicated process that I suggested above.

Aloha JML42691,

It's not about being easier or less complicated, but about what works. I am employed in the IT sector, so I'm just a bit anal when it comes to troubleshooting, and my definition of complicated is probably not the same as yours :D

That being said, please go back and read my post to try to understand the logic behind the steps I detailed. Also, please re-read the last paragraph, in which a possible causal relationship is presented. I got that reasoning from a post detailing an alleged email exchange with no less than Steve Jobs himself. Whether Steve Jobs himself actually corresponded with the other poster is irrelevant - what is interesting is that I also came to somewhat the same conclusion.

A basic breakdown of my issues (ALL post- iPhone firmware 2.0.1 and iTunes 7.7.1 installation) were:

1. Deletion of all iPod content (movies, podcasts, and all audio)
2. Inability to run any and all 3rd party apps, to include Apple's own Remote app (they all crashed within 3 seconds after launch)
3. Extremely long backups (he last I clocked was 2 hours 56 minutes)
4. Dropping from 3G to EDGE in one particular spot on Oahu (between Honolulu and Mililani)

As I mentioned in my earlier post, my only option, other than replacing my iPhones 3G (I'm on my third one now), was to restore my iPhone as a new phone (the last two times I attempted to restore to a known good backup failed), but as this occurred on too frequent a frequency (5-7 times during the past week), I was understandably desperate to find any other available option.

After a lot of troubleshooting and internet research, I came across the steps detailed in my earlier post. If these are either too difficult or complicated, please feel free to do as you have already done. I just wanted to point out that by following those steps, to the letter, 100% of my issues have been resolved. ALL of them are now history, and I get much better battery life as well. While these steps may not work for you, they may work for others.

HawaiiMacAddict

[DanielJvdBerg]

Backing here taking 20 sec every time I backup, har har I laugh at you all.

I'm sorry for being so mean:D

[jcde7ago]

Backing here taking 20 sec every time I backup, har har I laugh at you all.

I'm sorry for being so mean:D

Why would you be laughing? If backing up takes 20 seconds for you, it obviously means you have nowhere near the amount of apps as i do...which in my opinion, defeats the whole purpose of the phone, if you're not even going to try to fully exploit its capabilities outside of making calls :rolleyes:

Honestly, yeah, long backups suck, but you could do things like, oh, carry on living the rest of your life...like letting it backup while you go out for lunch, catch a movie, spend time with your girlfriend, take a 1-hour nap...it really isn't that big of a deal. ;)

[HawaiiMacAddict]

Why would you be laughing? If backing up takes 20 seconds for you, it obviously means you have nowhere near the amount of apps as i do...which in my opinion, defeats the whole purpose of the phone, if you're not even going to try to fully exploit its capabilities outside of making calls :rolleyes:

Honestly, yeah, long backups suck, but you could do things like, oh, carry on living the rest of your life...like letting it backup while you go out for lunch, catch a movie, spend time with your girlfriend, take a 1-hour nap...it really isn't that big of a deal. ;)

Aloha jcde7ago,

How many apps do you have? I currently have 47 apps on my iPhone and my last backup only took 1 minute or so, quite a reasonable time limit.

HawaiiMacAddict

[Night Spring]

I googled "iphone backup" and found a way to disable backup for windows here:
http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2008/08/13341/

[DanielJvdBerg]

Why would you be laughing? If backing up takes 20 seconds for you, it obviously means you have nowhere near the amount of apps as i do...which in my opinion, defeats the whole purpose of the phone, if you're not even going to try to fully exploit its capabilities outside of making calls :rolleyes:

Honestly, yeah, long backups suck, but you could do things like, oh, carry on living the rest of your life...like letting it backup while you go out for lunch, catch a movie, spend time with your girlfriend, take a 1-hour nap...it really isn't that big of a deal. ;)

Making judgements on non facts:D? I use everything in my iPhone. Receive tens of e-mails a day, and I have a lot of apps, I counted 22, which is quite enough in my opinion. Actually, the thing I least do with this thing is make a call;)

[jcde7ago]

Aloha jcde7ago,

How many apps do you have? I currently have 47 apps on my iPhone and my last backup only took 1 minute or so, quite a reasonable time limit.

HawaiiMacAddict

64...and i believe the backups seem to go faster after you do one initially...i also have some really large programs like BeatMaker, Aurora Feint, etc...so i can understand how those could take some time :cool:

[jcde7ago]

Making judgements on non facts:D? I use everything in my iPhone. Receive tens of e-mails a day, and I have a lot of apps, I counted 22, which is quite enough in my opinion. Actually, the thing I least do with this thing is make a call;)

Well it wasn't entirely non-factual, it's been widely known that the more apps you have, the longer it takes to make a backup, which might have only slightly changed during the 2.0.1 update. As i noted on my previous post i just made, having large apps like BeatMaker and Aurora Feint increases the time...plus, there is a HUGE difference between 64 apps and 22 :D

[HawaiiMacAddict]

Aloha everyone,

As promised, here are the screenshots from my initial testing today, following implementation of my iPhone 3G solution. During this test, all of the following were left on (but sometimes not connected - sometimes WiFi dropped to 3G):

3G
WiFi
Location Services (GPS)

While my battery life may not reflect the same as yours, this is by far the best battery life I've experienced thus far.

HawaiiMacAddict

[JML42691]

The 2.0.2 seems to have fixed the problem for my iPod touch. Granted, I did a backup earlier today with 2.0.1 and that took the usual awful time, but the first 2.0.2 sync took 54 seconds to backup. Hopefully this is a very good thing.

[TimothyB]

Here's how my backup is going as I wait to install 2.0.2:

http://premium1.uploadit.org/TimothyB//backing2.jpg

EDIT: Updated it with 3rd time

I'm glad to know a 2.0.2 user says his first back-up after 2.0.2 was short, despite the long backup before the update. I was worried I'd do this 2+ hour backup, then after updating to 2.0.2 it would start from scratch with another 2 hours.

[cWeems]

thats just retarded.

yea right, i should let my phone sit useless for 2 hours jus to back up my phone numbers? siiiiike

[taibien86]

yea right, i should let my phone sit useless for 2 hours jus to back up my phone numbers? siiiiike

i have 304 contacts on my iphone. i would much rather let it sit for two hours than retype them, at least i can do something productive while its backing up and it would take me over two hours to re enter all that info.

[Sweetbike40]

These long back up times just are not right. I am lucky that it only takes a few minutes. But i'm reading for some people it takes up to 3 hours???!! I don't think the apps are big enough for such long back up. Backing up a MacPro MAY take that long but teenie, tiny iPhone Apps???

Has anyone brought their phone to the Genius Bar and asked them why this happens? I wouldn't tolerate it if it was happening to me.

[mappyman]

The number of Apps doesnt matter. If you regularly plug it into your USB port.

Its how much you change your iPhone between plugging it in again.
You could have 200 apps. Add +1 more file and it will be really quick.

But Add 60 apps and then plug it in, your going to be there for hours.

[Night Spring]

The number of Apps doesnt matter. If you regularly plug it into your USB port.

Its how much you change your iPhone between plugging it in again.
You could have 200 apps. Add +1 more file and it will be really quick.

But Add 60 apps and then plug it in, your going to be there for hours.

What you say is true enough, as far as if you change just one file, backup would be faster than if you had added 60 apps since last backup.

Still, backing up 60 apps shouldn't take several hours -- I mean, I have like several gigs of music and videos that I sync to my Touch, and copying them all from the computer to Touch takes less than an hour -- probably more like thirty minutes. I have less than a gig of app data, yet a complete backup of those takes over an hour. Is my hard drive really nearly 10 times slower than the flash drive on the Touch?

[mappyman]

What you say is true enough, as far as if you change just one file, backup would be faster than if you had added 60 apps since last backup.

Still, backing up 60 apps shouldn't take several hours -- I mean, I have like several gigs of music and videos that I sync to my Touch, and copying them all from the computer to Touch takes less than an hour -- probably more like thirty minutes. I have less than a gig of app data, yet a complete backup of those takes over an hour. Is my hard drive really nearly 10 times slower than the flash drive on the Touch?

I dont know what Apple is doing but I think they encrypt each app back onto the hard drive.

Maybe its the encryption thats taking a long time.

[TimothyB]

After my 3 hour backup before updating to 2.0.2 I went to update, it had to do one more backup, which was fast. But now, only a couple days later, no new apps installed, maybe updates, it was again beginning to take way too long. If I did happen to forget about one I installed, it was probably just one, no way something like 60 apps. This seems to happen way too often.

[taibien86]

The number of Apps doesnt matter. If you regularly plug it into your USB port.

Its how much you change your iPhone between plugging it in again.
You could have 200 apps. Add +1 more file and it will be really quick.

But Add 60 apps and then plug it in, your going to be there for hours.

this isn't true, because this....

After my 3 hour backup before updating to 2.0.2 I went to update, it had to do one more backup, which was fast. But now, only a couple days later, no new apps installed, maybe updates, it was again beginning to take way too long. If I did happen to forget about one I installed, it was probably just one, no way something like 60 apps. This seems to happen way too often.

...happened to me. how long it takes to backup has nothing to do with the amt of apps you have on your iphone. what i'm trying to figure out is why have the 2 minute backups when you aren't even able to restore from them (i've tried).

[t0mat0]

Can I point folks toward the previous thread which had a solution for many - basically resetting the "do you want to send crash information to Apple" box many ticked at the start without thinking about it.

Clears away those long long unnecessary backups.
Don't have the link to hand, but it's around i the iPhone forum.

[TimothyB]

Can I point folks toward the previous thread which had a solution for many - basically resetting the "do you want to send crash information to Apple" box many ticked at the start without thinking about it.

Clears away those long long unnecessary backups.
Don't have the link to hand, but it's around i the iPhone forum.

I removed all the logs stored on my computer, but don't have a way to access any ones store on the iPhone, at least from my PC. After removing 112 crash logs and other stuff from the Apple folders on my PC, it still took 3 hours. But those might not have anything to do with the current backup. I'll have to search to see if there is a way to undo that option where I allowed iTunes to send Apple the reports.

[Rybold]

After reading about all of these 1.5 to 2 hour backups,
I'm glad my phone is still running 2.0.0. :)

yea right, i should let my phone sit useless for 2 hours jus to back up my phone numbers? siiiiike
In the meantime, Steve Jobs will be uploading his own personal copy of your phone numbers and info. :confused:

quote of the day:
"After updating, I'm still having 3G connectivity issues on my iPod Touch." Haha! Lol.

[nfg315]

why are people talking about phone numbers???? your phone numbers should either be in outlook or address book.app - if you crash, just effin resync the phone

i don't think people understand what backup is even for - you backup for game saves, sms history, app settings, phone settings, crash reports

you should not be backing up the phone for photos, email, calendar, contacts, even the actual apps are synced separately from the backup - all of that stuff will reappear the first time you sync

backup != syncing