Why does iPhone take so long to back up?

[sheardude]

For me at least firmware updates are a HUGE pain in the arse b/c my iPhone take hours to back up. Usually it does not even back up giving me a message saying it does not so I end up restoring the phone before updating. Is it supposed to take about 6-8 hours to back up or is that just me? How can I fix this problem besides deleting my many apps?

[kfordham281]

Wow....that's a LONG time to backup. I can update to a new software version in less than an hour. Something is definitely not right with your setup.

Not sure I have a fix for you. How many apps do you have installed?

[sheardude]

I have about 30 apps downloaded

[davidconatser]

I am having the same problem

It seems to get up to a point and then hang, but when I open Activity Monitor, AppleMobileBackup is chugging away writing 500k-600k chunks.

Is it just caught in a loop writing the same thing over and over?

I also have a bunch of apps. But none of them are running during backup.

Why would it take so long to backup a measly 16G when it is only about half full?

If I hit the X, it stops backing up and finishes syncing pretty quickly.

I used Terminal to turn off automatic backup, but then turned it back on since it had been a few days since it backed up.

I hope they will get this fixed. Along with the annoying incompatible data error syncing Contacts on the MacBook and iMac from MobileMe.

Has the Mac guy been hanging around with the PC guy too long making those commercials?

[chas0001]

What is worse is it taking 4 hours to backup and then you try to restore from the backup and it states that cannot because it is corrupted in some way.

[mcdj]

it's because itunes backs up a copy of every post on every forum on the internet asking why backups take so long. ;)

[daneoni]

Maybe its because you have 30 apps installed i have about 4 installed on mine (more on the computer) and my backup rarely goes past 10 secs if it even takes that long.

I don't understand why you would have 30 apps on your phone surely you don't use EVERY single one of them?

[QuarterSwede]

The more apps you have the longer it takes. That's what I've noticed. I'm not sure why Apple hasn't made backing up the iPhone like backing up in Time Machine: the first backup takes a long time because it backups everything. Then only delta (changes) backups are made and only shortcuts to the music in iTunes are backed up. This would immensely speed up the process.

What is worse is it taking 4 hours to backup and then you try to restore from the backup and it states that cannot because it is corrupted in some way.
That happened to me during the 2.0.2 update. Not fun especially when none of the apps or handmade ringtones were in my iTunes yet (long story after bad hardware in my PB).

[Cynicalone]

it's because itunes backs up a copy of every post on every forum on the internet asking why backups take so long. ;)

Ok that made me laugh a little :)

[t0mat0]

There's a current issue with the error reporting that can make backups a lot longer. More apps mean more log files means longer error reporting. i don't have the thread to hadn right now, but the gist is to get a decent backup, then you can delete some of the crash reports, and reset the default setting as to whether you send these reports or not, then manually say no each time. Saves on the sync time. If you're adding and deleting apps in between syncs, there will always be some time taken up sorting that out.

[Excellerator]

What is worse is it taking 4 hours to backup and then you try to restore from the backup and it states that cannot because it is corrupted in some way.

Thats probably because you are trying to restore an aborted backup. Just choose a backup with a date in it and you should be ok. I noticed this the last time I restored. I think it only adds the date when its complete.

[Excellerator]

What gets me is that it takes 20 minutes to install/update/backup a simple app but only around 40 minutes to do 12Gb of music/video. Why do apps take so long. Apple should just ZIP it up and unzip it on the phone.

[yode]

Thats probably because you are trying to restore an aborted backup. Just choose a backup with a date in it and you should be ok. I noticed this the last time I restored. I think it only adds the date when its complete.

how do you find different backup dates? I only get 1 backup even though I have backed up several different days... and the one i can choose is corrupted

[Manzana]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5C1 Safari/525.20)

the whole issue with backups seems so random. For some the problem occurs all the time, for others, like myself we get a "long" one now and then but most of the time it's short. I used to feel that 3rd party apps had something to do with it but now I'm not so sure.

[chas0001]

Thats probably because you are trying to restore an aborted backup. Just choose a backup with a date in it and you should be ok. I noticed this the last time I restored. I think it only adds the date when its complete.

I have tried several times using non aborted backups and have never been able to restore. I have since disabled the backup in itunes.

[mBox]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5C1 Safari/525.20)

the whole issue with backups seems so random. For some the problem occurs all the time, for others, like myself we get a "long" one now and then but most of the time it's short. I used to feel that 3rd party apps had something to do with it but now I'm not so sure.I was having major crashes doing restore/back-up while using the cable provided with the Apple BluTooth. Of course this was the result of the BluTooth attached for charging. However, I still get the 30+min wait for syncing apps. I mean if I have 4 pages of apps and I decide to add a new app, my iPhone is in sync mode for almost an hour at times :P Sometimes random apps dont even update due to some odd error :(

[Excellerator]

how do you find different backup dates? I only get 1 backup even though I have backed up several different days... and the one i can choose is corrupted


On my Itunes, I have had the option to restore or setup a new iPhone. Next to the restore backup filename there is up/download arrows that allows you to choose which one to select. It seems it only puts the date/time on the ones that were completed.

[eneisch]

I was having longs backups as well that were driving me crazy. I tried turning off crash reports and it did not work for me. I found this fix on the Apple discussions site. I performed these steps last week and ever since my backups/syncs have taken 3-5 minutes instead of 1+ hours. It took a little time to implement, but for me it was worth it. Seems that it has to do with corrupt app installations hanging up the backup process. Give it a try and report your successes/failures! The end of the message suggests not to install/update apps directly on the iphone, but I have done it without adverse effect.

"Go into iTunes Edit/Preferences the last tab sync disable auto sync for all iPod and iPhones. This does not fix it it is just the first step do not stop here.

Next connect your iPhone to the computer. Once it shows up in iTunes go into the last tab Applications. Uncheck sync all apps. Now Click apply. Now click sync. it will remove all the applications! After it is finished unplug the iPhone. I bet you will have at least one app still on the Iphone, maybe more. Hold any icon down until they jiggle. tap the x's and delete all the remaing apps. You may notice after you delete each app that a little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you delete the next app.

Once you have deleted all the remaining apps (That had corrupt data that was causing your long back ups!) do a hard reset. To do this hold the sleep/wake button and the home button until the red slider appears at the top of the screen. Slide it over and the phone will power off. You will again notice the spinning circle. Once it finishes wait a few seconds and power the iPhone back on by pressing the sleep/wake button.

While it is booting back up go into iTunes again turn the auto sync back on! Now connect the iPhone to the computer, let it backup and sync. Now it goes so fast you may want to cry or laugh. Now after it finishes go back to the applications tab. Click sync apps again, but make sure you have the 2nd circle checked. This box is sync selected apps. Make sure all the boxes are unchecked! Now slowly begin adding apps back to the iPhone. I have done as many as 5 at a time. Check the boxes then click apply, then sync. It will backup then add the applications and sync all other information. After the sync you may notice that little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you add the next app.

Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!"

[cellocello]

Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!"

That sucks, but sadly - I think you're right.

[QuarterSwede]

Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!"
I would assume that means don't update apps from the phone as well?

[eneisch]

I would assume that means don't update apps from the phone as well?

That's what the OP contends. I have updated a couple of apps via the phone and it hasn't affected the backup speed (yet....). I haven't added any apps since following this method (either on my PC or my phone). My backups have been relatively fast (a couple of minutes) for a week now (applied this fix right after applying 2.02 update).

[SDAVE]

Guys remember that the NAND flash in the iPhone is not that fast. It is sufficient enough to push 1.5mbps max for video and I am pretty sure that it does at least 4MB/sec max, just like microSD cards. However Apple should do some optimizations to make it transfer faster.

[mBox]

Guys remember that the NAND flash in the iPhone is not that fast. It is sufficient enough to push 1.5mbps max for video and I am pretty sure that it does at least 4MB/sec max, just like microSD cards. However Apple should do some optimizations to make it transfer faster.Would it have helped using Firewire or is that just internal speed your talking about?

[SDAVE]

Would it have helped using Firewire or is that just internal speed your talking about?

No, firewire wouldn't help. Theoretically USB2.0 is faster (480mbps vs. 400mbps for firewire). This device is pushing nowhere near the limits of any of these two connections.

AFAIK the OS is not installed on the same memory that handles your media files and apps. When iTunes backs up your contacts, datebooks, etc, they are read off slow NAND memory. The media files are a bit faster but they are not going to be as fast as more expensive flash memory out there, such as one of my 4GB SanDisk UltraIII SD cards, which do an amazing ~15MB/sec.

I'm sure the 3rd generation iPhone will be much faster due to newer memory devices provided by Samsung and the like.

[NeoMayhem]

My backups take about 1, maybe 2 minutes. This is one of the few common bugs I have never had on my iPhone.

Would it have helped using Firewire or is that just internal speed your talking about?


iPhones dont have firewire. If you plug in an old iPod cable you will get an error.

AFAIK the OS is not installed on the same memory that handles your media files and apps. When iTunes backs up your contacts, datebooks, etc, they are read off slow NAND memory

The iPhone only has one memory chip (the touch has two, but they are the same speed). Why can you restore the whole 250mb OS in a few minutes but it takes a while to backup a few settings files?

[QuarterSwede]

I'm sure that's true NeoMayhem, but this issue is a software bug. Doing as eneisch suggests fixes the horribly slow backup problem.

[t0mat0]

1 option.

[SDAVE]

Your backup takes a short time because you're only syncing things that have been updated and in your case date book entries etc.

Try syncing a full iPod to a new computer see how long it takes :)

Actually restoring the whole phone took about 20 minutes last time I tried, so that's pretty long.

[Amorpheus]

I wonder if everybody who has backup issues does connect over USB 2.0?

[QuarterSwede]

I wonder if everybody who has backup issues does connect over USB 2.0?
Isn't that they only way to sync/backup?

[Edit]I did what eneisch suggested and it still took me 50 minutes to backup. I guess I'll just have to wait for Apple to fix this. Even if this is performing as they want it's unacceptable. Especially since Time Machine in OS X backs up a heck of a lot faster with tons more data being transferred (I'm talking GBs sometimes) ... and that's over USB.

[periahdark]

sine 2.0.2 my backups have gone significantly faster, it was like 30 minutes now it takes like 15 maybe less

[yode]

On my Itunes, I have had the option to restore or setup a new iPhone. Next to the restore backup filename there is up/download arrows that allows you to choose which one to select. It seems it only puts the date/time on the ones that were completed.

For mine, it only shows up as "Christian's iPhone", and it still only shows 2 options, one being "Christian's iPhone" and the other being "Unknown". I am sure that I have backed up on different days in the past. Any help on finding the other backups? Btw, the backups I am looking for were of a different iPhone that I got exchanged, same firmware though.

[ssajous]

For me at least firmware updates are a HUGE pain in the arse b/c my iPhone take hours to back up. Usually it does not even back up giving me a message saying it does not so I end up restoring the phone before updating. Is it supposed to take about 6-8 hours to back up or is that just me? How can I fix this problem besides deleting my many apps?

No idea why it does it. I also would love to know why contacts take so long too load.

[iNfowarrior]

Maybe its because you have 30 apps installed i have about 4 installed on mine (more on the computer) and my backup rarely goes past 10 secs if it even takes that long.

I don't understand why you would have 30 apps on your phone surely you don't use EVERY single one of them?

This must be a joke right? What did you even buy the thing for if you wanted 4 apps?

Here's a hint: Current iTunes is GARBAGE

[iNfowarrior]

I was having longs backups as well that were driving me crazy. I tried turning off crash reports and it did not work for me. I found this fix on the Apple discussions site. I performed these steps last week and ever since my backups/syncs have taken 3-5 minutes instead of 1+ hours. It took a little time to implement, but for me it was worth it. Seems that it has to do with corrupt app installations hanging up the backup process. Give it a try and report your successes/failures! The end of the message suggests not to install/update apps directly on the iphone, but I have done it without adverse effect.

"Go into iTunes Edit/Preferences the last tab sync disable auto sync for all iPod and iPhones. This does not fix it it is just the first step do not stop here.

Next connect your iPhone to the computer. Once it shows up in iTunes go into the last tab Applications. Uncheck sync all apps. Now Click apply. Now click sync. it will remove all the applications! After it is finished unplug the iPhone. I bet you will have at least one app still on the Iphone, maybe more. Hold any icon down until they jiggle. tap the x's and delete all the remaing apps. You may notice after you delete each app that a little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you delete the next app.

Once you have deleted all the remaining apps (That had corrupt data that was causing your long back ups!) do a hard reset. To do this hold the sleep/wake button and the home button until the red slider appears at the top of the screen. Slide it over and the phone will power off. You will again notice the spinning circle. Once it finishes wait a few seconds and power the iPhone back on by pressing the sleep/wake button.

While it is booting back up go into iTunes again turn the auto sync back on! Now connect the iPhone to the computer, let it backup and sync. Now it goes so fast you may want to cry or laugh. Now after it finishes go back to the applications tab. Click sync apps again, but make sure you have the 2nd circle checked. This box is sync selected apps. Make sure all the boxes are unchecked! Now slowly begin adding apps back to the iPhone. I have done as many as 5 at a time. Check the boxes then click apply, then sync. It will backup then add the applications and sync all other information. After the sync you may notice that little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you add the next app.

Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!"


I hate to burst your bubble but the step involving powering off the iphone and powering it back on is the only step out of that entire rant that will do anything. Everything else is just changing preferences and following common sense.

Despite endless rumors, reseting the device is the only fix for anything, short of a restore.

[eneisch]

I hate to burst your bubble but the step involving powering off the iphone and powering it back on is the only step out of that entire rant that will do anything. Everything else is just changing preferences and following common sense.

Despite endless rumors, reseting the device is the only fix for anything, short of a restore.

Not true (at least in my case). I have reset often and did not see any changes in backup speed until I made the changes I noted earlier and my backups have been significantly and consistently faster. After I uninstalled all of my apps through iTunes and disconnected my iphone there were still a few apps installed. The OP suggests that these are corrupted versions of apps that were left on the phone and that itunes had problems recognizing and backing them up and that was the reason the backups were taking so long.

Also it should be noted that the first backup after applying this method will be longer than normal as iTunes now must perform a complete new backup. Subsequent backups were much faster for me (under 4-5 minutes).

[iNfowarrior]

Not true (at least in my case). I have reset often and did not see any changes in backup speed until I made the changes I noted earlier and my backups have been significantly and consistently faster. After I uninstalled all of my apps through iTunes and disconnected my iphone there were still a few apps installed. The OP suggests that these are corrupted versions of apps that were left on the phone and that itunes had problems recognizing and backing them up and that was the reason the backups were taking so long.

Also it should be noted that the first backup after applying this method will be longer than normal as iTunes now must perform a complete new backup. Subsequent backups were much faster for me (under 4-5 minutes).

If you follow the steps of your process there is a logical reason why itunes behaves the way it does at each step. Of course back ups and syncs are going to fly when there is: #1 No content ON the phone to back up in the first place, #2 only 5 apps at a time being synced. Of course it does.

Never once do you describe what a backup is like after a real world day of downloading and deleting and emailing and browsing etc.. (Meaning a full day AFTER performing your process).

I appreciate you detailing the process and I don't doubt that your results are there, but the facts are, the apps and software are buggy, and a regular restart of the phone will temporarily fix 99% of problems. Furthermore, we shouldn't have to be working out preference changing fixes. Apple is apprently gearing up to fix these buggy issues, I just don't have any faith that they will.

[Muncher]

My backups take about 1, maybe 2 minutes. This is one of the few common bugs I have never had on my iPhone.

Huh. You must not have much on your iPhone.

The iPhone only has one memory chip (the touch has two, but they are the same speed). Why can you restore the whole 250mb OS in a few minutes but it takes a while to backup a few settings files?

I don't think it just backs up settings files. When the OS is restored, the iPhone probably doesn't take the time to zero out the entire flash drive; it wastes writes and takes a while. It probably just writes the 250 MB, and considers the rest of the flash empty.

[Mikey B]

my iPhone was doing so well with backups. there was the first, initial one that was pretty long, but for awhile after that they were only taking 5 minutes at the very most. quite alright with me. then, of course, the 2.0.2 OS being the bug-filled mess that it is, my iPhone crashed when syncing new apps and nearly had to be restored. it came back to life after sitting in the dock connected to my laptop for over 5 minutes. so now, i'm assuming the backup got corrupted because its back to taking the lifespan of a cat to back-up again.

what's the name of the iPhone OS developer? where's he live again?....

[Trajectory]

My backups are very fast. Maybe because I only have 4 apps installed. I do have lots of music on my iPhone.

[trunksu]

My backups are very fast. Maybe because I only have 4 apps installed. I do have lots of music on my iPhone.

it's not the # of apps you have installed that are causing the problem. i have 40 apps and backups are less than 5min for me now.

a long time ago my backups used to take 2 hours+. i tried to restore from backups but always got "backup is corrupted" even though i've never aborted them. the only backup i could use was my last backup from 1st gen iPhone.

what i did was i did a system restore but told itunes to start from scratch (treat it as a new phone). also i told it not to sync my apps. i went through my apps and decided to just nit pick the ones i really need at first and did a sync.

ever since then it's been doing 5min backups (with 40 apps instsalled). i have no clue if it was the way i did it or was it a particular app causing the problem. i definitely don't have all the apps i had before when it was taking 2+ hour backups. i never did the "reset warning" method either.

[QuarterSwede]

Never once do you describe what a backup is like after a real world day of downloading and deleting and emailing and browsing etc.. (Meaning a full day AFTER performing your process).
Well, I did the process last night and reinstalled all 27 of my apps and after a full day of using my iPhone (reading emails, replying, making new bookmarks, using apps that save data) my backup tonight was only 4-5 minutes. So it seems this process, for whatever reason, does work.


I appreciate you detailing the process and I don't doubt that your results are there, but the facts are, the apps and software are buggy, and a regular restart of the phone will temporarily fix 99% of problems.
Most of the time, but that surely hadn't fixed my bloody long back up times!


Furthermore, we shouldn't have to be working out preference changing fixes. Apple is apprently gearing up to fix these buggy issues, I just don't have any faith that they will.
I agree and until Apple fixes it, I'll be happy to not have my iPhone automatically sync on connection (it's a pain anyway) and not use sync all apps, instead using sync selected apps ... which does seem to work.

For whatever reason this process is the only thing that has significantly shortened my backup times. They started out at 50 minutes every sync but, after the first 50 minute backup, are now down to 4-5 minutes. Got me why this works but it does.

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I ****** HATE the backups!!!

It was going well for me before. (and by well I mean under an hour) But now I have been procrastinating from backing up for about a week now. Since then I have downloaded a few new apps on my iphone and updated about 10.

I have been trying to sync today but it has been interrupted THREE times due to phone calls. The on the first call it was about 80% completed after about an hour and a half. Now here I am syncing again, it's been a little over 50 mins and I'm looking at about 20% completed.... I HATE this...

I haven't updated to 2.0.2 yet because my internet sucks hardcore right now and keeps cutting out.

[Mad Mac Maniac]

ok so how long does a restore from backup take? and how long does the reset warnings take? has one been known to work better?

and when you restore from backup does it keep all the apps or do u have to resync?

[eneisch]

Never once do you describe what a backup is like after a real world day of downloading and deleting and emailing and browsing etc.. (Meaning a full day AFTER performing your process).

My backups, after a full day of use, including exchange e-mail, web browsing and usings apps has been reduced from over an hour/sync to less than 5 minutes/sync. I performed the process I described over a week ago and connect/sync my phone with iTunes every night and my backups have been shortened ever since. I only applied this process once and I do not reset my iPhone prior to syncing. By the way, I have consistenly had around 30 apps installed on my phone throughout this period as well.

I agree that Apple should fix this and we should not be made to go through all this trouble, but in the meantime this has helped me out alot.

[fost24]

I can only say one word: MIRACLE! I have performed the task as per your instructions and I now have an iphone that works the way it should. It now backs up in seconds! Yes, I did have some apps left on the iphone, so they must have been the ones causing the problems. Thank you for your advice.

[elu]

You could cancel backups by pressing the "x" small circular button in that status bar on the top part of the iTunes view, couldn't you?

[Excellerator]

For mine, it only shows up as "Christian's iPhone", and it still only shows 2 options, one being "Christian's iPhone" and the other being "Unknown". I am sure that I have backed up on different days in the past. Any help on finding the other backups? Btw, the backups I am looking for were of a different iPhone that I got exchanged, same firmware though.

That I am not sure of. I just noticed the multiple restore option the last time I restored.

[cdang]

I was having longs backups as well that were driving me crazy. I tried turning off crash reports and it did not work for me. I found this fix on the Apple discussions site. I performed these steps last week and ever since my backups/syncs have taken 3-5 minutes instead of 1+ hours. It took a little time to implement, but for me it was worth it. Seems that it has to do with corrupt app installations hanging up the backup process. Give it a try and report your successes/failures! The end of the message suggests not to install/update apps directly on the iphone, but I have done it without adverse effect.

"Go into iTunes Edit/Preferences the last tab sync disable auto sync for all iPod and iPhones. This does not fix it it is just the first step do not stop here.

Next connect your iPhone to the computer. Once it shows up in iTunes go into the last tab Applications. Uncheck sync all apps. Now Click apply. Now click sync. it will remove all the applications! After it is finished unplug the iPhone. I bet you will have at least one app still on the Iphone, maybe more. Hold any icon down until they jiggle. tap the x's and delete all the remaing apps. You may notice after you delete each app that a little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you delete the next app.

Once you have deleted all the remaining apps (That had corrupt data that was causing your long back ups!) do a hard reset. To do this hold the sleep/wake button and the home button until the red slider appears at the top of the screen. Slide it over and the phone will power off. You will again notice the spinning circle. Once it finishes wait a few seconds and power the iPhone back on by pressing the sleep/wake button.

While it is booting back up go into iTunes again turn the auto sync back on! Now connect the iPhone to the computer, let it backup and sync. Now it goes so fast you may want to cry or laugh. Now after it finishes go back to the applications tab. Click sync apps again, but make sure you have the 2nd circle checked. This box is sync selected apps. Make sure all the boxes are unchecked! Now slowly begin adding apps back to the iPhone. I have done as many as 5 at a time. Check the boxes then click apply, then sync. It will backup then add the applications and sync all other information. After the sync you may notice that little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you add the next app.

Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!"

Seriously! After it took over 10 hours to back up my phone I was just about ready to rip it out from the usb adapter! I looked up forums to see if anyone else was experiencing this and I am happy I found this forum. All of the promised "bug-fixes", improvements in 3g network, longer battery life is all glorified crap. I am realistic when I say that Apple just wants to give all of it's confused and pissed off customers information that all of us want to hear.

Granted, I had about 15 applications on my phone, nothing justifies the 10+ hour back up! :mad: I do however have to thank eneisch :) I followed his instructions and low and behold, back up and sync was literally 2 minutes! It sucks that we as customers have to go about and beta-test these phones. Apple and it's application developers need to get their sheet together and stop blaming each other for the ridiculous things that come up!

[DanielJvdBerg]

Seriously! After it took over 10 hours to back up my phone I was just about ready to rip it out from the usb adapter! I looked up forums to see if anyone else was experiencing this and I am happy I found this forum. All of the promised "bug-fixes", improvements in 3g network, longer battery life is all glorified crap. I am realistic when I say that Apple just wants to give all of it's confused and pissed off customers information that all of us want to hear.

Granted, I had about 15 applications on my phone, nothing justifies the 10+ hour back up! :mad: I do however have to thank eneisch :) I followed his instructions and low and behold, back up and sync was literally 2 minutes! It sucks that we as customers have to go about and beta-test these phones. Apple and it's application developers need to get their sheet together and stop blaming each other for the ridiculous things that come up!

I don't know why are you talking such nonsense...

You are not even member for a month
The backup is fixed for about everyone
Why are you using such a annoying color for your text? It's barely readable.
We aren't beta testing, in my opinion there are only a handful of iPhone bugs left.


End of my rant on you:D

[neesh0]

make sure you have itunes 8 and iphone software version 2.1

[cdang]

I don't know why are you talking such nonsense...

You are not even member for a month
The backup is fixed for about everyone
Why are you using such a annoying color for your text? It's barely readable.
We aren't beta testing, in my opinion there are only a handful of iPhone bugs left.


End of my rant on you:D

DanielJvdBerg, was there a reason for your necessary rant on me? This is a forum for apple consumers. This thread is specifically in regards to why the back up takes so long. I don't know why you feel it necessary to point out that I've only been a member for less than a month. Just because I am, doesn't mean that I am technology challenged.

With your second point, i think you missed that I acknowledged that the back up is fixed - or at least the suggested temporary fix (prior to the updates) worked and reduce the sync/back up time.

With the third point, to each his own. Font color/font size/font style is an option members have. I'm a girl and feel like using any color I want.

Point four, I don't know why you don't think we as consumers are beta testers. There are tons of problems that occur frequently whereby consumers report the problems!

Anyhow, I'm done my rant on you.

[icewing]

I recommend you follow eneisch's advice, but also delete your previous backup so as to start with a new, uncorrupted backup.

When I got my iPhone, while still at the mall, I immediately downloaded a few free apps directly on my phone, and I believe I had also downloaded them to iTunes. This was Sept 1, prior to 2.1 and the new iTunes.

I started having backups taking anywhere from 10 mins to 2 hours.

Since I followed this process, for the last month my backup/sync only takes 1-3 minutes.

Good luck!

[smfinlay]

Right after I downloaded the 2.1 update, the backup time was amazing, 1-2 minutes tops. Ever since then it has slowly started creeping back up. I don't have many applications installed, maybe 2 pages worth. I plugged my phone in about 20 minutes ago and it's not even a quarter of the way done. sigh :(

[iWin]

Backup time has always seemed to me to be fairly linear in regards to how much data is on the phone... i.e. more time, more data. Be it in your browser's history, downloaded images, music, anything... it all takes time to backup even if it's only backing up the location of specific information.

In regards to some of the people having EXTREMELY long backup/firmware update times, I had the same problem. My laptop was running at USB1.1 speeds as a result of oxidation in the usb ports themselves, and using a nail file on them for a little bit fixed it. I do not recommend this fix for anybody facing adversely long backup times, but checking to see if it's running at USB2.0 is a good starting point for some of you. If, in windows, it pops up saying this device has the capability to transfer data more quickly, then you are not running as fast as you should. Try a different computer for your backups... I now just use my work computer.

[demeeder]

I was having longs backups as well that were driving me crazy. I tried turning off crash reports and it did not work for me. I found this fix on the Apple discussions site. I performed these steps last week and ever since my backups/syncs have taken 3-5 minutes instead of 1+ hours. It took a little time to implement, but for me it was worth it. Seems that it has to do with corrupt app installations hanging up the backup process. Give it a try and report your successes/failures! The end of the message suggests not to install/update apps directly on the iphone, but I have done it without adverse effect.

"Go into iTunes Edit/Preferences the last tab sync disable auto sync for all iPod and iPhones. This does not fix it it is just the first step do not stop here.

Next connect your iPhone to the computer. Once it shows up in iTunes go into the last tab Applications. Uncheck sync all apps. Now Click apply. Now click sync. it will remove all the applications! After it is finished unplug the iPhone. I bet you will have at least one app still on the Iphone, maybe more. Hold any icon down until they jiggle. tap the x's and delete all the remaing apps. You may notice after you delete each app that a little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you delete the next app.

Once you have deleted all the remaining apps (That had corrupt data that was causing your long back ups!) do a hard reset. To do this hold the sleep/wake button and the home button until the red slider appears at the top of the screen. Slide it over and the phone will power off. You will again notice the spinning circle. Once it finishes wait a few seconds and power the iPhone back on by pressing the sleep/wake button.

While it is booting back up go into iTunes again turn the auto sync back on! Now connect the iPhone to the computer, let it backup and sync. Now it goes so fast you may want to cry or laugh. Now after it finishes go back to the applications tab. Click sync apps again, but make sure you have the 2nd circle checked. This box is sync selected apps. Make sure all the boxes are unchecked! Now slowly begin adding apps back to the iPhone. I have done as many as 5 at a time. Check the boxes then click apply, then sync. It will backup then add the applications and sync all other information. After the sync you may notice that little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you add the next app.

Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!"


Thanks much... once all apps were deleted I did a back-up in less than a minute. I will start adding the apps back and see if there is a particular one that was the cause. Before this it was taking hours and hours and actually never got a back up.

[sheardude]

It is still taking me a long time. It is almost half way done after 10 hours whih sux. Can anyone help me shorten the time without removing apps if i have 2 i guess i will.

[TheBearman]

What I'm about to suggest many might say is taking a sledge hammer to the problem but..... The only thing I found that worked was a complete hard reset to factory settings following the install of 2.1. Yea, I lost application data in the process but since then it has worked flawlessly.

I have had the phone full of apps, max (9 pages of 12 apps per page). It has several movies, songs, podcast, photos, calendar events, etc to the point I have less than 200mb free (of the 16gb total). It takes me all of 2 minutes to sync including a backup. Only time it takes longer is when I change installed songs or movies.

[larryndallas]

I'm going on 5 hours for the restore using 2.0 USB, new iphone, vista. What could be causing this? I have 15 apps, 1000 contacts, 300 photos. Thanks for any help with this!

[Minimoose 360]

Mine used to take that long, now it's about a minute.

[shabbado]

I think that is a pretty font... It brings out his eyes!

[branjosef]

The iphone takes to long to backup because itunes sucks my left nostril. With every update, itunes gets slower and slower and slower. Did I mention it gets slower?
:mad:

[Aaleck]

Not sure, when I read the post maybe I thought the apps... but I have more than you and it only takes me a few minutes... maybe every time you backup, it just re-does everything... but I don't have a clue... *shrugs*

[sheardude]

Wow... I lost track of this page. Thanx 4 keeping it alive. I did what I was told months ago. My backups went from 20 hours to at shortest 5 seconds and 30 mins at longest (that is when lead new apps to the phone)

[firstfishman]

I am going on 3 and a half hours and still backing up.... I cant even update to the new software on my Iphone because it wont Sync/Back up to allow the software install.... Apple tech help tells me "Laptops are notoriously bad at backing up" and to go to a public desktop to perform my syncs... I wasnt aware that having a desktop was a requirment for having an Iphone... Plus, I have allready used my maximum number of computers to sync, so this isnt an option... Is there any plan on fixing this issue?

[mikeyman91765]

Maybe its because you have 30 apps installed i have about 4 installed on mine (more on the computer) and my backup rarely goes past 10 secs if it even takes that long.

I don't understand why you would have 30 apps on your phone surely you don't use EVERY single one of them?

30 apps is nothing to a hardcore iphoner. lol. i have all 11 pages completely filled. and i use most of them on a regular basis.

my phone takes about two hours to backup. i hate it. it takes sooooo long.

[-aggie-]

30 apps is nothing to a hardcore iphoner. lol. i have all 11 pages completely filled. and i use most of them on a regular basis.

my phone takes about two hours to backup. i hate it. it takes sooooo long.

You're doing something wrong then. It shouldn't take anywhere near that long. I have a 3G 16 GB totally filled up and with 106 apps, and it takes maybe 5 minutes to backup.

[macslayer118]

You're doing something wrong then.

I don't know how anyone could be "doing it wrong"... iTunes does the backup automatically.

And yes, I have noticed that backups take a long time on my phone, and it's like that on at least 3 of my friends who have iPhones as well.

[-aggie-]

I don't know how anyone could be "doing it wrong"... iTunes does the backup automatically.

And yes, I have noticed that backups take a long time on my phone, and it's like that on at least 3 of my friends who have iPhones as well.

Then you (and your friends) haven't looked at the threads on the issue, because there are ways to speed up your backups.

[keeina]

Because it is made by mac :rolleyes:

[RolandP]

I found that running "services.msc" from Start|Run provided the solution even after uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes.

The new window will display a list of services running in your PC.
You can sort the view in by clicking “Name” column header.

:D Then see if “Apple Mobile Device Service” status is “Started.”
:p If the status is not “Started”, right click on that row and choose Start from the small pop-up menu.
:rolleyes: If the service is already installed and started, right-click on that row and choose Restart from the small pop-up menu.


:D You may also want to make sure that this is set to "automatic." If not, you can right click and change that property.

[RolandP]

I have not yet tried eneisch's recommended process. But I do know this much....I started my backup yesterday at 5 PM and as of 5 AM today it is less than 1/4 completed. {Steve Jobs, you have improvements to make}

Not sure when you delete all apps, if that includes contacts and stuff. I noticed on one of my backups when I did remove apps that the data for the apps was not retained. I am very skittish about deleting all apps and agree with the post that updating apps through the iPhone should be OK. But I really have no idea if this affects backups or not.

Bear in mind, I have only the 3G model and the small HD but I have 16 apps per screen and ten screens. Loosing/backing up 160 apps (and I wish I could add more) is the curse of the app fanatic and living with this backup process is nearly intolerable. I will attempt to finish it before I update to 4.0 but now I am wondering if going to 4.0 is a good idea. Am I going to find more bugs and annoyances?

[Amnesia87]

Isn't that they only way to sync/backup?

[Edit]I did what eneisch suggested and it still took me 50 minutes to backup. I guess I'll just have to wait for Apple to fix this. Even if this is performing as they want it's unacceptable. Especially since Time Machine in OS X backs up a heck of a lot faster with tons more data being transferred (I'm talking GBs sometimes) ... and that's over USB.

lol. Exactly what I was thinking. A lot of people don't know the difference between 1.1 and 2.0. I originally plugged in my phone to a 1.1 port myself. Wasn't till windows 7 said something about it that I realized not all my ports are 2.0.

[fijibinger]

I was having longs backups as well that were driving me crazy. I tried turning off crash reports and it did not work for me. I found this fix on the Apple discussions site. I performed these steps last week and ever since my backups/syncs have taken 3-5 minutes instead of 1+ hours. It took a little time to implement, but for me it was worth it. Seems that it has to do with corrupt app installations hanging up the backup process. Give it a try and report your successes/failures! The end of the message suggests not to install/update apps directly on the iphone, but I have done it without adverse effect.

"Go into iTunes Edit/Preferences the last tab sync disable auto sync for all iPod and iPhones. This does not fix it it is just the first step do not stop here.

Next connect your iPhone to the computer. Once it shows up in iTunes go into the last tab Applications. Uncheck sync all apps. Now Click apply. Now click sync. it will remove all the applications! After it is finished unplug the iPhone. I bet you will have at least one app still on the Iphone, maybe more. Hold any icon down until they jiggle. tap the x's and delete all the remaing apps. You may notice after you delete each app that a little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you delete the next app.

Once you have deleted all the remaining apps (That had corrupt data that was causing your long back ups!) do a hard reset. To do this hold the sleep/wake button and the home button until the red slider appears at the top of the screen. Slide it over and the phone will power off. You will again notice the spinning circle. Once it finishes wait a few seconds and power the iPhone back on by pressing the sleep/wake button.

While it is booting back up go into iTunes again turn the auto sync back on! Now connect the iPhone to the computer, let it backup and sync. Now it goes so fast you may want to cry or laugh. Now after it finishes go back to the applications tab. Click sync apps again, but make sure you have the 2nd circle checked. This box is sync selected apps. Make sure all the boxes are unchecked! Now slowly begin adding apps back to the iPhone. I have done as many as 5 at a time. Check the boxes then click apply, then sync. It will backup then add the applications and sync all other information. After the sync you may notice that little spinning circle is next to your 3G icon on the top right hand side. Let it finish spinning before you add the next app.

Here is the kicker! DO NOT update or install apps from the phone! Only use iTunes to install and or update apps until they get the bug fixed!"

Please help. I am trying to go through this method, yet after removing all apps and hitting sync, my phone tries to backup and it is taking forever still...