Disk Space full IOS backups on Macbook

[stylinexpat]

https://www.imore.com/how-move-your-iphone-or-ipad-backups-external-hard-drive

I found this link online. What do you guys think? What are the other options? Over the years I have backed up my iPhones and iPads to my MacBook Pro and now it seems like the MacBook is out of space from all those backups. Is there a way to just transfer those backups to an external storage and the just delete previous backups on MacBook to free up storage space?

IOS backup files are using 128.3 GB

 

[daflake]

https://www.imore.com/how-move-your-iphone-or-ipad-backups-external-hard-drive

I found this link online. What do you guys think? What are the other options? Over the years I have backed up my iPhones and iPads to my MacBook Pro and now it seems like the MacBook is out of space from all those backups. Is there a way to just transfer those backups to an external storage and the just delete previous backups on MacBook to free up storage space?

IOS backup files are using 128.3 GB

Is there a reason that you don't backup to iCloud? I stopped local backups a long time ago. Do you need older backups? If not, get rid of them and keep the last few current ones.

 

[stylinexpat]

Is there a reason that you don't backup to iCloud? I stopped local backups a long time ago. Do you need older backups? If not, get rid of them and keep the last few current ones.

Thanks for kind reply. Do not want all personal stuff backed up on icloud. There must be a way one could move or transfer those old backup files to an external device and then delete old previous backups from MacBook and do a new back from there. Then backup would just be current new backup without old ones and perhaps reduce storage space. Been a bit confused as to how to do this properly.

I also found this but it is not very helpful as it is not very detailed.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204215

 

[daflake]

Fair enough!

Your first link is probably the best solution. You are basically moving them off and then creating a symbolic link to them that iTunes will see and use to access them. The instructions also have instructions on how to reverse the process. It will be a bigger pain in the butt, but it will give you back your disk space.

 

[stylinexpat]

Fair enough!

Your first link is probably the best solution. You are basically moving them off and then creating a symbolic link to them that iTunes will see and use to access them. The instructions also have instructions on how to reverse the process. It will be a bigger pain in the butt, but it will give you back your disk space.

So what you are saying is that iTunes can still access them from external device after being moved, right..?

Can’t one just copy or drag those previous backups to a storage device and then just delete the old ones from IOS backups on MacBook?. If needed then one can just perhaps just drag them back??

 

[daflake]

So what you are saying is that iTunes can still access them from external device after being moved, right..?

Can’t one just copy or drag those previous backups to a storage device and then just delete the old ones from IOS backups on MacBook?. If needed then one can just perhaps just drag them back??

Based on what I saw with the instructions. Basically you are moving the files off, but putting a file in place that is a redirect to the real file. This is a standard UNIX type command and should work with no problems. Worst you could do is blow the links away and put the files back if it doesn't work.

 

[stylinexpat]

Based on what I saw with the instructions. Basically you are moving the files off, but putting a file in place that is a redirect to the real file. This is a standard UNIX type command and should work with no problems. Worst you could do is blow the links away and put the files back if it doesn't work.

I am afraid to mess things up and lose everything lol. With redirect in in place I assume that is to work when external storage device is connected to apply sync to sync with iTunes to files on storage device if I am not mistaken EOT am I wrong..?
Thanks for input

 

[daflake]

I am afraid to mess things up and lose everything lol. With redirect in in place I assume that is to work when external storage device is connected to apply sync to sync with iTunes to files on storage device if I am not mistaken EOT am I wrong..?
Thanks for input

So, if you follow those instructions, it has you rename the old folder and test it all BEFORE you remove them. That way if the symbolic link trick doesn't work, you can back out. To answer your question, yes, your backups will actually automatically be located on the external drives until you reverse the process (delete the symbolic link). The first link you posted looks pretty solid.

 

[stylinexpat]

So, if you follow those instructions, it has you rename the old folder and test it all BEFORE you remove them. That way if the symbolic link trick doesn't work, you can back out. To answer your question, yes, your backups will actually automatically be located on the external drives until you reverse the process (delete the symbolic link). The first link you posted looks pretty solid.

So then it still relies on external backup for iTunes to sync then, right..? Does that mean that iTunes will not sync then to internal storage any more after this..?

 

[daflake]

So then it still relies on external backup for iTunes to sync then, right..? Does that mean that iTunes will not sync then to internal storage any more after this..?

Just the backups.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I do this with my iTunes backups. Why? I have to... my Mac Mini only has a 256GB SSD. My Macbook Air only has a 128GB ssd. My external drives are in the TB. So doing a symbolic link is a must - and it works PERFECTLY. Just make sure the external drive is turned on and connected when doing the backup or it will just fail to backup. Yep, still replies on iTunes to do the backups as if it was backing it up to the main drive. Love this ability.