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iPad taking way to long to Backup

I

iTellApple

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 23, 2010
9
0
Georgia
My iPad has been backing up for about 12 hours now, I've backed it up before, so I don't understand why it's taking so long!
Please, please help!
Thanks in advance!
-Hunter
 
Last edited:
I hate to tell you, but that's "normal". Mine can take all night too sometimes. If you're only syncing you can cancel the backup. For updating, it needs to do a backup first (as far as I can tell).
 
It is?

Are you sure? I've backed up before, and it's taken only about an hour. This isn't my first backup.
 
stix said:
I hate to tell you, but that's "normal". Mine can take all night too sometimes. If you're only syncing you can cancel the backup. For updating, it needs to do a backup first (as far as I can tell).
Click to expand...

I guess I should stop complaining when mine takes like 15 minutes. I thought that was way too long.
 
liquidsuns said:
I guess I should stop complaining when mine takes like 15 minutes. I thought that was way too long.
Click to expand...
That's just what I was thinking. Before I upgraded to 4.2.1, I was really irritated because the damn iPad was taking 15 minutes to back up. I saw this thread and thought "Yeah, apparently I'm not the only one that thinks 15 minutes to back up an iPad is retardiculous" and then saw the 12 hour part... DOH
 
Rootus said:
That's just what I was thinking. Before I upgraded to 4.2.1, I was really irritated because the damn iPad was taking 15 minutes to back up. I saw this thread and thought "Yeah, apparently I'm not the only one that thinks 15 minutes to back up an iPad is retardiculous" and then saw the 12 hour part... DOH
Click to expand...

Yup yup. 12+ hours for me as well.
It's a beautiful world.
 
there are known issues with certain apps and backing up such as wired magazine. if you wanna know which app is causing the problem goto the folder where the backups are stored, arrange by date and open the most recent file with a text editor, it should show you which app is causing the problem.
 
I've had 1-2 hour backups for quite a while now. I was led to believe that it is mostly app content like magazines (I have Zinio) that was causing it. Some apps have tons of small files and the backup procedure presumably has to comb through all of the files looking for ones that have been added/changed/deleted since the last backup.

I've also heard that backups are much faster with iOS 4 but I haven't had it long enough to add app content and test it. Hopefully that proves correct.
 
iTellApple said:
My iPad has been backing up for about 12 hours now, I've backed it up before, so I don't understand why it's taking so long!
Please, please help!
Thanks in advance!
-Hunter
Click to expand...

Are you on 4.2?

I used to have this crap all the time, but since updating, it hasn't been a problem.

I'll be dismayed if people are still getting this.
 
Have People Magazine installed?

They just posted an update yesterday but I haven't tried it to see if it is any better.
 
To answer some of you guys' questions:
I'm not on 4.2 I was updating and it started backing up.
I have only backed up about three times, and have gotten all of my apps from the mobile App Store.
I don't have People or Wired mags installed.
Here's what I did. I canceled the backup, and then re-connected. I transfered my purchases, downloaded the update and then it started backing up again. So now, it has that moving slanted bar and says 'Backing up iPad' it's been doing this for about 30 minutes.
 
iTellApple said:
To answer some of you guys' questions:
I'm not on 4.2 I was updating and it started backing up.
I have only backed up about three times, and have gotten all of my apps from the mobile App Store.
I don't have People or Wired mags installed.
Here's what I did. I canceled the backup, and then re-connected. I transfered my purchases, downloaded the update and then it started backing up again. So now, it has that moving slanted bar and says 'Backing up iPad' it's been doing this for about 30 minutes.
Click to expand...

So you haven't updated yet?

Do it! Sod the backup. Cancel it. Backup afterwards. You will be happier that way.
 
Crosbie said:
So you haven't updated yet?

Do it! Sod the backup. Cancel it. Backup afterwards. You will be happier that way.
Click to expand...
So, if I cancel the backup it won't delete everything and take from the previous one? If not, then thank you. Let me try and cancel it.
Edit: Okay, it is canceling the backup now, there's a little bar. Just waiting on it.
 
I had this issue with my iPad before I restored. I guessed that it was due to the drivers not loading to my computer properly on the previous restore. I updated to 4.2.1, making sure I got the 'Drivers have loaded successfully' notification(Windows 7), and now a typical sync takes only 3-5 minutes.
 
Okay, so like he said, I'm canceling the backup, it's taking longer than I expected, but It's canceling. I have a question though, if I swipe to cancel Sync on my iPad will that make the entire update cancel?
 
felt. said:
there are known issues with certain apps and backing up such as wired magazine. if you wanna know which app is causing the problem goto the folder where the backups are stored, arrange by date and open the most recent file with a text editor, it should show you which app is causing the problem.
Click to expand...

I suspected an app or two causing the issue. However, after losing everything trying to upgrade to 4.2.1, I had to re-install all apps with their contents again. While I was super pissed off by losing my setup, now my backup takes less than 5 mins with the same apps as before. It makes no sense, but I'm not complaining as the very reason why I lost everything was because I wan't backing up due to 12 hour back up process. Now, I'm backing up every time I synch. Hopefully, the time won't add up too badly in the future.
 
Update

Okay, so I closed iTunes and tried again, but this time when I canceled, it stopped the update? Help!
 
iTellApple said:
Okay, so like he said, I'm canceling the backup, it's taking longer than I expected, but It's canceling. I have a question though, if I swipe to cancel Sync on my iPad will that make the entire update cancel?
Click to expand...
My advice(assuming a rogue 3rd party app isn't the issue), is to backup overnight, then restore from the backup as soon as possible.
If the problem persists, then restoring from new might be the only option.
 
Mine was taking forever to backup, I finally had to restore the ipad, it then restore and updated at the same time, I then had to put all my apps and content back. Giganitc pain in the arse.
 
i had the exact same problem and did a little research. I deleted my itunes account and reinstalled it. After I connecte my ipad i was done in about 15 minutes. I dont know why this happens but it did work for me...
 
AppleHater said:
I suspected an app or two causing the issue. However, after losing everything trying to upgrade to 4.2.1, I had to re-install all apps with their contents again. While I was super pissed off by losing my setup, now my backup takes less than 5 mins with the same apps as before. It makes no sense, but I'm not complaining as the very reason why I lost everything was because I wan't backing up due to 12 hour back up process. Now, I'm backing up every time I synch. Hopefully, the time won't add up too badly in the future.
Click to expand...

Thats why never buy apps from the ipad, if you buy them from Itunes then sync them to the ipad you never have to worry about losing them.
 
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