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Resolved iPhone backups to Finder on MBP with huge size discrepancy vs iPhone local storage.

Alpha Centauri

Alpha Centauri

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Hi all.

So I've always backed up my iP (currently iOS 26) tethered to my MBP (currently MacOS 26.6). Whilst I have a very good backup system on the Mac, I wonder if there's a way to verify the iP backups? I ask this as I'm considering wiping the 13 Mini to a factory state and using the local MBP backup to reinstate all data.

What's got me wondering:

The backup has 260 parent folders, each contains about the same amount of folders for each one. They all show a ? and overall file size is 100GB.

My local iP storage however shows 190GB. So even if we generously consider size of iOS and system files, plus the 15GB iCloud storage, there's circa 50GB unaccounted for or missing. I wonder if Apps on the iP aren't considered as their re downloadable via Apple Store?

It's also a shame that only one, the newest backup is available if backing up through Finder. I recall in OS X there was a whole history of backups available to choose from. I hope I've conveyed my issue clearly.

Thanks heaps.
 
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Alpha Centauri said:
Hi all.

So I've always backed up my iP (currently iOS 26) tethered to my MBP (currently MacOS 26.6). Whilst I have a very good backup system on the Mac, I wonder if there's a way to verify the iP backups? I ask this as I'm considering wiping the 13 Mini to a factory state and using the local MBP backup to reinstate all data.

What's got me wondering:

The backup has 260 parent folders, each contains about the same amount of folders for each one. They all show a ? and overall file size is 100GB.

My local iP storage however shows 190GB. So even if we generously consider size of iOS and system files, plus the 15GB iCloud storage, there's circa 50GB unaccounted for or missing. I wonder if Apps on the iP aren't considered as their re downloadable via Apple Store?

It's also a shame that only one, the newest backup is available if backing up through Finder. I recall in OS X there was a whole history of backups available to choose from. I hope I've conveyed my issue clearly.

Thanks heaps.
Click to expand...
Apps are not included in the backup.
 
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Basic75 said:
You subtracted the operating system, what about the apps themselves?

PS: Seriously, "iP"?
Click to expand...
iP = iPhone

Yes indeed I theorised Apps perhaps wouldn't be counted as data in the backup. Looks like that is indeed the case and could explain the discrepancy with 180 apps. Thank you.
 
maflynn said:
Oh I see.

Most people who work with computers, or in IS, or are hobbyists see IP as Internet Protocol. I can't say that I've ever heard anyone use the term ip for their iphone.

Thanks for clearing up the confusion, I thought you were doing some sort of backups using the IP protocol.
Click to expand...
iSee 😉 that's why it was a small i and large P. I think I picked up this bad habit from some smaller Apple-centric forums but but now I see that perhaps it's more confusing than worth it. But you're right, this becomes unclear re existent abbreviation of internet protocol 🙂
 
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So it would appear that indeed the iPhone Apps make up the difference with my missing backup data size. I'll mark this thread as solved now and thank all who replied.

Cheers
 
maflynn said:
Oh I see.

Most people who work with computers, or in IS, or are hobbyists see IP as Internet Protocol. I can't say that I've ever heard anyone use the term ip for their iphone.

Thanks for clearing up the confusion, I thought you were doing some sort of backups using the IP protocol.
Click to expand...
Op typed in “iP” not “IP”.
Take care when reading
 
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GuyDouche said:
Op typed in “iP” not “IP”.
Take care when reading
Click to expand...
Clearly I'm not the only one who misunderstood the meaning. Even so no one ever says iP when referencing their iPhone. People don't always capitalize correctly and as such you cannot discern much out of that.

Why did you feel the need to correct something that was already addressed?
 
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GuyDouche said:
Op typed in “iP” not “IP”.
Take care when reading
Click to expand...
It's all good and we've got it clarified. Have to also add that maflynn is a knowledgable member who alway replies in a respectful, civil and non confrontational tone. Based on such interactions I've absolutely no issue to address misunderstandings, irrespective of what they are.
 
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cdsapplefan said:
Do your text message/imessages from the Messages app get saved in the backup?
Click to expand...
I've ticked "back up all of the data on you iPhone to this Mac". Messages is less than 5GB stored in iCloud, so unsure if that data is then stored in the backup itself (when in iCloud).
 
cdsapplefan said:
Do your text message/imessages from the Messages app get saved in the backup?
Click to expand...
If you have messages saved in iCloud then local backups do not include messages. Details are here:

Backup methods for iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

A backup allows you to copy and save the information from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you replace your device, you can use a backup to transfer your information to a new device.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
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chrfr said:
If you have messages saved in iCloud then local backups do not include messages. Details are here:

Backup methods for iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

A backup allows you to copy and save the information from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you replace your device, you can use a backup to transfer your information to a new device.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Click to expand...
Thank you. Well I believe we've now definitely found every single cause of that data discrepancy now.

System data - 19GB
iOS 26 - 14GB
Messages (in iCloud) - 5GB
180 Apps - 4KB to 14GB in size

Actually, 14 GB was exclusively Brickit (a Lego App) alone that I actually never ended up actively using. That one is totally being deleted right now. Next largest App after that I do actively use and thereafter the Apps do use considerably less and less storage.

Must say that I am now fairly confidant that my backups via Finder contain all they need to, the rest is then iCloud data.
 
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maflynn said:
Oh I see.

Most people who work with computers, or in IS, or are hobbyists see IP as Internet Protocol. I can't say that I've ever heard anyone use the term ip for their iphone.

Thanks for clearing up the confusion, I thought you were doing some sort of backups using the IP protocol.
Click to expand...
Or intellectual property.
 
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