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iTunes backup with multiple iOS ver
- Thread starter SoN1NjA
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eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
No. Every backup you make in iTunes (or iCloud) is a separate file with a unique number assigned to the filename. iTunes does not overwrite backups.
That's what some dumb Apple Support person told me
They can **** off, be wasting my **********ing time
Have spent many hours messing around with storage Jenga to try and do backup on this and that and not delete file x and yz
Smh...
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
This is not true. Backups of the same device will be overwritten. Backups use the UDID number of the device. The only way to prevent overwriting a backup is to archive the old one. You only ever have access to one backup at a time with the same device. All previous backups are unaccessible.
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Any time you create a new backup, the old one is overwritten. Apple is correct. Unless you archive the old one first.
Oh, you know maybe I can move the backups from the backup folder to elsewhere, and have multiple i7 backups
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
You can, or you can just archive it in iTunes and then it will go untouched. If you archive a backup, it will then allow iTunes to create an entirely new and separate backup.
Shirasaki
macrumors P6
Archive option is not available under windows unless an updated version adds it.
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
Then how come any time I want to restore from iTunes or iCloud I get presented with a list of backups to restore from?
Unless this is new to iOS 10?
Because I'm on iOS 9.
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
Those are from different devices that you have had in the past. If you check your iTunes preferences, and go to devices. You will see all the different devices. If you go to iCloud Preferences -> Backup. You will see all your past devices and you will notice that one of them says "This Device". That is the one that gets overwritten every single night.
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I'm sorry, that is extremely stupid that Apple does that. Must be a way backups are saved to Windows, so the only thing you can do is make a separate folder in Documents and transfer the backup files there.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
I keep my backups on my Mac Pro at work (only Intel Mac I have access to that can sync with my iPhone) so I'll check that tomorrow.
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
I would post a screenshot of mine, but I clear our my backups pretty frequently. So I only have my two current devices. Let me check my GF's computer to see if she has older backups.
Edit: Nope, hers is only her most recent device as well. The two times that you can get 2 different backups for the same device is if you restore or archive. If you restore, it will save the previous backup incase you need to restore to it again the future and will create a new one going forward. And same with archiving, it prevents the archived one from being overwritten.
That is why Apple tells you to archive a backup before upgrading to beta because it will overwrite that previous backup as soon as you backup again.
Edit 2: I will check a few other family member's computers throughout the day as I see them to see if I can get it for you.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
I don't clean them out at all. I know the list shows different backups from different devices but I also know I've seen more than one for the same device.
The MP at work is running Yosemite and I haven't updated iTunes lately either. And it's also on 24/7 so if Apple reaches out and wipes out backups nightly I haven't seen it.
Mlrollin91
macrumors G5
The only backups that are wiped out nightly are iCloud. Because you can archive them. They are overwritten nightly. If you have multiple backups from old devices in iTunes, those will remain intact. But when you are using a current device, clicking backup will overwrite, not create a new additional backup. Otherwise backups would eat up all your hard drive space, because they can be massive.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
OK. I can see that with iCloud. Still, I'll check the MP tomorrow.
Yeah, \AppData\Roaming\iTunes\MobileSync\Backups
has them all, just kinda a jank way to do something for a feature that should be there
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
You are correct.
I checked this on the MacPro at work today and my finding supports your statement. I made one bad assumption which was compounded by my device naming conventions and my infrequency of iTunes backups.
I tend to consistently name my device a certain way and every time there is a replacement or a new device the name carries over. Hence, I have several backups by the same name, but hovering over the backup name in iTunes preferences shows a difference in IMEI and serial number even though the device name (hence the backup name) is the same.
To further test this I made two backups, the second, four minutes after the first had completed and there was only one backup available to my device - which means it's overwriting.
So, you're right, I'm wrong and I've learned something. Thanks!
Shirasaki
macrumors P6
Yes. After a recent check of my Windows PC, iTunes under windows does not have archive option at all even the version is the latest.
Once upon a time ... that was true for iTunes PC version. Today I upgraded my son's IOS then did a backup to my PC, then a few more changes and another backup. Then I went to go back to the previous backup and discovered sometime in the last few months either Windows or iTunes had changed the backup behaviour to overwrite 🙁
I know from experience that in the past I have been able to select a point-in-time to restore in exactly the circumstances I describe ... make a backup ... experiment with changes ... make a second "checkpoint" backup ... then decide to continue or restore to the original backup ... Oh well ... such is the Apple God 🙁
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eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
Yes, unfortunately I was wrong in my statement. That was pointed out to me and I verified it and issued a retraction.
I wish it were not the case that backups now overwrite, but they do.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-backup-with-multiple-ios-ver.2035607/#post-24371493
Question. in my backups folder, \AppData\Roaming\iTunes\MobileSync\Backups, I have one backup. I was on ios 9.2.1 on my iphone 6 for years and backup to my pc. Every few weeks I back up to my pc and it uses that one backup listed. So, for ex, if I backed up 2 weeks ago, and then say backed up today, it would only take say 10 min to backup, because in 2 weeks I haven't added much data.
Ok, so a week ago my phone updated to IOS 11. Now when I backup in itunes it keeps trying to make a new 2nd backup folder. This is a 128 gig phone, and I want it to use the same backup it was. DOES it automatically make a new backup when you update the firmware on the device??? Just trying to save time and don't want it to keep making a new backup. A new backup since my phone is almost full will take an hour or more.
I have one device, that's it.
Ok, so a week ago my phone updated to IOS 11. Now when I backup in itunes it keeps trying to make a new 2nd backup folder. This is a 128 gig phone, and I want it to use the same backup it was. DOES it automatically make a new backup when you update the firmware on the device??? Just trying to save time and don't want it to keep making a new backup. A new backup since my phone is almost full will take an hour or more.
I have one device, that's it.
