iPad Sync iPad without backing up?

[Jethro!]

All I want to do is sync the iPad from my Mac (calendar data mostly) without backing up the iPad. But there doesn't seem to be any way to turn off Backups so that iTunes forces me to backup the iPad every time, when I just need to sync the calendar. Backing up everything every time takes way too long.

What am I missing here?

iPad 4th gen. (iOS 10.3.3.), iTunes 12.8

 

[ericwn]

I think this changes when you back up to iCloud, at least iTunes used to recognise that setting.

Also, the backup process should be incremental. After the first long backup it will likely be much faster as it should only sync changes.

 

[AutomaticApple]

After the first long backup it will likely be much faster as it should only sync changes.

Its an iPad 4, so I cannot imagine that its quite fast at syncing and backups.

 

[ericwn]

Its an iPad 4, so I cannot imagine that its quite fast at syncing and backups.

How does that help the OP? What advise do you offer?

Your perception of fast is irrelevant and doesn’t change the fact that the incremental nature of the backup makes later backups much quicker than the original one.

Of course the backup speed is determined by multiple factors which would also be too off topic to discuss here, and kinda obvious.

 

[AutomaticApple]

doesn’t change the fact that the incremental nature of the backup makes later backups much quicker than the original one.

Of course the backup speed is determined by multiple factors which would also be too off topic to discuss here, and kinda obvious.

That’s fair. 🤔

 

[Zazoh]

What if you synced calendar through iCloud, but only backed up through iTunes?

 

[Jethro!]

So it looks like the consensus is... there is simply no way to turn off Backups as part of the Sync process. Seriously, Apple??? Un-freaking-real. 🤦‍♂️

 

[ericwn]

So it looks like the consensus is... there is simply no way to turn off Backups as part of the Sync process. Seriously, Apple??? Un-freaking-real.

Not sure where you get that opinion on the consensus from. I’ve done some searching and found this article:

3 Ways to Disable iPhone Backup Process in iTunes

Want to disable iPhone backup process as it takes long time? This article will show you 3 easy methods to stop iTunes backup iPhone 7/7 Plus/6s/6/5s/5c/5 effectively.

www.tenorshare.com

Maybe give those options a shot.

 

[Jethro!]

Not sure where you get that opinion on the consensus from. I’ve done some searching and found this article:

3 Ways to Disable iPhone Backup Process in iTunes

Want to disable iPhone backup process as it takes long time? This article will show you 3 easy methods to stop iTunes backup iPhone 7/7 Plus/6s/6/5s/5c/5 effectively.

www.tenorshare.com

Maybe give those options a shot.

Thank you. The terminal command seems most promising. I'll try it.

But this does confirm what I have noticed -- by design there is no way to turn off backups within iTunes when syncing. This is one of those "stupid, Apple" moments where they think they know what's better for us.

 

[darngooddesign]

Not sure where you get that opinion on the consensus from. I’ve done some searching and found this article:

3 Ways to Disable iPhone Backup Process in iTunes

Want to disable iPhone backup process as it takes long time? This article will show you 3 easy methods to stop iTunes backup iPhone 7/7 Plus/6s/6/5s/5c/5 effectively.

www.tenorshare.com

Maybe give those options a shot.

iTunes is no longer part of the syncing process.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Thank you. The terminal command seems most promising. I'll try it.

But this does confirm what I have noticed -- by design there is no way to turn off backups within iTunes when syncing. This is one of those "stupid, Apple" moments where they think they know what's better for us.

I'd argue that they really do know what's better for the vast majority of users. Selective sync/backup requires either a level of expertise that most people don't possess, or a level of shortsightedness that all too many "smart" people do possess.

"I know what I need to backup and what I don't" goes out the window when something bad happens and all of a sudden, instead of simply restoring from last night's backup, they have to spend hours manually reconstructing all their phone's settings, Home screen layout, installed mail accounts, etc., not to mention the precious contents of their Camera Roll (since, of course, they don't use iCloud Photos). Oh, yeah, they'll mumble something like, "I didn't want to bring all that accumulated cruft back onto the machine anyway."

But I guarantee you, 99% of the people who forget their Lock Screen passcodes, drop their iPhones in the toilet, or have a major hardware failure are damned happy to find out they have a recent, full backup.

Frequent, whole-machine backup. Use it, or lose it.

 

[darngooddesign]

I'd argue that they really do know what's better for the vast majority of users. Selective sync/backup requires either a level of expertise that most people don't possess, or a level of shortsightedness that all too many "smart" people do possess.

I agree that it is fine for the majority of users, but a "Backup when syncing" checkbox would satisfy others; Apple still includes ways to annually control syncing and backup so its not like they would be opposed to it. If enough people report a feature request in its possible that Apple will include it in a future release. Apple brought back the syncing/backup progress bar despite it being dropped in the first ew Catalina releases.

 

[ericwn]

iTunes is no longer part of the syncing process.

It is if you read the initial post.

 

[Jethro!]

I'd argue that they really do know what's better for the vast majority of users. Selective sync/backup requires either a level of expertise that most people don't possess, or a level of shortsightedness that all too many "smart" people do possess.

I'm not the vast majority of users. This is part of the dumbing down of the user experience Apple has descend down way too far.

"I know what I need to backup and what I don't" goes out the window when something bad happens and all of a sudden, instead of simply restoring from last night's backup, they have to spend hours manually reconstructing all their phone's settings, Home screen layout, installed mail accounts, etc., not to mention the precious contents of their Camera Roll (since, of course, they don't use iCloud Photos). Oh, yeah, they'll mumble something like, "I didn't want to bring all that accumulated cruft back onto the machine anyway."

That's your fault for not backing things up correctly. It's Apple's fault for creating intentionally bad and restrictive software.

But I guarantee you, 99% of the people who forget their Lock Screen passcodes, drop their iPhones in the toilet, or have a major hardware failure are damned happy to find out they have a recent, full backup.

Good for them. Bad for me when I need a quick calendar and contact sync before running out the door for an appointment. Oh, but I can't do it quickly because Apple is now doing the thinking for us and says I have to back up everything all the time whether I want to or not. Bravo, Apple.

 

[darngooddesign]

Good for them. Bad for me when I need a quick calendar and contact sync before running out the door for an appointment. Oh, but I can't do it quickly because Apple is now doing the thinking for us and says I have to back up everything all the time whether I want to or not. Bravo, Apple.

Wait...you're still using manual sync for contacts? Even without backup that takes longer than just using iCloud.

 

[cdcastillo]

Wouldn't be easier to sync the calendars through the web? I mean, using a cal server, like icloud's or google's, or even your own computer's.

That way any changes would be instantaneous and wouldn't need you to physically connect your iPad to your computer, therefore rendering the "backup before syncing" problem irrelevant.

Do you not trust your appointments in a internet server? Do you have any other security concerns that preclude you from doing this over the air? Maybe tell us a little bit more about your reservations and someone here could help you assuage them.

I work at 3 "offices" and have 2 personal assistants and several coworkers. Scheduling appointments, procedures and coordinating office use would be nigh impossible without the use of calendar servers that show immediate changes to the calendars, share different appointments to different members of the team and allow my assistants to monitor and change my agenda while I'm out and about.

 

[Jethro!]

Wait...you're still using manual sync for contacts? Even without backup that takes longer than just using iCloud.

Of course I'm using manual sync. Absolutely not using iCloud.

 

[Jethro!]

Wouldn't be easier to sync the calendars through the web? I mean, using a cal server, like icloud's or google's, or even your own computer's.

That way any changes would be instantaneous and wouldn't need you to physically connect your iPad to your computer, therefore rendering the "backup before syncing" problem irrelevant.

Do you not trust your appointments in a internet server? Do you have any other security concerns that preclude you from doing this over the air? Maybe tell us a little bit more about your reservations and someone here could help you assuage them.

Sorry, there's nothing you can do to persuade me to using iCloud or anything like that. ABSOLUTELY NOT.
This is a matter of intentional, stupid programming on Apple's part.

 

[darngooddesign]

Of course I'm using manual sync. Absolutely not using iCloud.

Then just airdrop the contact over.

 

[Jethro!]

Then just airdrop the contact over.

How do you airdrop the Calendar?

 

[TheIntruder]

I've been making almost daily iTunes syncs of my devices since I got an iPhone 5, which encompasses many versions of iTunes since then up to 12.9.5 on Mojave 10.14.6, the end of the line. Currently, that includes an iPad Air running 10.3.3, and an XS running 14.0.1.

A backup is not a regular part of the sync process, so it is patently false that Apple forces that upon users, or that there is no way to prevent them without extraordinary means.

I do not, however, have iTunes set to automatically sync devices ("Method 1" in the linked article), which is the first setting I change when starting from a clean OS install, as well as the auto-backups directed to iCloud ("Method 3"), even though I don't have enough space to backup up both devices, as the failure notices on my XS often remind me.

If anything, I'm surprised to hear that iTunes will back up as part of a regular sync since that has not been my experience for all these years. However, it still does perform an automatic backup prior to installing an iOS update. But even that may be a more recent addition since that was a precaution I already took in the past and don't recall noting the redundancy of a manual and auto backup in prior versions.

Backups, even incremental ones like iTunes performs if the current one hasn't been archived or deleted, do take a few minutes, and not something I'd want to occur during every sync.

One may criticize Apple for being overly cautious, and not explicitly detailing what combinations of settings results in what actions without a visit to their support docs (woe to those who don't password protect their backups, and can unknowingly lose their health and keychain data), but to say that it's not preventable simply isn't true.

 

[Jethro!]

A backup is not a regular part of the sync process, so it is patently false that Apple forces that upon users, or that there is no way to prevent them without extraordinary means.

Ummm... no. Here's a screen shot of iTunes when the iPad is connected. There is no option to turn off automatic backups. So sorry, but it IS part of the regular sync process whether you want it or not. How do you turn it off short of a Terminal hack?
It appears to be more Apple "We know better than you what's good for you" hubris.

 

[darngooddesign]

Ummm... no. Here's a screen shot of iTunes when the iPad is connected. There is no option to turn off automatic backups. So sorry, but it IS part of the regular sync process whether you want it or not. How do you turn it off short of a Terminal hack?
It appears to be more Apple "We know better than you what's good for you" hubris.

It only does a backup if you haven't synced in a **bit.



** Not sure what that time interval is.

 

[Jethro!]

It only does a backup if you haven't synced in a **bit.

No, it does a backup EVERY time. Takes a while every time when all I need to sync is something simple like the Calendar.

 

[darngooddesign]

No, it does a backup EVERY time. Takes a while every time when all I need to sync is something simple like the Calendar.

If you Sync right after a sync it does not backup..

Your solution is to downgrade OS X to the last version which had iTunes that works they way you want.

Try sending feedback to Apple. I complained to them that the first version of Catalina didn't even have a Sync progress bar, it just displayed a spinning wheel until the sync was complete, and now we have that feature back.