How to save iPhone backup to external drive

Over the years, Apple’s iPhones have evolved into multi-functional devices, storing apps, photos, books, music, and movies. With such extensive use, your phone can quickly run out of storage, prompting you to back up your data. I faced this issue myself and realized that these backups also quickly fill up my Mac’s hard drive. 

When my old Mac started running low on space, I wondered, “Can I back up an iPhone to an external hard drive?” The good news is, yes, it’s possible. I’ll show you how.

Here is a table to guide you through different ways to back up your iPhone to an external drive: 

Task	Solution
Finding backups on Mac	Finder > Locations > iPhone > Manage Backups.
Moving backup to external drive	Back up with Finder/iTunes, drag backup folder to external drive.
[TOP] Using AnyTrans for direct backup	Connect iPhone to Mac, use the AnyTrans app to back up to external drive.
Creating a symlink	Use Terminal to link backup to external drive.
Backing up without a computer	Connect iPhone to external drive with adapter, share files.

Where to find current backups on Mac?

Apple doesn’t make it very easy to move iPhone backup to external drive, but if you take the time to understand the process, becoming an expert can happen faster than you think.

Before backing up iPhone to external hard drives, you need to find the current backup on your Mac if you have one. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Dock and select Finder.
2. Click on the Locations section and choose your iPhone.
3. Click Manage Backups.
4. Long-press the Control key and click the name of the backup you want.
5. Select Show in Finder from the drop-down menu.

Note that after you’ve tracked the backup folder, don’t copy or extract specific files from it, as that might lead to your files being damaged. Instead, copy and transfer the entire folder.

The easiest way to back up your iPhone directly to external drive

I love apps – they make life so much easier. Working in the tech field for almost a decade, I've seen how the right tool can transform your daily routine and save tons of time.

In the case of backing up your iPhone, the same principle applies. Here’s an app that simplifies the process and ensures your data is safe and secure. AnyTrans handles connections across iOS and macOS devices, allowing for multiple file manipulation options that Finder doesn’t offer. 

The app’s Air Backup Manager will schedule instant and wireless iPhone backups to a destination of your choice so you don’t have to lift a finger!

Here’s how to save iPhone backup to external drive directly:

1. Connect your iOS device to your Mac and launch AnyTrans.
2. Click on Backup Manager > Back Up.
3. Choose the files you want to back up.
4. Select your external drive as the target location and click Next.

Once the backup process is finished, your files will appear on your external drive, bypassing your Mac. So if you were wondering how to back up your iPhone directly to an external hard drive, AnyTrans is the perfect solution, tested by me hundreds of times.

How to back up iPhone to external hard drive using Finder

A local iPhone backup on your Mac saves app data along with photos and other media and will let you restore all your iOS utilities if you change your iPhone in the future.

Here’s how to move iPhone backup to external drive using Finder:

1. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac.
2. Go to the Finder window that displays your iOS backup.
3. Select the backup folder.
4. Drag it to the external hard drive under Locations in the Finder sidebar.
5. Type your admin password if prompted.
6. Rename your backup folder on the external hard drive to “iOS_backup”.
7. Go back to the original Finder window and rename the old backup to “old_backup”.

While Finder is essential on a Mac, you can expand your file management possibilities using a tool like Path Finder.

It is based on the unique modular system and offers a list of customizable features you can add and remove from the interface at any time. This smart file manager for Mac lets you copy, delete, view, and sync heaps of files across different locations. Use Path Finder’s FolderSync Feature to transfer files in batches or compare contents of folders across disks and be always aware of the state of your virtual database.

How to create a symlink

Now, let's dive into some complicated yet important stuff. 

A symbolic link, or symlink, is a file that contains the path to your target file, or, in this case, your backup. If you want to always have your iPhone backup to an external drive, creating a symlink is essential, since macOS needs to know where to put and find the backup.

Plus, this way you won’t have to worry about having enough free space on your Mac to perform the backup.

How to change iPhone backup location on Mac using a symlink

Permanently changing where your Mac saves your iPhone backups requires working with Terminal and if you decide to go this route, perform a full system backup with Time Machine first, so you can go back if something goes wrong in the process.

Before working directly with Terminal, you’ll need to go to your Mac’s Privacy section in System Settings and add Terminal to the list of apps with Full Disk Access.

Now, here’s how to backup iPhone to external hard drive by changing the backup location:

1. Go to Utilities > Terminal.
2. Paste the following command and change the relevant part to the name of your external hard drive and your backup folder:

ln -s/Volumes/name-of-your-external-drive/ios_backup/~/Library/Application Support /MobileSync/Backup/name-of-your-backup-folder

1. Hit Return.
2. Quit Terminal.

Done! You’ve just made a symlink between the new folder and the old folder that contains your backup.

How to check if backing up to an external drive works

Once you’ve changed the backup location on your Mac, you want to be sure the files are going to the right place and your future backups work correctly. Here’s how to check if backing up iPhone to external hard drive works:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac.
2. Go to Finder and click on your iPhone.
3. Select Back Up Now.
4. Wait for the backup to complete and open the new "iOS_backup" folder on your external hard drive.
5. Check Date Modified information, it should coincide with your recent activity.

How to back up iPhone to external hard drive without a Mac

If you don’t have a Mac, you can use a PC and back up your iPhone by performing a similar operation as you would using Mac’s Finder. In some instances, however, you might not have any computer available, so how can you backup an iPhone to an external hard drive without one? You’ll need to get a USB-to-lightning adapter and follow these steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to an external hard drive using the adapter.
2. Wait to receive a notification once your iPhone detects the hard drive.
3. Open your iPhone and select the files you’d like to back up.
4. Tap the Share icon and select your external hard drive as the destination.

Why you should use an external storage for backups

Making sure your most valuable data is safe and has a copy is essential if you don’t want to lose it in an accident. The most effective solution is using an external storage device for your backups, largely because it frees up storage space on your device’s internal hard drive and protects your files in case your Mac’s HDD fails.

How to backup your iPhone to external drive: Final thoughts 

Backups are essential, but they can take up a lot of space. I use my Mac to back up my iPhone. 

Initially, I relied on Finder, but now I’ve switched to Get Backup Pro and AnyTrans.

These tools make the process so much easier and more efficient. I found them on Setapp, a platform that offers 240+ Mac, iOS, and web apps in one place.

Plus, I use CleanMyMac and CleanMy®Phone from Setapp to keep my devices clutter-free.

I highly recommend all these apps to keep your data safe and your devices running smoothly. 

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