How to Backup iPhone to External Hard Drive on Windows and Mac. Usually while you back up iPhone through iTunes on Windows or Mac, the backup file will be automatically saved in default location on the limited disk space. In order to release the disk space the backup files occupy, you can backup iPhone to external hard drive instead. Simple and easy to use, MacDrive is recognized as the leader for accessing Mac disks from Windows for almost 20 years. Once you plug in your Mac disk, behind the scenes MacDrive works to seamlessly enable Windows understand HFS+ disks and allow you to read and write to the disk.
Usually while you back up iPhone through iTunes on Windows or Mac, the backup file will be automatically saved in default location on the limited disk space. In order to release the disk space the backup files occupy, you can backup iPhone to external hard drive instead.
This post will tell you how to backup iPhone to external hard drive, such as USB flash drive without software on Windows and Mac.
Before manually backup iPhone to external hard drive, please make a copy of original backups that have been ever saved on the default backup location. And then delete this folder 'Backup'.
Part 1: How to backup iPhone to external hard drive on Windows
Apple Disk Drive Windows 10
Preparation:
1. Format USB flash drive to Windows NT file system (NTFS)
2. Create a new folder called 'iPhoneBackup' in the root of USB flash drive
Step 1: Change iPhone backup location with Command Prompt
You just need to simply create a symbolic (virtual) link in Windows, to a folder on your external hard drive. Connect prepared USB flash drive to Windows computer. If a mklink symlink creation error appears, see how to fix it at first.
1. Close iTunes and run Command Prompt as administrator on Windows computer.
2. Type following command lines and press Enter.
mklink /J 'C:UsersisunshareAppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup' 'H:iPhoneBackup'
Note:
- Default iPhone backup location: C:UsersisunshareAppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup
- New backup location for iPhone later: H:iPhoneBackup
3. Instantly you will see there is a new folder called 'Backup' created with an arrow on it in the default iPhone backup location.
Step 2: Back up iPhone in iTunes to USB flash drive on Windows
Connect your iPhone to Windows computer, and open iTunes. When iPhone is checked by iTunes, click on its icon and tap on Back Up Now to wait for backing iPhone to connected USB flash drive.
As long as you don't cancel the Mklink routing to the external drive with command below, the iTunes backup will be stored on external drive from then on.
mklink /J 'C:UsersyourWindowsusernameAppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup' 'C:UsersyourWindowsusernameAppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup'
Part 2: How to backup iPhone to external drive on Mac
1. Connect your USB flash drive to Mac. Sound making software for pc.
2. Format USB flash drive in MS-DOS (FAT) on Mac.
While you find USB flash drive is read-only on Mac, please run Disk Utility to erase it with format MS-DOS (FAT). It will allow you to read and write files in USB flash drive on Mac.
Apple Disc Drive Windows
3. Create a new folder iPhoneBackup http://ovmutld.xtgem.com/Blog/__xtblog_entry/19089352-fleet-2-0#xt_blog. in the root of USB flash drive.
4. Go to FinderApplications Utilities and choose Terminal to run on Mac.
5. Type following commands to tell iTunes the new locations of your iPhone backups.
ln –s /Volumes/External/iPhoneBackup ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync
Note:
Make sure you have deleted the Backup folder from ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync before running Terminal. 'External' means the name of your external drive. Then the process of backing up iPhone to external drive on Mac is similar to descriptions on Windows.
How can you copy file or folder path in Mac OS X?
Right click the target file or folder, press and hold on Option key, then choose Copy 'xxx' as Pathname from context menu. Paste it on a text and you can get the file or folder path. It is better for you to directly paste the folder path in Terminal than typing path manually.
Export for itunes 2 0 user. Summary:
This is an effective tutorial of backing up iPhone to external hard drive on Windows and Mac computer. It is also a useful guide for you to change iTunes backup location, save and move iPhone backup to external drive without any software.
Related Links:
What you need to install Windows 10 on Mac
- MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
- Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
- iMac introduced in 2012 or later1
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
The latest macOS updates, which can include updates to Boot Camp Assistant. You will use Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows 10.
64GB or more free storage space on your Mac startup disk:
- Your Mac can have as little as 64GB of free storage space, but at least 128GB of free storage space provides the best experience. Automatic Windows updates require that much space or more.
- If you have an iMac Pro or Mac Pro with 128GB of memory (RAM) or more, your startup disk needs at least as much free storage space as your Mac has memory.2
An external USB flash drive with a storage capacity of 16GB or more, unless you're using a Mac that doesn't need a flash drive to install Windows.
A 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro on a disk image (ISO) or other installation media. If installing Windows on your Mac for the first time, this must be a full version of Windows, not an upgrade.
- If your copy of Windows came on a USB flash drive, or you have a Windows product key and no installation disc, download a Windows 10 disk image from Microsoft.
- If your copy of Windows came on a DVD, you might need to create a disk image of that DVD.
How to install Windows 10 on Mac
To install Windows, use Boot Camp Assistant, which is included with your Mac.
1. Use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition
Open Boot Camp Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. Then follow the onscreen instructions.
- If you're asked to insert a USB drive, plug your USB flash drive into your Mac. Boot Camp Assistant will use it to create a bootable USB drive for Windows installation.
- When Boot Camp Assistant asks you to set the size of the Windows partition, remember the minimum storage-space requirements in the previous section. Set a partition size that meets your needs, because you can't change its size later.
2. Format the Windows (BOOTCAMP) partition
When Boot Camp Assistant finishes, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. If the installer asks where to install Windows, select the BOOTCAMP partition and click Format. In most cases, the installer selects and formats the BOOTCAMP partition automatically.
3. Install Windows
Unplug any external devices that aren't necessary during installation. Then click Next and follow the onscreen instructions to begin installing Windows.
4. Use the Boot Camp installer in Windows
After Windows installation completes, your Mac starts up in Windows and opens a 'Welcome to the Boot Camp installer' window. Follow the onscreen instructions to install Boot Camp and Windows support software (drivers). You will be asked to restart when done.
- If the Boot Camp installer never opens, open the Boot Camp installer manually and use it to complete Boot Camp installation.
- If you have an external display connected to a Thunderbolt 3 port on your Mac, the display will be blank (black, gray, or blue) for up to 2 minutes during installation.
How to switch between Windows and macOS
After Windows installation completes, your Mac starts up in Windows and opens a 'Welcome to the Boot Camp installer' window. Follow the onscreen instructions to install Boot Camp and Windows support software (drivers). You will be asked to restart when done.
- If the Boot Camp installer never opens, open the Boot Camp installer manually and use it to complete Boot Camp installation.
- If you have an external display connected to a Thunderbolt 3 port on your Mac, the display will be blank (black, gray, or blue) for up to 2 minutes during installation.
How to switch between Windows and macOS
Restart, then press and hold the Option (or Alt) ⌥ key during startup to switch between Windows and macOS.
Learn more
If you have one of these Mac models using OS X El Capitan 10.11 or later, you don't need a USB flash drive to install Windows:
- MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2017 or later3
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2015 or later3
- iMac introduced in 2015 or later
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro introduced in late 2013
To remove Windows from your Mac, use Boot Camp Assistant, not any other utility.
For more information about using Windows on your Mac, open Boot Camp Assistant and click the Open Boot Camp Help button.
1. If you're using an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) with a 3TB hard drive and macOS Mojave or later, learn about an alert you might see during installation.
2. For example, if your Mac has 128GB of memory, its startup disk must have at least 128GB of storage space available for Windows. To see how much memory your Mac has, choose Apple menu > About This Mac. To see how much storage space is available, click the Storage tab in the same window.
3. These Mac models were offered with 128GB hard drives as an option. Apple recommends 256GB or larger hard drives so that you can create a Boot Camp partition of at least 128GB.
