The below method is not yet tested with iOS 4.0, if you try it, please post a comment if it works.
Most iPhone OS 2.0 / iPhone 3G users have experienced the very slow backup process each time the iPhone is connected to iTunes, and as more applications are installed the process will take even longer. It is possible to just cancel the backup process, and then make a regular Sync without backing up. However, if you want avoid the backup process from starting, there is a workaround. It is possible disable the automatic backup process from starting, and how to do this is described below; firstly for Mac users, and secondly for Windows users:
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Mac users:
- Quit iTunes.
- Open a Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal)
- Type or copy the following command:
defaults write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
- Open iTunes.
- Connect the iPhone.
- Make Sync without backing up.
To enable automatic backup in iTunes again use this command instead:
Note: If you previously have used the command line option that entirely disables the backup feature, then type this command as well to enable to backup process:
Recommendation: If you choose to disable the automatic backup process, it would be a good idea to manually making a backup it once a while to get a safe copy of text messages, call log and like (just right-click your iPhone icon in iTunes).
Windows Users: (updated)
Windows users can use the same approach:
- Quit iTunes.
- Press Win+R (opens the Windows Run dialog)
- Type or copy the following command:
“%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
- Open iTunes.
- Connect the iPhone.
- Make Sync without backing up.
nope, didn’t work for me. itunes crashes everytime I open it now. ah well, thanks anyways.
On Mac or Windows? – I’m sure it’s Windows, right? It’s actually a bit stupid to play around with this, when it’s possible to just cancel the backup process, press the (x), and then make a regular Sync, which do not initialize the backup. So that would actually be my advise, if you can’t make it work.
This worked great on my Mac, thanks! I was having to wait upwards of two or three hours for a backup to complete!
And as I don’t keep many text messages and all my contacts and emails are stored in Mobile Me a backup isn’t really necessary anyway.
I shall re-post this to my blog (and quote you of course!) to share the knowledge! Great tip, well done
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Thank you so much. The constant backup was killing me! I made the change in Vista and it worked like a charm. My sync was just done in less than a minute. So often I just want to add a new video or album to my phone, only to be stuck with waiting another solid 5 minutes for the backup to complete. Thanks again.
Windows fix had no effect for me. Didn’t provoke crashes, but didn’t prevent backups either.
It works!
This article just made my day and my iPod Touch happier than ever. Thank you guys!
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I just tried the directions for Windows on my Vista box at home and it does NOT work.
Hi guys,
macusers
if you don’t want to mess in terminal check this out.
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/28158/backup-disabler
it’s a little app that does the trick.
enjoy
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Or… you could just cancel de backup process by clicking the cancel button on the itunes status display and continue with the rest of the backup process. HTH
Or… you could just cancel de backup process by clicking the cancel button on the itunes status display and continue with the rest of the backup process. HTH
I meant,… continue with the rest of the sync process. HTH
Windows method above is overly complicated and prone to errors.
Why not use the same “defaults” command as on a Mac?
Try it: press Win+R, paste the following command and click OK.
To undo, repeat the same replacing “true” with “false”.
@echo off
@REM Simple Batch file on windows to enable/disable Automatic Backups on the IPhone
c:
cd “%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin”
@if %1X==X goto help
@if %1X==trueX goto itstrue
@if %1X==falseX goto itsfalse
goto help
:itstrue
Echo Disabling Backups
goto doit
:itsfalse
Echo Enabling Backups
goto doit
:doIt
set VALUE=%1
defaults.exe write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool %VALUE%
goto end
:help
echo “To Disable IPhone Automatic Device Backups execute “%0 true”
echo “To Enable IPhone Automatic Device Backups execute “%0 false”
:end
Worked perfect on WinXP for me. Thanks! Saves me having to stop backup everytime.
The post is updated with the better approach for Windows users…
I have written a small Windows program called “iPhone Backup Switch”. The program will allow you to enable and disable the iPhone backup feature in iTunes. I have tested it pretty well in Windows XP and VISTA. There is a backup feature that will backup the iTunes configuration and let you restore a previous version, if something goes wrong. Comes complete with installer and uninstaller.
Get it here:
http://www.microseconds.com/backupswitch.html
Spread the word please!
Thank you so much !! this problem as been so annoying having to wait soooo long and I had been in the itunes settings and everything, but this as done the job ! thanks once again =]
thank you! works perfectly! (mac)
worked like a charm (windows). thank you!
Vista (mine is beneath the “Program Files (x86)” folder:
\progra~2\common~1\Apple\mobile~1\bin\defaults.exe write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
iPhone Backup Switch Worked Great, thanks Dennis.
Since I upgrade my Ipod Touch Software this started and it took forever to run the backup .. got tired of canceling the backup .. I just want to plug and sync while I do other things and not babysit it.
Vista, iTunes 7.7.1.11, iPod Touch Software 2.0.2
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Here is the correct path for PC (the one posted has no spaces and is all wrong).
“C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
Thanks – Dennis, The backup app is so handy
Added to my fave apps list
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OH MY GOD! Finally I don’t have to sit around for hours, waiting for the iphone to backup to my mac!…. Good job guys, you’ve just saved a good couple of days of my life, waiting for my phone!!
)
cheers
ivan – UK
well downloaded dennis’ program, but it doesn’t seem to work with me. I use xp, maybe i am doing something wrong? it says nowhere how this program works…….
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To: Dennis Nederlof
Excellent Program, it runs on my 64bit Vista with iTunes 8 (iPhone Firmware 2.1)
Thank you
To: Dennis Nederlof
Excellent Program, it runs perfectly on my Vista with iTunes 8.01 (iPhone Firmware 2.1)
What a time saver!!
http://www.microseconds.com/backupswitch.html
Thx – the windows app worked!!! THANK YOU!!
Thank God!!!
Thanks Dennis, the program worked perfectly, on vista
I am running Vista and used the code above but when running itunes again it tried to back up.
I used the program in the link above and it worked and it’s now updating my phone!
thanks dennis!!
I had to replace the dots with my own, if you get it :p
The ” dots where not properly made for me.
Dennis:
Kudos on the program m8!!
iPhone is currently updating and no 2 hour backup!!! thanks for the App!
Note To Future Users: I am normally skeptical about downloading random programs for fear of viruses… this one is clean, friendly and easy to use!
Keep up the good work Dennis!
~Adam
Vista 32bit. program worked flawlessly.
telephone gratuit
I deleted Facebook and the sync was significantly faster. Facebook was reinstalled and still backup speed was still quick. I think it is/was due to some cache problem in the app.
I also prefer to do backup; you never know when the phone is going to crash, and you don’t want to lose any new numbers/contacts that have been saved in the meantime, spesh with the inability to save stuff to the SIM card.
Im Getting the following error when i Copy and paste
“%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
into “Run” it gives me the following error:
Windows cannot find “C:/Program’. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.
Help?
The Windows iTunes solution worked on Windows XP. Synchronization with iTunes is much faster now. It speeds through the backup, I suppose because it actually does nothing at that stage.
But you give a soltuion to reverse back to automatic backup this for Mac OSX. How do you reverse the Windows version?
I see that the change in speed of ITunes synking I reported earlier did not work forever. I think it might have been forgotten after I rebooted my PC. I had to run the code again and it worked. I guess one has to redo it every time one starts up Windows.
Is that correct, Klaus?
On x64 Windows systems, you have to add (x86) to the command like this:
“%CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
I have an iPod Touch (2nd generation) that I want to update to 3.1.3 (think that is the latest version). I have about 581mb available on my C: drive. My Touch backup file folder is 589mb. Can I delete that backup via iTunes and then have enough room to download and install the latest version? Or will it create a backup before installing and in the process I will run out of space on my C: drive?
Thanks,
Mark
Hi,
It does not work with me.
It still do the backup iphone
Cheers!
Works with 4.0 OS installation with the new itunes (9.2?)
saved… HOURS, i would say, of my time.
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My girlfriend was having huge trouble with her iPhone not backing up or syncing. She deinstalled Java Runtime and Hey Presto! it works just fine now. In addition to this some HOGs she installed that didn’t run also now run.
Didn’t work for Windows 7, which might need a different – probably more elaborate – solution. It’s however perfect on Mac OS X. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you – that backupswitch software has saved my life – after trying several times and aborting after a couple of hours of stuck backups prior to the OS 4 update I’ve now updated my 3G iphone in minutes!
Awesome! the run dialog did not work for me but the PROGRAM DID! Thanks Dennis Nederlof and whoever made this post.
After i have the original IOS4 on my ipod touch 2g im gonna try to jalibreak it with this tutorial which uses redsn0w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQEyzUxUnCg
Good luck guys!
thanks again
I have a 32GB i-pod touch and I want to update to OS4. I manage my music by copying onto an external hard drive and then transferring onto my i-pod. When i click to update I get the message about needing to back up which may take more than an hour. After clicking continue I get an error message saying that backup not possible as 13GB space is required and only 1GB available on my laptop. It also says “continuing without back up will result in the loss of all media on this Ipod”. Please help…………………Is there any easy way around this?
I downloaded the app to delete back up but cant find it anywhere on my itunes, where is it?
There is a much easier way just go to http://www.digidna.net/products/backoff/download and download their software, it’s for both windows and mac.
Againb, gee what a life saver http://www.microseconds.com/backupswitch.html was. MANY THANKS!
The command line worked to disable the backup for the sync but did not work when I tried to update the iphone software. The digidna software worked for both. Thank you.
I also found this tutorial
http://www.iphone-without-itunes.com
very useful to update my iPhone without iTunes
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS ACTUAL QUOTE ?!!!!!!
“%CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Apple\Mobile Device
Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes
AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true YOU HAVE QUOTED IT LIKE
YOU’D QUOTE A NORMAL SENTENCE USING ” SYMBOL ??? OR AM I SPOSE TO
FUCKING COPY WHICH FUCKING PART OF THAT NONSENSE YOU SAY WE SHOULD
COPY AND PASTE INTO THE RUN PROMPT ????!!!! PLEASE…. I AM NOT A
FUCKING MICROSHAFT OR APPLE ENGINEER, OK!
TYPICAL FUCKING GEEK THREAD!! DOES’NT HELP AT ALL WHEN YOU
ARE TOLD TO COPY THIS GARBAGE:
“%CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Apple\Mobile Device
Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes
AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true AND PASTE IT INTO
C:/WINDOWSISSHIT/RUNPROMPT I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED AND AS EXPECTED
THIS… “%CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Apple\Mobile Device
Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes
AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true ..BULLSHIT IS BRINGING
NOTHING BUT ERROR MESSAGES! THANKS FOR NOTHING BUT A WASTE OF TIME,
I THINK I WILL READ THRU THE COMMENTS TO FIND A HUMAN BEING WITH
CLEAR AND CONCISE INSTRUCTIONS!
Correction for iTunes ver. 10.2.1 – there’s no bin folder under Mobile Device Support. Please use this command instead (copy paste including all quotes too!):
“%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Apple Application Support\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes.AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
If you want to undo this, simply replace true with false and run.
On Windows 7
Start Button | type cmd in search field | hit enter |
copy and paste below including quotes.
“C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes.AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
start -> run then type cmd to get command prompt
TURN BACKUPS OFF
“C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support
write com.apple.iTunes.AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
TURN BACKUPS BACK ON
“C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support
write com.apple.iTunes.AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false
Meant to say the post is for Windows XP!!!
start -> run then type cmd to get command prompt
TURN BACKUPS OFF
“C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support
write com.apple.iTunes.AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
TURN BACKUPS BACK ON
“C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support
write com.apple.iTunes.AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false
Dude! Your post saved my life, I was updating 6 iPads to iOS4 and it was driving me crazy, more than 12h to finish backup.
Thanks man!
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support\defaults.exe write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
For Windows7
)))
Worked for me..