Have you ever tried backing up your iPhone or iPad and felt that it wasn’t working as intended. Is the complete backup a slow process, and you don’t have the time. Well, don’t worry, we have been there too, and trust us, it can be frustrating and irritating to back up all your data. But doing so will help you secure all your files and ensure that you would have your backup to rely upon if anything ever goes wrong.
So, go ahead start the backup process, and we will try to make it a fast and easy process. This can be achieved with the help of some tips and tricks. These tips may include some third-party apps or a simple deleting old data section. So go through everything to get a decent understanding of how a backup works and how it can be improved.
How does a backup work?
A backup is simply copying all your data and cloning it onto an external drive or PC. It helps you ensure that your data is backed up and safe and can easily be stored on a separate disk. This means that if you ever run into any trouble and accidentally deleted some data or lost your iPad, you could quickly replace it and restore the backup making it the same as before.
Note: The complete backup process can take a long time completing depending on the amount of data you have on your iPad.
How can you backup files through iTunes or iCloud?
Backing up your device is a straightforward process and can be done either straight through your iPad or by connecting it to a desktop. Two methods can be utilized to backup your iPad, and here is the step-by-step guide on both processes.
The iTunes Method
- Run iTunes on your PC or Mac.
- Now, connect your iPad to the computer using the USB cable.
- If this is your first time connecting your iPad to your PC, it will show you a message asking if you trust this computer. Select “Trust” and allow the desktop to access all the information present on your iPad.
- Now, tap the iPad device icon present in the upper left corner of the iTunes window.
- Finally, go to the “Backup” section and click on “This Computer”, and finally select the “Back Up Now” button to begin the backup process.
The iCloud Method
- Unlock your iPad and open the Settings application.
- Now, tap on your name at the top of the screen.
- Tap on iCloud and then on “iCloud Backup”.
- Finally, turn on the “iCloud Backup” option.
- Now, close the “Settings” application, and now your iPad will backup all data to iCloud.
How can you make the backup process fast?
As we have seen, the process is very straightforward, but it could be slowed and can take a lot of your time depending on the size of the data that needs to be backed up. So, here are some pro level tips that can help you make the process quick and reliable:
1. Delete all old and unused apps that can take up a lot of app data space
This is a standard process to go through when you want to improve your backup speeds. If you don’t want some apps and have many unwanted app data, then delete them before backing up your phone. This will ensure that your iPad stays clean and organized and will also improve the backup rate.
2. Remove all unused media from your iPad
Suppose you think that removing all your unwanted apps would solve your backup problems. In that case, you’re mistaken, as unwanted media is another factor that can hinder your backup speeds, and hence, deleting all unused media is an excellent step at an easy backup.
3. Move your photos to your computer or an iCloud Photo Library
We all have a ton of images that we want to keep as memories, but this hoarding process can bring in many issues for your iPad. So, instead of storing all these data locally on your iPad, get it all synced and backed up to an iCloud Photos Library so when you start backing up all your important files, photos aren’t going to be a problem.
4. Create iTunes or iCloud backups at regular intervals
Apple has an incremental or differential backup process. This means that each time you go on and do a backup, only new data or files get added. Basically, the more frequently you backup your iPad, the faster all other backups will be. This will help you save a lot of time in the long run and be much more secure with newer data files.
5. Avoid all services such as sending crash reports to Apple with every sync
Sending crash reports to Apple is relatively common and can quickly increase the backup time as iTunes would first copy these reports and forward them before creating the entire backup file. However, you can prevent this by rejecting the optional selection on iTunes, such as “Sending Crash Reports”, which can help you save a lot of time.
6. Turn off all syncing processes on your iPad
Remember, performance is your friend, and having more of it will help you increase the backup speeds drastically. So turn off all syncing processes and remove all apps from memory before backing up your device to have a seamless experience.
7. Ensure you’re using the proper connection
If you’re backing up your iPad through a USB-C connection, ensure that it’s running at the max speeds. The latest iPad Pro lineup also has support for Thunderbolt, which provides a 40Gbps transfer speed. So, connect with the correct port and enjoy a fast backup process.
8. Use a third-party service
You can also use many different third-party tools and applications to back up your files faster than the regular iTunes backup. Some of these tools and services are iMazing or Dr.Fone. Both these applications worked great for us and provided a faster time backing up the data. It helped us save around an hour or so, which is significant considering we had a lot of data, to begin with.
Now, if you follow all the tips as indicated, you will be greeted with faster backup speeds that will ensure you a great and secure backup.
Some backup FAQs
Q: How long does it take to backup 100GB?
Data transfer speeds are slow as the port’s bandwidth mainly limits them. An estimate will probably show that your backup would complete at a reasonable time, but that isn’t always the case, and with 8Mbps of transfer speed, 100GB of data should probably take about 30 hours to backup, which is a lot.
Q: Can I use my PC or Mac while it is backing up my iPad?
Yes. You could easily use your computer while the backup process is going on as PCs are built to be used with multiple tasks and applications in mind. Hence, a backup process isn’t going to affect the performance a lot, and you can use it to do any other stuff in the meantime.
Q: Why won’t my iPad backup to the cloud?
There can be multiple reasons for this but if you want to troubleshoot it, try deleting your last iCloud backup or turning off iCloud Backup in the “Settings” panel. Then go back and turn on the iCloud Backup settings and try backing up your device again.
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