[Guide] How to Back up iPhone from iTunes to External Hard Drive

iTunes is a popular method for Apple users to back up their iPhones, helping protect important data like contacts, messages, and photos. It ensures your information stays safe if your device is lost, damaged, or has software issues.

By backing up your iPhone using iTunes to an external hard drive, you can free up space on both your computer and iPhone, making it easier to use your device without worrying about running out of storage. Plus, you can access and restore your data anytime, even without an internet connection. Here's how you can back up your iPhone from iTunes to an external hard drive.

Part 1: How to Back up iPhone from iTunes to External Hard Drive

iCloud and iTunes are two common ways to backup iPhone. iCloud provides 5GB of free storage (iCloud Storage Full?), while iTunes allows you to back up iPhone directly to your computer. Many people use iTunes for local backup. Here is a simple guide on how to backup iPhone to external hard drive using iTunes:

• First, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. Then, connect your iPhone and external hard drive to your computer.
• Press "Win + E" on your keyboard to open "File Explorer". Go to this folder: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\AppleComputer\MobileSync\Backup. This is where iTunes stores iPhone backups on your computer. You can delete everything in the "Backup" folder to free up space.



• Now, create a new folder called "MobileSync" on your external hard drive. Then, press "Win + R" to open the "Run" window, type "cmd", and press "Enter" to open the "Windows Command Prompt".
• In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press "Enter": mklink /J"C:\Users\[PC name]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "E:\MobileSync".

Note: If your external hard drive is displayed with a different letter, replace "E:" with the correct letter.

• Open iTunes and click on the small iPhone icon in the upper left corner. Then, click "Summary" and select "Back Up Now" to start backing up your iPhone to the external hard drive.

Once the backup is complete, you can check if the backup has been saved to the external hard drive. If you are not familiar with the Command Prompt, you can manually copy the backup folder to the external hard drive. (Where to Find the Location of iTunes Library?)

Part 2: Back up iPhone to External Hard Drive Without iTunes

Using iTunes to back up your iPhone is a good option, but many users face the frustrating problem of iTunes or iCloud getting stuck during the backup process. That's why some people recommend using MobiKin Assistant for iOS, a professional third-party backup and management tool for iOS devices. It is a simple and reliable alternative to iTunes that helps you easily back up your iPhone to any location, including a computer or external hard drive, without the hassle of using iTunes.

The reasons why Assistant for iOS may be a better choice:

• Supports backing up iPhone/iPad data to computer, iTunes and external hard drive.
• Unlike iTunes or iCloud, you don't need a Wi-Fi or cellular connection to back up your iPhone with Assistant for iOS.
• Restore data from backup to iOS device with one click.
• Offline backup ensures a smooth and uninterrupted backup process.
• You have the freedom to back up everything on your iPhone or select specific files to back up.
• Supports almost all iOS data types, including Video, Photo, Music, Contacts, Text Messages, Notes, Voice Memo, etc.
• Fully compatible with iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X/8/7/6, iPod touch, iPad, etc.

Here's the guide on how to back up iPhone data to an external hard drive using Assistant for iOS:

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to computer

Download and install Assistant for iOS on your computer. Connect both your iPhone and external hard drive to the computer and make sure they're recognized.

Step 2: Select the iPhone data to back up

Open Assistant for iOS. On the main screen, you'll see different file types you can back up. Choose the types of data you want to save.

Step 3: Backup iPhone to external HD

Once you've selected the data you want to back up, click the "Export" button. Choose your external hard drive as the destination, and the program will automatically transfer the files there.

That's it! After the backup is complete, you can safely disconnect your devices.

Video Guide:

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Part 3: FAQs on Backing up iPhone to External Hard Drive with iTunes

Q1. Do I need to encrypt my iPhone backup?

If you have sensitive data like health or activity information, it's a good idea to encrypt your iPhone backup. You can do this by selecting the "Encrypt iPhone backup" option in iTunes.

Q2. What happens if I unplug my external hard drive during a backup?

If you unplug your external hard drive while backing up, the process will stop and the backup may be incomplete or corrupted. Always make sure the external hard drive stays connected until the backup is complete.

Q3. Can I use one external hard drive for multiple iPhone backups?

Yes! You can back up multiple iPhones to the same external hard drive. Each iPhone's backup will go into its own folder, but make sure the drive has enough space to accommodate all the backups.

Q4. How long does it take to back up my iPhone to an external hard drive?

The backup time depends on the amount of data you have and the speed of your computer and external hard drive. Larger backups may take longer, so be patient.

Summary

Backing up your iPhone to an external hard drive is usually a smart choice because it frees up space on your computer and makes the backup safer and easier to carry. Above we explained how to back up iPhone from iTunes to external hard drive. If you want to back up your iPhone directly to an external hard drive without using iTunes, MobiKin Assistant for iOS is a good choice. It allows you to create a complete backup of your iPhone and restore it with just one click. Give it a try!

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