Backing up iCloud in phases? Yes, you can.
Backing up iCloud in phases? Yes, you can.
I suppose this is a networking question, but here's the issue... I just got a new Iphone, and I have a lot of stuff on said phone (over 100gb). I pay for Icloud storage and have always backed my phone up through icloud. The problem is, my max wifi speed is pretty much 2 mbps download and like 0.8 mbps upload. Based on this, I would need to leave my phone on the charger for multiple days in order for the backup to complete, which is something I'd rather like to avoid. This begs the question, can Icloud backups take place in stages, or do they have to complete all at once? If its the former, then I'll just back up each night for a few days and after a while, I'll be good. Or, if its the latter, then I need to find an alternative network or backup solution (which I would really like to avoid). If someone knows the answer to this question, or could give some insight into the inner workings of Icloud backups, I would greatly appreciate it.
It seems a bit let down. Are you wondering if any of these options could be effective? - I wasn't expecting this, but could I save to iTunes and then transfer it to iCloud via a connected device that stays online for extended periods? - Or is there a method to force your phone to back up using cellular data, given you have an unlimited plan?
Have you thought about using a NAS? It could be stored locally and would provide quicker access than your regular internet. You’d likely still need to back up data to the cloud, but a NAS would let you keep another copy elsewhere. I’m not sure some NAS models support connecting to cloud storage, which could give you more options. Also, it wouldn’t charge you a monthly fee, possibly based on how much you back up.
You might store your iPhone backup on your PC using iTunes? This could be the ideal choice because the only method would involve transferring it elsewhere and then initiating the upload. You could test if a PC backup is possible, then allow your PC to handle the process quietly over several days. Anything beyond that seems unlikely with iTunes since it's an Apple product and we should rely on their tools. The strongest case is switching to a more cost-effective cloud option like AWS S3, which offers better security, scalability, and integration with modern applications. It’s also more affordable—150GB would cost about $3.45 per month and 2TB around $46 per month, which could be cheaper than iTunes. You might also adjust settings to restrict backups to Wi-Fi only, as this is enabled by default. I haven’t used an iPhone in a while.
They likely use a PC. iTunes is almost obsolete; Apple Music now serves as the main service and doesn’t need a physical phone connection. It isn’t available on MacOS.
You don’t have to use iTunes to save your phone. It handles the backup automatically. I own an Apple gadget. As I mentioned, iTunes is no longer supported by Apple. Now they offer Apple Music instead. Inserting your phone into the app doesn’t make a difference.