Easily sync iPhone without backing up first

Aug 06, '08 07:30:00AM

Contributed by: JamesThree

This recent tip showed how to disable the backup process when syncing an iPhone by using a Terminal command. The way I do it is much less elegant, but has the benefit of being simple for novices and allowing the user to choose whether to perform a full back-up or a simple sync when the phone is plugged in.

I've created an album in iPhoto called iPhone Sync which contains one photo. When I plug in my phone (which is set to not auto-sync on connect), I can perform the lengthy backup by pressing the Sync button in iTunes.

If I only want to perform a basic sync (which will copy any new music, videos, or applications to the phone), however, all I have to do is toggle that album in the Photos tab of the iPhone in iTunes. This adds an Apply button where Sync used to be. Clicking the Apply button avoids a full back up, and only copies over new files.

[robg adds: Another advantage of this method over canceling a backup that has started is that it will leave your existing backup intact. The combination of iTunes 7.7.1 and iPhone firmware 2.0.1 has mostly solved my lengthy backup problems -- they're down to a more-reasonable five-ish minutes or so.]

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