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anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

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Some of my contacts were missing from iCloud backup. I don’t have Computer at home. I wonder if anyone had better backup experience using iTunes Backup when iCloud backup didn’t completely backup everything

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Reply To: anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

Interesting choice of words, “lossy”.

Do you mean that some data is not backing up properly? Do you have sufficient data storage in your iCloud account? If not, you might need to pay a little for extra storage.

After reading Apple’s article about this.

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

I read https://support.apple.com/en-us/102325 and my takeaway is you CAN”T RELY ON iCloud backup.

Google this: 321 BACKUP SYSTEM.

Do that and you shouldn’t lose a thing.

It’s a mystery why view of Count of Contacts requires an Apple Computer .

In reply to After reading Apple’s article about this.

I should have mentioned I had raised a ticket with Apple Tech Support but getting nowhere. When restored from iCloud, iPhone lost recently added contacts . It’s a mystery why view of Count of Contacts requires an Apple Computer .

My iCloud storage capacity is more than enough with 25% unused

In reply to After reading Apple’s article about this.

My iCloud storage has 25% unused. Apple Tech Support live Chat my iCloud backup steps and confirmed recently added contacts could not be uploaded for unknown reason. Apple Tech Support could see the count of contacts in my iCloud account and said iPad nor iPhone cannot provide view of Count of Contacts in iCloud. Without Apple Computer, how can someone easily verify iPhone contacts have been fully backups? Human verification isn’t possible for big list; such as Scrolling contacts in iPhone and compare them to human memory?

So it’s a bug.

In reply to My iCloud storage capacity is more than enough with 25% unused

As such, keep the ticket open and report it over and over if they close the ticket.

If this information can’t be lost, you’ll want to explore replacement systems. I will not be able to offer suggestions for the Apple platforms.

Lossy is borrowed term for images

In reply to After reading Apple’s article about this.

I used lossy to shorten description of full backup completed as per iCloud but recently added contacts are missing. Other recently added contents such as larger data sized photos and videos and documents don’t have such backup problems.

iCloud backup

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

if iCloud backup didn’t cover all your contacts, using iTunes for backup on a computer might capture the missing ones. iTunes backups can sometimes be more thorough than iCloud.

Regards

I rather find solutions elsewhere; my experience has not been exactly great

In reply to iCloud backup

Apple support typically requires me repeating my information even though they have records of each session. Could it be I bought a second hand phone from mom and pop shop? And not using $$$ Apple battery which also used up half a day wait @ Apple Store? Are governments not encouraging small businesses? And if my iPhone doesn’t have major hiccups shouldn’t I rather support paid Apps and personally subscribe Microsoft ecosystem for self learning for work reasons?

I am hoping to draw on experience elsewhere after exhausting Apple Community.

I’m listening.

In reply to I rather find solutions elsewhere; my experience has not been exactly great

I wish I had solid answers for you but as you are learning Apple is their own ecosystem so when you mix your Windows and Apple phone, you may find bugs.

As to me, my last iPhone was my last iPhone. Actually I had 2 iPhones and updated to a new model but couldn’t get Apple to remove my old phone from my account. The phone was bought and paid for but Apple failed me here. When I bought my next phone it wasn’t an iPhone.

Seemed a shame that my still working iPhones had to be used as spare parts at some phone repair shop.

experience with icould backup

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

If iCloud backup misses contacts, using iTunes Backup without a computer at home can be a reliable alternative. Many users find iTunes more comprehensive in backing up data when iCloud falls short, ensuring a more thorough backup experience.

Reply To: anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

iTunes allows you to create a full backup of your iPhone, including contacts, messages, apps, and other data. Plus, it gives you more control over the backup process. Since you mentioned not having a computer at home, it’s worth considering using a friend’s or a public computer to set up an iTunes backup.

How to use someone else’s computer for iTunes

In reply to Reply To: anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

Is it possible to use someone else’s computer for iTunes backup to my OneDrive?

Re: someone else’s computer

In reply to How to use someone else’s computer for iTunes

Surely, that’s possible. You can do anything you want on any PC. But I would recommend that “someone else” gives you a local non-administrator account on his PC, and does anything that requires administrative rights (such as installing iTunes) himself.

[kees_b]

Reply To: anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

While some users prefer iTunes for its comprehensive backup features, others find iCloud backups to be lossy. iTunes provides a more direct and complete backup solution, ensuring minimal data loss. To enhance your backup experience, consider exploring iTunes as a reliable alternative.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by kees_b.

I am deleting duplicates contacts as solutions

In reply to Reply To: anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

There are 6300 contacts after I installed VPN and used iCloud App to sync contacts with Microsoft 365 Outlook on Windows 10 Home.
Approximately 30-60 deduplication for each contacts to revert to pre-sync condition.
Approximately 60 days of two hours spent on removing 100 duplicates by hand
Apps I tried did not remove duplicates.
I will post my results March 2024. Cheers!

Re: duplicate

In reply to I am deleting duplicates contacts as solutions

Your original problem was that you were missing contacts. Now, one months later, you managed to have some 6000 contacts too much. It seems something went very wrong.

Original post was six months after duplication of contacts

In reply to Re: duplicate

Contacts can not be iCloud backup after duplication of contacts occurred six months ago when I installed VPN and sync across Microsoft Office Outlook with iCloud App.

There are two problems here. Cannot backup new contacts and 30-60 dupes

Re: posts

In reply to Original post was six months after duplication of contacts

Thanks for the clarification.

What happened 6 months ago seems to prove what rproffitt said a month ago in this thread about mixing Apple and Microsoft: might be buggy. Sorry to note you only see it now. I wonder if manual cleaning the way you did is the easiest solution.

And it seems that your new problem (new contacts don’t sync) isn’t solved either. That seems rather hopeless for the moment, so better find an alternative for not losing the data of your 100-200 contacts. Let me suggest registering them in a spreadsheet, syncing that to the cloud and using it when you ever lose the original (which is unlikely anyway). That’s a few hours work at most.

What if sync with Google account, reset iPhone, resync to Android?

In reply to Re: posts

Is it possible to sync contacts to my Android phone? Then delete all iPhone contacts, then resync from Android phone?

Re: Android

In reply to What if sync with Google account, reset iPhone, resync to Android?

I expect that mixing/syncing/backup iOS/iCloud/Apple with Android/Google Drive/Google is just as difficult or impossible as with Windows/Onedrive/Microsoft, especially for things that are rather integrated in the OS, like contacts.

NA

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

If you are still facing the issue, you can try to open the iPhone’s Settings, scroll down, and tap on “Passwords & Accounts.” From there, tap on “Add Account” and select “Google.” Enter the Gmail address and password associated with the Google Contacts, then follow the on-screen prompts to authorize and sync Google Contacts.

Google has merged but many contacts are not listed in my Samsung phone

In reply to NA

Google shows much fewer count of duplication (less than 10) than 200 shown before in my iPhone. Also much less duplicate per contact.
My Samsung also is not listing many of my recently added contacts.
It seems like I still need to manually delete by hand

TRENDS

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

While iCloud is a reliable backup solution, some users find iTunes Backup more comprehensive. If certain contacts are missing from iCloud, try using iTunes for a thorough backup. Connect your device to a computer, open iTunes, and select “Back Up Now.” This may provide a more comprehensive backup, ensuring all your contacts are safeguarded.

Reply To: anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

In reply to TRENDS

iTunes allows you to create a full backup of your iPhone, including contacts, messages, apps, and other data. Plus, it gives you more control over the backup process. Since you mentioned not having a computer at home, it’s worth considering using a friend’s or a public computer to set up an iTunes backup.

anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

In reply to anyone had better backup experience with iTunes when iCloud backup is lossy

It’s not uncommon for users to experience issues with iCloud backups, including the occasional missing data, such as contacts. Using iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) for backup can sometimes provide a more complete backup solution for your iOS device. Here are some points to consider:

Complete Backup: iTunes (or Finder) creates a full backup of your device, including your contacts, photos, notes, and all other data. This can be more comprehensive compared to an iCloud backup, especially if there are issues with iCloud not backing up all your data.

No Storage Limit: Unlike iCloud, which provides limited free storage (5GB), using iTunes or Finder for backup doesn’t have a storage limit, as the backup is stored on your computer. This means you can back up more data without worrying about running out of space.

Local Access: With iTunes/Finder backups, your data is stored locally on your computer. This can be a more reliable option if you have concerns about internet connectivity or prefer to have physical control over your backup storage.

Privacy and Security: Some users feel more secure with a local backup because it reduces reliance on cloud services, where they might have concerns about privacy and data security.

No Need for a Network: Since iTunes/Finder backups are done via a USB connection, you don’t need an internet connection to perform the backup.

Flexibility in Restoration: With iTunes/Finder, you can restore your device from a backup more flexibly. For instance, if you’re setting up a new device or need to restore your device to resolve an issue, you can use the iTunes/Finder backup without requiring an internet connection.

Speed: Backing up via iTunes/Finder can be faster than iCloud, especially if you have a lot of data to back up and a slow internet connection.

Steps to Backup with iTunes/Finder:
Update iTunes/Finder: Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes on your computer, or if you’re using macOS Catalina or later, just open Finder.

Connect Your Device: Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer.

Trust the Device: Follow the prompts on your iOS device and computer to trust the device.

Start the Backup: On iTunes, click on the device icon and choose ‘Back Up Now’. On Finder, select your device under ‘Locations’ and then click ‘Back Up Now’.

Encryption (Optional): You can choose to encrypt your backup by selecting the ‘Encrypt [device] backup’ option and se

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