Why is my iPhone backup smaller than used storage?

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22 points

Why is my iPhone backup smaller than used storage?

Hi!

I tried to find an answer to my problem but i can't find it searchig on the net so i'm asking help here.

Using my Iphone 14 pro max and 12 Pro max both equipped with 128 GB when i do a full backup on my mac (an imac, a macbookpro both intel and a macbook air with an M2 chip ) the size of the backup are smaller than the memory used on the device. To be precise iphone 14 use about 123 GB of memory (the most important part are photo library 32GB and whatsapp 44GB) and the backup size is about 49GB (no, all kind of icloud backup are disabled) and a similar situation (1 GB more o less) for the Iphone 12

Does anyone know how it is possible? I dont want to loss anythong in case of disaster...

Thanks, Antonio

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Feb 11, 2025 11:12 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 11, 2025 11:42 AM in response to Zottwalker

Things you sync with iCloud are not included in a backup. And the operating system is not backed up either.

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Answer 2

Feb 11, 2025 12:05 PM in response to Zottwalker

Also, apps are in the backup or their data. For the most part then, you're backing up photos, contacts, messages, music if you have saved music, files if you have files. Backups themselves aren't very large.

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Answer 3

Zottwalker Author

Level 1

22 points

Feb 11, 2025 11:55 AM in response to lobsterghost1

thanks for your answer lobsterghost1. I agree about OS backup files, but as i wrote i have all icloud type of backup disabled. i tried also a backup after disconnecting the iphone from the icloud account but i can't see any change...

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Answer 4

Zottwalker Author

Level 1

22 points

Feb 12, 2025 11:29 AM in response to Zottwalker

Another thing is driving me crazy...

I want to download all pictured on icloud and keep them only inside my pc. This means about 20.000 pictures.

Ok, i don't like the need to download from icloud 1000 pictures at one time maximum but the mistery is:

First round, i select 1000 images, then download the zip file with "original unmodified images" and when i unzip the downloaded zip file....

Inside the folder i founded 1033 pictures...

I selected 1000 images why now i have 1033 of them?

Second round, same procedure. selected 1000 pictures, downloaded the zip, unzip and... inside the new folder this time i can see (as we says in Italy. "venghino siore e siori venghino a vedere....") 1229pictures. no sidecar files, only video and pictures.

I think that if i select to download 1000 images i'll get 1000 images not 1033 or even worst 1229...

Heeelllpppp!!!!

Thanks, Antonio

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Answer 5

Zottwalker Author

Level 1

22 points

Feb 11, 2025 12:13 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Ok, but backup made last year using the same apps and configuration are about 85GB large... now is half the space. this thing let me think that some is going wrong

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Why is my iPhone backup smaller than used storage?

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