Not enough space to restore iPhone from backup

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Not enough space to restore iPhone from backup

Greetings,

The error message is fairly self-explanatory but it would be helpful to know how a restore from iTunes on an iPhone actually works to understand WHY the error is generated. Since this backup I have is a few weeks old and belongs to the iPhone I wish to restore I'm guessing there's more at play than the backup size being less than the TOTAL storage on my phone.

For example, my phone is a 128Gb version and the current usage is roughly 65% at 84Gb. That leaves about 44Gb available. I know the numbers don't perfectly add up but I'm using the iPhone's storage section to generate them. I'm running iTunes on a Windows machine that is dual boot(Linux). When I mount the Windows partition and cd to where the backup lives and use du to check its size I get 47Gb.

So I'm guessing when you restore, your target device needs the available space for the backup to copy to the target for restore? Is that a correct assumption?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Nov 24, 2023 6:39 AM

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Answer 1

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Nov 24, 2023 6:53 AM in response to crimso911

It's also true that you want to erase the iPhone so that 44GB it's the storage space left before erasing the iPhone, you can erase the iPhone first and then start it restoring from a backup, just a thought

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Answer 2

crimso911 Author

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Nov 24, 2023 8:12 AM in response to 100clicks

True, and I did plan to do that but I'm simply trying to understand why that message happens. It really comes down to my last paragraph and the last question. Does the backup image need available space on the target of at least the size of the back because it's copied to the target and then the restore happens?

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Answer 3

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Nov 24, 2023 10:23 AM in response to crimso911

About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support

Backup methods for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch – Apple Support

It's pretty much the same thing, it contains also passwords of various accounts across the device as you mentioned. The disadvantage you need to remember the password

A computer backup of your device, which is not the same as a sync, includes almost all of your device's data and settings. A backup from a computer doesn't include:

Content from the iTunes and App Stores, or PDFs downloaded directly to Apple Books
Content synced from your Mac or PC, such as imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books and photos
Data already synced and stored in iCloud, such as iCloud Photos, iMessages, and text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages
Face ID or Touch ID settings
Apple Pay information and settings
Apple Mail data
Activity, Health and Keychain data (to back up this content, you'll need to use Encrypted Backup.)

as you decide when to backup, because you need to connect the iPhone to the PC it'll backup everything in it

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Answer 4

Jul 10, 2024 2:34 AM in response to crimso911

i'm having the same issue. I did a backup of my 13 mini which had only about 30GB used yet the backup weights 109GB. Now i can't restore it ON THE SAME PHONE even though it's showing 115GB free. iTunes for some reason shows 105GB so I guess that's what's preventing me from restoring it. BUT WHY ?!

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Answer 5

Jul 20, 2024 10:04 AM in response to crimso911

I find this baffling. The iTunes iPhone backup doesn't included all data, so the data and available storage size displayed in the iPhone - Settings - General - About is not really the size of the data backed up, but could be much smaller. Moreover, I would have thought that a Restore from Backup would delete the data on the iPhone that will be restored so why would iTunes be unable to restore it. A restore doesn't create duplicates. The data to be restored is most likely about the same size as what is going to be replaced. Maybe the iTunes backup program itself is fairly inadequate and deficient, thus forcing users to buy other programs to properly backup and restore all data. As great as the iPhone is, some aspects are truly infuriating. A contact on my iPhone disappeared and iTunes gives an error, "lack of sufficient space," when attempting to restore. However, a trial program from Easus can recover data from a PC iPhone back up and I can see there the contact that disappeared from my iPhone. But Apple doesn't provide with an easy way to address this issue.

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Answer 6

crimso911 Author

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Nov 24, 2023 10:00 AM in response to 100clicks

One more question if you please...

My iTunes backup is encrypted to ensure I got passwords and other stuff that falls under that category. Is there anything an encrypted backup does not backup or does it grab everything? I'm guessing only the data between the present date/time and the backup date/time should be missing...

I'm also assuming the iOS will roll back as well. This is main reason for the restore. Thanks.

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Answer 7

crimso911 Author

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Nov 24, 2023 10:30 AM in response to 100clicks

Thank-you again for the detailed response. I should be in pretty good shape since most, if not all, of the data NOT included I do not participate in. So I should get a restore that looks pretty much as I expect providedthe iOS also rolls back.

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Answer 8

crimso911 Author

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Nov 24, 2023 11:13 AM in response to 100clicks

I've read on a few other threads that the restore process does not install the iOS that was on the device at the time of the backup but rather downloads the latest iOS as part of the restore. So doing a restore will be an exercise in futility for me since the primary reason for the restore was to NOT be on iOS 17. I'm certainly disappointed but I imagine Apple knew not everyone would love the changes to iMessage amongst others. Not a massively big deal since my phone is a bit older and now is a good time to move on. I really only had an iPhone because my daughter was live in tech support. She's left the nest and has her own life now. Being a Linux gearhead I imagine Android will suit me better anyways.

Thanks again for your timely responses and take care.

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Answer 9

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Nov 24, 2023 8:37 AM in response to crimso911

Yes, for what I understand you need to have the same amount of storage space left on your iPhone as the backup to go through with the restore using Mac/PC iTunes

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Answer 10

crimso911 Author

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Nov 24, 2023 8:58 AM in response to 100clicks

Thank-you kindly for the clarification.

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Answer 11

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Nov 24, 2023 9:04 AM in response to crimso911

I'm glad I was helpful :)

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Answer 12

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Nov 24, 2023 11:23 AM in response to crimso911

Yes indeed if you use iTunes first thing first it will download the new IOS update and then restore the iPhone and proceed to set it up from a backup you can choose from the list. Take care:)

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Not enough space to restore iPhone from backup

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