Backing Up an iPad Air 2 to a local Hard Drive

[Rod]

We all have to accept the fact that iPhones, iPads and other make equivalents are not portable unlimited storage devices. Using them creates data and sooner or later they get full. That means data must be moved or deleted.
As for settings and passwords they can only be saved via encrypted backups. iCloud is made for this and ideally suited to make the process easy and compatible. Likewise the macOS Music (iTunes) app.
You cannot use an iPad as a stand alone device without either a personal computer or cloud based service to sync and save its contents.
There are portable Lightning Bolt connected storage devices available https://shop.westerndigital.com/products/usb-flash-drives/sandisk-ixpand-usb-3-0#SDIX30C-032G-GN6NN
But this assumes the data will be downloaded to a computer. Again it does not save settings and we have not really mentioned passwords.


Sent from my iPad using Mac-Forums

 

[robertdaleweir]

We all have to accept the fact that iPhones, iPads and other make equivalents are not portable unlimited storage devices. Using them creates data and sooner or later they get full. That means data must be moved or deleted.
As for settings and passwords they can only be saved via encrypted backups. iCloud is made for this and ideally suited to make the process easy and compatible. Likewise the macOS Music (iTunes) app.
You cannot use an iPad as a stand alone device without either a personal computer or cloud based service to sync and save its contents.
There are portable Lightning Bolt connected storage devices available https://shop.westerndigital.com/products/usb-flash-drives/sandisk-ixpand-usb-3-0#SDIX30C-032G-GN6NN
But this assumes the data will be downloaded to a computer. Again it does not save settings and we have not really mentioned passwords.


Sent from my iPad using Mac-Forums

Hi Rod
I thank you for your post. I understand what you are saying. I suppose I am a bit spoiled because I have been 'cloning full drives', as an easy means of capturing everything and restoring if necessary. The world is definitely moving to the cloud and it simplifies life for many. Ones data, and most computer programs, are not owned by the actual user, and that is easier for most people. Thanks for the heads up on the USB/Lightning connectable item. Thanks again for your insight and have a great day...
Robert