idevicebackup

Create a backup of the device in the specified directory

$ idevicebackup backup [path/to/directory]

$ idevicebackup restore [path/to/directory]

idevicebackup [OPTIONS] BACKUP_PATH

--udid UDID
    Target specific device by its UDID.

--debug
    Enable debug output.

--version
    Print version information and exit.

--help
    Display help message and exit.

BACKUP_PATH
    The directory where the backup will be stored.

idevicebackup is a command-line tool for Linux that allows you to create backups of iOS devices (iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches) without relying on iTunes or other proprietary software. It uses the libimobiledevice library to communicate with the device over USB. This tool can be useful for automating backups, scripting backup procedures, or performing backups on systems where iTunes is not available or desired.

The backup process includes device data, settings, and potentially media (depending on options). The backup can be stored on the local filesystem. The user has control over what data is backed up, but the tool depends on the capabilities of the connected device and the features supported by libimobiledevice. It offers features such as incremental backups for increased speed and reduced storage space, and the option to encrypt the backup with a password. This encryption safeguards sensitive data stored within the backup.

Remember to keep your encryption password safe to ensure your backups are accessible.

This tool relies on libimobiledevice and its capabilities. Backup functionality may vary depending on the iOS version and device model. Ensure that the latest versions of libimobiledevice and related tools are installed for optimal performance. Not all iOS features are supported for backup.

While idevicebackup itself may not directly handle encryption, backups created can often be encrypted with a password via other associated tools in the libimobiledevice suite. Refer to the libimobiledevice documentation for more details on backup encryption options.

idevicebackup is part of the libimobiledevice suite of tools, which emerged as a free and open-source alternative for interacting with iOS devices.

Development was driven by the desire to bypass the need for iTunes and provide greater control over device management on Linux and other Unix-like systems. Over time, the tool has evolved with improvements in libimobiledevice, adding support for newer iOS versions and features.

ideviceinfo(1), idevicepair(1)