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Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Backup Your iPad

Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Backup Your iPad

iPad owners, did you know that you are supposed to back up your iPad on a regular basis? Do you know how?

I didn’t and it’s a lesson I learned the hard way. I decided I want to sync some music I had purchased from iTunes with my iPad so I connected my iPad to my Macbook. When I plugged it in it asked me to update the OS software so I did. Then for whatever reason it told me my iPad had gone into restore mode and would need to be restored.

Yikes.

I hadn’t backed it up in a long time so I had no idea what would happen to all my apps (paid and free) and my data. I went through the process of restoring the iPad and the only backup I had was from like a week after getting the iPad. Not good. I was able to restore the iPad to working condition but I had lost all of my data and 90% of my apps.Backup iPad

Luckily I was able to dig through my purchase history to redownload all of my apps (I didn’t have to pay again)

All of this could have been avoided if I had backed up my iPad on a regular basis. If you need to know HOW to backup your iPad here is a great article on How to Backup and Restore Your iPad.

Losing all of my info, even if only temporarily, actually turned out to be a good thing. I obviously learned about the value of backing up my iPad but I also learned that plugging your iPad into your computer you can manage the iPad much easier than by trying to do it from the iPad itself.

What I mean by that is that once you plugin your iPad you can do things like arranging the apps and organizing your folders, downloading and syncing apps, music, videos, and books all from iTunes. You need to think of iTunes on your computer as your one-stop shop for all things Apple-based and things like your iPad, iPhone, iPod, etc as devices that can be synced with what you’ve downloaded or purchased through iTunes on your computer.

If you are an iPad user do you manage your iPad from your computer or from the device itself? How often do you back up your iPad? I am very curious to know. Leave your answers in the comment section below.

 

About the author / Jillian Koeneman

Juiced about social media & digital. Entrepreneur. Founder @freshlimemktg | Connector. #MSU Alum. #Detroit native. Dog lover.

Latest comments

  • Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    March 27, 2011 at 2:16 am

    I haven’t plugged my iPad into my computer since the week I got it. I probably should do a back-up. I just never thought about it until I read this!

    Thanks for the heads up!

    • Jillian Koeneman
      March 28, 2011 at 9:37 pm

      I think a lot of people, myself included, make that mistake! Perhaps it should prompt you every so often to connect! That would be great!