Skip to main content
Spacedrive provides automatic photo backup from your iPhone to any Mac, PC, or NAS you own. Your photos transfer directly between devices using encrypted peer-to-peer connections, keeping them private and under your control. This guide covers setting up photo backup, configuring automatic transfers, and managing your photo library across devices.

​
Requirements

Before starting, ensure you have:
  • iPhone running iOS 16 or later
  • Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine as backup destination
  • Both devices on the same WiFi network (for initial setup)
  • Spacedrive installed on both devices
  • Sufficient storage space on destination device
Photo backup works completely offline after initial pairing. No internet connection required for transfers.

​
Install Spacedrive on iPhone

1

Download from App Store

Search for “Spacedrive” on the App Store or visit spacedrive.com/ios for a direct link.
2

Open the App

Launch Spacedrive and grant necessary permissions:
  • Photos access to read your photo library
  • Local network to find and connect to your devices
  • Notifications for backup status updates (optional)
3

Create Mobile Library

Follow the setup wizard to create your library. Choose “Mobile Library” when prompted for library type.
Without photo access permission, Spacedrive cannot back up your photos. iOS requires explicit permission for privacy protection.

​
Set Up Your Backup Destination

Configure the computer where photos will be stored:
1

Open Spacedrive Desktop

Launch Spacedrive on your Mac, Windows, or Linux machine. Ensure the daemon is running (check status bar).
2

Create Backup Location

Navigate to Settings → Locations and add a folder for photo backups. Name it clearly like “iPhone Photos” or “Mobile Backup”.
3

Enable Network Discovery

In Settings → Network, ensure “Device Discovery” is enabled. This allows your iPhone to find this computer.
Create a dedicated folder structure like /Photos/iPhone/[Year] for better organization.

​
Pair Your Devices

Connect your iPhone and computer for secure transfers:
1

Start Pairing on iPhone

In Spacedrive iOS, tap the devices icon and select “Add Device”. Your phone begins scanning for nearby Spacedrive instances.
2

Select Your Computer

Choose your computer from the discovered devices list. If not visible, ensure both devices are on the same network.
3

Verify Security Code

Confirm the 6-digit code matches on both devices. This ensures you’re connecting to the right computer.
4

Name the Connection

Give this pairing a friendly name like “John’s MacBook” for easy identification.
Pairing uses end-to-end encryption. Even on the same network, your photos remain private during transfer.

​
Configure Backup Settings

Customize how and when photos back up:
1

Open Backup Settings

On iPhone, go to Settings → Photo Backup. Toggle “Enable Photo Backup” to on.
2

Choose Backup Destination

Select your paired computer and choose the specific folder created earlier.
3

Set Transfer Conditions

Configure when backups occur:
  • WiFi Only: Prevents cellular data usage (recommended)
  • While Charging: Runs backups only when plugged in
  • Background Backup: Allows transfers when app is closed
4

Select Photo Types

Choose what to back up:
  • Photos (HEIC/JPEG)
  • Videos
  • Live Photos
  • RAW files (if shooting ProRAW)

​
Start Your First Backup

1

Initiate Backup

Tap “Start Backup Now” for immediate transfer or wait for automatic backup based on your conditions.
2

Monitor Progress

View real-time progress showing:
  • Photos queued
  • Transfer speed
  • Estimated time remaining
  • Individual file status
3

Keep App Active

For initial backup, keep Spacedrive open. Subsequent backups run in background.
First backup may take hours depending on library size. A 10,000 photo library typically transfers in 2-4 hours on WiFi.

​
Manage Ongoing Backups

Spacedrive handles incremental backups intelligently:

​
Automatic Detection

The app identifies new photos since last backup. Only new items transfer, saving time and bandwidth.

​
Duplicate Prevention

Content-based deduplication ensures the same photo never backs up twice, even if edited or renamed.

​
Conflict Resolution

If you organize photos on computer, Spacedrive preserves both versions without overwriting.

​
Storage Management

Monitor backup status and storage usage: 
Settings → Photo Backup → Storage

Backed up: 15,234 photos
Storage used: 45.2 GB  
Last backup: 2 hours ago
Next backup: When charging

​
Advanced Configuration

​
Multiple Backup Destinations

Back up to multiple computers for redundancy:
1

Pair Additional Devices

Repeat pairing process with other computers or NAS devices.
2

Configure Destinations

In Photo Backup settings, enable multiple destinations and set priorities.
3

Choose Sync Strategy

Select between:
  • Mirror: Same photos on all destinations
  • Distribute: Split photos across devices
  • Archive: Move older photos to specific devices

​
Network Optimization

Improve transfer speeds:
  • 5GHz WiFi: Use 5GHz networks when available for faster speeds
  • Direct Connection: Create device-to-device network for maximum speed
  • Quality Settings: Adjust compression for faster transfers (preserves originals)
For fastest initial backup, connect devices to ethernet on same network switch.

​
Backup Rules

Create smart backup rules: 
Only backup:
- Photos from last 30 days
- Favorites marked in Photos app  
- Photos with faces detected
- Media larger than 1MB

​
Troubleshooting

​
iPhone can’t find computer

  • Verify both devices on same WiFi network
  • Disable VPNs temporarily
  • Check firewall allows Spacedrive
  • Restart both devices

​
Backup seems stuck

  • Check available storage on destination
  • Verify WiFi connection stable
  • Force quit and reopen app
  • Check job manager for errors

​
Photos missing after backup

  • Confirm backup completed (check status)
  • Verify correct destination folder
  • Check if filters excluded some photos
  • Look in Spacedrive’s trash for accidents

​
Battery draining quickly

  • Enable “While Charging Only” option
  • Reduce backup frequency
  • Lower transfer quality setting
  • Disable background backup

​
Best Practices

Regular Backups: Enable automatic daily backups while charging overnight. Verify Backups: Periodically check destination folder to confirm photos transferred correctly. Organize Early: Set up folder structure before accumulating thousands of photos. Monitor Storage: Keep 20% free space on destination for smooth operations. Test Recovery: Occasionally verify you can access backed-up photos from another device.
Photo backup is not a sync service. Deleting photos from iPhone doesn’t remove backups. Manage storage separately on each device.

​
Next Steps

With photo backup configured, explore these features: Your photos now back up automatically and securely to devices you control. No subscriptions, no privacy concerns, just your memories safely preserved.