How to back up photos from an iOS device using GoodSync

GoodSync Connect allows you to connect multiple devices to one GoodSync Account. That makes backing up any data from those devices easy.

Follow the steps below to add your iOS device to a GoodSync Account and create a photo backup from that device. 

Adding your iOS device to GoodSync Connect

1) On your iOS device, download and install GoodSync from the App Store.

NOTE: For instructions on downloading and installing GoodSync on iOS, click this link.

2) After downloading, installing, and creating or signing into your GoodSync account, open the GoodSync app. Tap the "Server" tab at the bottom of the screen.

Screenshot of GoodSync for iOS showing how to access the 'Server' tab

3) Tap the blue "Start" button at the bottom of the screen.

Screenshot of the 'Server' tab in GoodSync for iOS demonstrating how to start the GoodSync server

4) Once you see "Running" in green in the top left corner, the server has been successfully started. Your iOS device is now reachable via GoodSync Connect.

Screenshot of the 'Server' tab in GoodSync for iOS showing the running status of the server and a GSTP URL for accessing the device

5) To allow GoodSync to access your photos, tap the 3-dot icon in the upper right corner and select "Photo access."

Screenshot of the 'Server' tab in GoodSync for iOS highlighting the 3-dot icon in the upper right corner

Screenshot of the 'Server' tab in GoodSync for iOS showing how to grant GoodSync access to photos on the device

6) You will be prompted to provide access to your photos through the device's settings. Tap the "Settings" button to be brought to a Settings page, allowing you to select the level of access to give to the GoodSync app.

Screenshot of GoodSync for iOS displaying a prompt to go to the iOS Settings to grant GoodSync access to photos on the device

7) Tap "Photos" on this page.

Screenshot of iOS Settings demonstrating how to access the 'Photos' section to grant GoodSync access to photos on the device

8) Here, you can select specific photos to allow GoodSync to access or can allow GoodSync to access all photos in your gallery.

Screenshot of iOS Settings showing the options for granting GoodSync access to photos on the device

Backing up photos from your iOS device

If you haven't already, download and install GoodSync on your computer.

Now that you have registered your iOS device with the GoodSync Account and run the server, you can switch to your desktop installation of GoodSync to finish configuring the backup.

1) In the "Job" menu, select "New" or click the "New Job" button in the toolbar.

Screenshot showing how to create a new job in GoodSync for Windows using the New Job button in the Toolbar

Screenshot showing how to create a new job in GoodSync for Windows via the Job menu

2) In the New GoodSync Job prompt, enter the name of your new Job.

Then, select "Backup" or "Synchronize" as your Job type.

Click the "OK" button when done.

Showing how to set the job name and job type for a new GoodSync job

3) Click the left or right sync folder controls to view the files and folders available for selection.

Screenshot of the GoodSync window illustrating how to enter browse mode for sync folder selection

4) On the left side, select "GoodSync Connect," click your GoodSync Account, and click the name of your iOS device.

Select the "Photos" folder or whichever folder holds the data on the device you wish to back up.

On the right side, select the folder you wish to back up that data to.

Then, click the green "Apply" button.

Screenshot illustrating the process of selecting the Photos folder on an iOS device for syncing through GoodSync Connect

5) Click the "Options" button in the toolbar or right-click the Job and select "Options."

Screenshot demonstrating how to access the Job Options in GoodSync for Windows

6) From the column on the left, select the options for the side of the iOS device. In this case, the Left Side.

Check the box marked "No _gsdata_ folder here."

Then, click the "Save" button at the bottom right of the window.

Screenshot demonstrating how to locate and enable the 'No _gsdata_ folder here' feature in GoodSync for Windows

You will be prompted to confirm this action. Click "Yes" on this prompt.

Screenshot showing the confirmation dialog for moving the '_gsdata_' folder to the GoodSync Profile folder

7) Click "Analyze" to see the proposed changes.

Illustration of clicking the Analyze button to view the changes suggested by GoodSync

8) Click "Sync" to make the proposed changes.

Screenshot of the GoodSync window showing how to review changes and initiate synchronization

9) Once you see the equals sign between the left and right folders, your backup Job is complete.

Screenshot displaying the results of a completed GoodSync job

NOTE: To configure the job with automation or other settings, click here.

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