feat: full device backup — Apple-restore-compatible (mobilebackup2 / idevicebackup2 equivalent) #24

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opened 2026-05-16 01:17:07 +00:00 by hartle-tech · 0 comments

hartle-tech commented

2026-05-16 01:17:07 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Request

For a full device backup, we should implement such thing in a way that's either compatible with Apple's way of restoring the device, or in a way that our implementation can do it, similar to what idevicebackup2 does.

Scope

Full-device backup using Apple's mobilebackup2 protocol over usbmuxd.
Output should be restorable via Apple's tooling (Finder / Apple Configurator).
Or, alternative: produce our own format AND provide a dumpsock restore <bundle> subcommand for round-trip.

Implementation sketch

go-ios already has primitives for the mobilebackup2 service.
Distinct protocol from AFC (AFC is filesystem-level for DCIM; mobilebackup2 is a full encrypted bundle).
Backup encryption: optional user-supplied passphrase (same as Finder's "Encrypt local backup" toggle).
This is a separate phase from the photo+video pulls — different dashboard surface ("Full Device Backup" vs "Photo Sync").

Out of scope (now)

iCloud backup interaction.
Wireless backup.

## Request > For a full device backup, we should implement such thing in a way that's either compatible with Apple's way of restoring the device, or in a way that our implementation can do it, similar to what idevicebackup2 does. ## Scope - Full-device backup using Apple's `mobilebackup2` protocol over usbmuxd. - Output should be restorable via Apple's tooling (Finder / Apple Configurator). - Or, alternative: produce our own format AND provide a `dumpsock restore <bundle>` subcommand for round-trip. ## Implementation sketch - go-ios already has primitives for the `mobilebackup2` service. - Distinct protocol from AFC (AFC is filesystem-level for DCIM; mobilebackup2 is a full encrypted bundle). - Backup encryption: optional user-supplied passphrase (same as Finder's "Encrypt local backup" toggle). - This is a separate phase from the photo+video pulls — different dashboard surface ("Full Device Backup" vs "Photo Sync"). ## Out of scope (now) - iCloud backup interaction. - Wireless backup.

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Reference

hartle-tech/dumpsock#24

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