Why
Cloud photo backups are convenient and also: a recurring bill, someone else's server, and a company that can change the terms whenever it wants. PunkBackup does the boring, useful thing instead — it copies your files to a drive you own, over a network you control or a cable, using nothing but your iPhone's built-in Shortcuts app and a small program on your own PC.
How it works
- A small program runs on your Windows PC. Its WiFi server listens when you start it, or when you open the app if you turn that option on. Backup by cable is also available for fast, bulk copies.
- Each person/device gets its own profile: its own secret token, its own destination folder (a different USB drive per person if you want).
- A native iOS Shortcut (no App Store install) checks your Photos library against what's actually in your current destination folder, and uploads whatever's missing — manually, or automatically on your home WiFi.
- For a first backup or a large volume, plug in the iPhone and use Backup by cable: much faster, no network needed. It uses the same folders and rules, and both paths recognize each other's files, so running both doesn't store them twice.
- Nothing is ever deleted, moved, or modified on the iPhone. Nothing is ever silently overwritten at the destination.
Get started
Development
py -m venv .venv .venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install -r requirements.txt .venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pytest tests -q .venv\Scripts\python.exe main.py