Fatty Support
Fatty creates a verified, ordinary-file archive of your iPhone photos and videos on a compatible external USB-C drive. It is a photo/video backup tool, not a full iPhone backup or a data recovery service.
Getting started
- Unlock your USB-C iPhone and connect a compatible writable external drive.
- Open Fatty. On first use, grant Photo Library access and choose a destination folder through Apple's system picker.
- Start the backup and keep the drive connected while Fatty copies and verifies the files. Follow any access or purchase prompts shown by the app.
- Wait for Fatty's verified completion and safe-disconnect indication before unplugging the drive. If items need attention, follow the displayed retry instructions.
The app requires iOS 17 or later. The direct-drive workflow also requires a USB-C iPhone and compatible external storage. Some drives need additional power or a powered hub. exFAT is recommended for an archive you want to open on both macOS and Windows. Fatty does not format drives; do not erase a drive containing files you need.
Keep your originals and another trusted copy until you have independently confirmed the archive you intend to rely on. Do not delete originals based on a single backup result. Keep Fatty open and the drive connected for the most predictable backup session.
What is backed up?
Photos and videos accessible through Apple's Photo Library APIs, including associated original resources made available for supported media. Limited Photo Library access backs up only the items you select. Originals stored in iCloud may need a network connection before they can be copied.
The current release does not back up general Files folders, text messages, iMessage conversations, apps, device settings, or the entire iPhone. It does not restore an archive into Photos or automatically delete originals to free space.
Where are my files?
Open the chosen destination on your drive. Inside iPhone Media Backups, Media contains normal photo/video files organized by year and month. Fatty System contains the records needed for incremental backups and recovery. README.txt explains the layout.
You do not need Fatty to open the media on a compatible computer. Leave Fatty System and the archive's media filenames/paths intact if you want Fatty to continue recognizing that backup. Other files created by the operating system may also appear on the drive; Fatty does not manage them.
Fatty's drive overview shows reported capacity, verified archive totals, and backup history. You can select saved files for a system preview when iOS supports their format. A preview is not a fresh integrity audit. One photo may have several associated files, so media-item and resource-file counts can differ.
Common questions
The drive is not showing up. Unlock the phone, check the cable and drive power, and confirm the drive appears in Apple's Files picker. Reconnect it and follow Fatty's destination-selection prompt if one appears. Do not format a drive just to troubleshoot Fatty.
Fatty is waiting for iCloud. Connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network and keep the app open. Fatty's cellular-original retrieval preference is off by default; enabling it may use your mobile data allowance.
The drive was disconnected or the backup stopped. Reconnect the same drive, open Fatty, and follow the displayed Continue or Retry action. Verified checkpoints are retained when available. Do not delete the system folder to force a restart.
The drive is out of space. Stop and review the destination's available capacity. Use a suitable drive with enough room; never delete your only copy of important files. Fatty cannot span one archive automatically across multiple drives.
The app says up to date. Fatty found no new resources requiring backup within the Photo Library access you granted. This is not a full-device backup claim or a new full-drive hash audit.
Can Fatty free space automatically? No. Fatty never automatically deletes originals from Photos. Any manual deletion is a separate decision: first confirm your copies and understand how iCloud Photos deletion affects synced devices.
How do I restore a purchase? Open Fatty's Settings and choose Restore Purchases while no backup or purchase operation is active. Use the Apple account associated with the purchase. Do not send support your Apple password or verification code.
Contact Fatty support
Email info@denverdatarecovery.net with “Fatty Support” in the subject.
Include the Fatty version/build, iPhone model, iOS version, drive model, theme, visible error message, and steps that led to the problem. You can attach a redacted diagnostics report from Settings if needed. Do not send original media, a complete archive, passwords, or sensitive screenshots. TestFlight testers can also submit feedback through TestFlight.