Where Does iTunes Store Backups And How to Change It?

By default, Apple iTunes stores the backup onto the primary disk of your PC or Mac and doesn’t allow you to change the default backup location. iTunes backups are done automatically when you connect your iPhone to iTunes and sync. These regular backups can take up several gigabytes on your system and, therefore, it is better to delete or move older iTunes backups. To find out the secret location where does iTunes stores backups, continue reading the piece.

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Part 1. Where does iTunes store backups?

iTunes backups are stored in different locations primarily based on the operating system.

1. Where does iTunes store the backup on Windows 11/10

On Windows 11 or 10, you can find your iTunes backup files in the MobileSync folder. Now, let's get to the mobile sync folder. Here’s the path

C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Or
C:\Users\Your username\Apple\MobileSync\Backup\

The Windows Start Menu’s Search box can also find the backups. Here are the steps:

Step 1. In Windows 11, open the Start menu. Right next to the Start button, you’ll see a search bar.

Step 2. If you downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store, click in the Search bar and enter %appdata%

Step 3. Or %USERPROFILE% and press Enter/Return.

Step 4. Once in the Appdata folder, double-click the “Apple” folder and then “Apple Computer” and “MobileSync,” and finally go to the “Backup” folder, and you’ll find all your iTunes backups.

Note: If you can’t find the backup folder, this may be due to the AppData folder being hidden. You can change the settings by enabling “Show hidden files” in the Explorer settings and then repeat the procedure.

2. Where does iTunes store backups on Windows 7

On Windows 7, you’ll find iTunes backup files in the MobileSync folder. Here’s how to get to the mobile sync folder. Here’s the path

C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

To manually locate the list of backups, use the Windows Start Menu’s Search box. Here are the steps:

Step 1. In Windows 7, open the Start menu. Above the Start button, you’ll find the Search bar.

Step 2. Click in the Search bar, type %appdata%, and hit Enter/Return.

Step 3. Now open Apple Computer > MobileSync > Backup folders one by one.

Step 4. All the backup files will be in the folder, just as in the image above.

3. Where does iTunes store backups on Mac

To find the backups on your Mac device, follow the steps

Step 1. Click on the search bar (magnifier icon) in the Finder menu or press the combo command of “Command + F” in the Finder window to search the location.

Step 2. You can also use the “Go to Folder” menu option in the Finder menu to jump to the location.

Step 3. Copy and paste or type this directory location: ~/Library/Application

Support/MobileSync/Backup/

Step 4. Here you’ll find all your iPhone and other Apple devices backups, with a jumbled-up string of letters and numbers.

Step 5. You can also locate the files from iTunes (if macOS is older than 10.15) or Finder if you’re using the latest macOS Catalina.

a. Go to iTunes and open preferences. In preferences, click on Devices, right-click your device, and then press Reveal in Finder. This will show the backups associated with the particular iPhone.

b. If using the latest Catalina, head to the connected iPhone under the Locations section in the Finder window. Click on “Manage Backups,” and a Device backups window will pop up. Right-click on the backup file and press “Show in Finder.”

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Part 2: How to change the iTunes backup location?

1. How to change iTunes backup location Windows 11/10/8

We will use the symlink method – symbolic link- to change the iTunes backup location on Windows. The symlink is a new iTunes path to the backups folder. Here, I’ll show you how to use the Windows Command Prompt application to create a symbolic link that effectively tricks iTunes into backing up to the new location you want.

You need to use the Windows Command Prompt to perform the finagling. I’ll take you through each step of the process.

Step 1. As we’ve already located the current iTunes backup directory, make a copy of the “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” directory.

Step 2. Create a new directory wherever you want iTunes to store all your backups. For example, create a directory in C:\ folder.

Step 3. Go into the newly-created directory by using the “cd” command.

Step 4. Now navigate to the current backup location – “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” using the Windows File Explorer and delete the backup directory and all its content.

Step 5. Head back to the Command Prompt and type the same command: mklink /J “%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup” “c:\itunesbackup”. Again, ensure to use the quotes.

Step 6. You’ve successfully created the symbolic link, a virtual connection between the two directories, and changed the iTunes backup location to Windows 10.

Step 7. New iTunes backups will go to “C:\itunesbackup” or your defined location.

2. how to change iTunes backup location on windows 7

A symbolic link connects two folders, one serving as a proxy for the other. The linking is on the operating system, so it works perfectly fine. We will use the same steps as we used for Windows 10. Employing the Windows Command Prompt to trick iTunes.

Step 1. Head over to the current iTunes backup directory and make a copy of the “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” directory.

Step 2. Create a new directory wherever you want iTunes to store all your backups from now on. For example, create a directory in C:\ “folder name.”

Step 3. Go into the newly-created directory by using the “cd” command.

Step 4. Navigate to the current backup location – “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” using the Windows File Explorer and delete the backup directory and all its content.

Step 5. In the Command Prompt, type the command: mklink /J “%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup” “c:\itunesbackup.” Ensure to use the quotes.

Step 6. You’ve successfully created the symbolic link, a virtual connection between the two directories, and changed the iTunes backup location for Windows 7.

Part 3: Backup iOS with MobileTrans – Backup

Wondershare MobileTrans can be used to create backups of all your iOS devices quickly and seamlessly. This astounding piece of software is serving millions of people around the globe in resolving their problems with any mobile operating system, from Android to iOS and Windows.

You no longer have to rely on the buggy and clumsy iTunes to back up your revered data. It is continually updated with features and bug fixes to save you from facing any unforeseen situation. In addition, the company is always coming up with innovative and user-friendly technology solutions, presenting state-of-the-art PC and internet-based applications.

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Let’s see how using MobileTrans, you can back up your iOS devices easily.

Step 1. Download MobileTrans and install it on your computer system, either a Windows PC or a Mac, launch it and select the Backup & Restore module.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone, iPod, iPad, or any other iOS device to the computer system via a USB cable. The software will automatically detect and display the mobile on the MobileTrans window.

Step 3. Now choose the Phone Backup & Restore feature and click on the Backup button.

Step 4. You’ll see an extensive list of data that can be backed up on your computer. You can select the files and then click on the Start button.

Step 5. Now, wait for the backup process to be finished. That's it! Backup your phone with MobileTrans is easy and quick.

We effectively found the iTunes backup location and updated it successfully with the help of a symbolic link connection. I also introduced the best solution for you to back up any of your iOS devices – the MobileTrans backup and restore tool with the ability to back up selected types of files without any computer expertise and much effort. The procedure only requires two mouse clicks and is more accessible than the iTunes method of backing up the iPhone.

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Axel Nash

staff Editor