Where are the iPhone backups stored?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Where are the iPhone backups stored?

I am completely reformatting my aging iMac in order to clean the years worth of stale data... However, although the applications can all be re-installed, I need to be sure I save all my iTunes info. I have saved off all of the folders contained within the Music->iTunes folder, but does this contain the backups somewhere for our iPhones and iPod touches?

Also, I am assuming then as long as I save off the apps contained within 'Mobile Applications' and 'iPod games' I can just re-import those when I have the system refreshed and ready to go?

Thanks in advance.

Posted on Jul 24, 2009 3:09 PM

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Answer 1

Jason L

Community Specialist

Jul 24, 2009 3:18 PM in response to Matt Barnes

Hi Matt,

This article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766 provides the location of the iPhone backups, along with details about the data stored in the backup.

+iTunes places the backup files in the following places:+
+On a Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/+
+On Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\+
+On Windows Vista: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\+

Yea, you can just reimport the apps and games or download the iPhone apps again.

-Jason

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Answer 2

Sep 18, 2009 3:56 PM in response to Jason L

I have read that article but the path provided does not exist on my system. I do not have a file "Application Data" under my user name.

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Answer 3

tal1971

Level 2

304 points

Sep 19, 2009 1:02 AM in response to v35bonanza

v35bonanza wrote:
I have read that article but the path provided does not exist on my system. I do not have a file "Application Data" under my user name.

Your computer is probably set to NOT show hidden files, I know on my PC which has Vista, I need to go into Tools menu/folder options/click on the view tab, you need to look down the list that will have appeared in the little window for SHOW HIDDEN FILES & NAMES, see the picture in the below link. You need to change this to show hidden files etc and you then should be able to see this folder.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/39329849571614421d67o.jpg

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