how to move MobileSync backup folder?

Oops, sorry proohu01, I left out .exe from the command. The response I got from the cmd when typed in correct was a lot of information about what the different postfixes do (-q, -s), starting of with information about the creator and then following up with: The first usage is for displaying reparse point information, the second usage... (and so on)

Does this indicate that the junction worked? (I can't see any folder (looking like a shortcut) in the origional location on the C:\ drive (Roaming\Apple Computers\)

It worked! It was just me not able to read instructions:\ Thanx for the tip!

Thanks Pal, works perfectly.

Thanks mate... you are the man!

It works!

All the time I was wondering why my space is going low on C drive until i found this folder huge size lol

Absolutely genius. Freed up 30 GB of SSD hard drive space for me. Thank you!

Hi,

I have tried the steps perfectly as described.

When I run the command from the location where the junction file exists, it gives me the usage information about the junction.

Here is the command I used:

junction.exe C:\Users\kanna\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup H:\Itunes\mobilesync\Backup -s

following is the result i got

Junction v1.06 - Windows junction creator and reparse point viewer

Copyright (C) 2000-2010 Mark Russinovich

Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

The first usage is for displaying reparse point information, the

second usage is for creating a junction point, and the last for

deleting a junction point:

usage: junction [-s] [-q] <file or directory>

-q Don't print error messages (quiet)

-s Recurse subdirectories

usage: junction <junction directory> <junction target>

example: junction d:\link c:\windows

Can someone suggest me where I went wrong.??

Thanks

It worked for me on win7x64. Thanks!

proohu01 wrote:

1. Close iTunes
2. Download junction.exe from Microsoft and in Windows 7, place it in the C:\Windows folder.
3. Remove the folder "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync" and all sub folders. (so there is no MobileSync folder anymore)
4. Create a new forder structure on an other drive for example: "D:\Backup\MobileSync"
5. In Windows 7, open a command promt as an administrator. Now execute the following line....
6. junction.exe C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\AppleC~1\MobileSync "D:\Backup\MobileSync" -s
7. The command will have created an folder (looking like a shortcut) in the origional location on the C:\ drive.
8. Now connect your Apple device of choice and watch the folder "D:\Backup\MobileSync" get filled up with stuff.

Moved MobileSync folder to the new location and this was my command:

G:\>junction "C:\Users\zYx\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync" "G:\7X64SSD\iPhone\MobileSync" -s

Junction v1.06 - Windows junction creator and reparse point viewer
Copyright (C) 2000-2010 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Created: C:\Users\zYx\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync
Targetted at: G:\7X64SSD\iPhone\MobileSync

Note: \MobileSync and not \MobileSync\Backup

I used another tool called NTFS Link. Move the folder <Profiles>\<AppData>\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup to another location, then create an empty folder called Backup in <Profiles>\<AppData>\Apple Computer\MobileSync and use NTFS Link to create the junction.

tt2

Oisteinfromoslo wrote:

It worked! It was just me not able to read instructions:\ Thanx for the tip!

That! 😝

This is the iTunes for MAC forum, right?

So, I'm having the same problem (SSD start disk) -- on my Mac.

How can I change the ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup folder location from my SSD to my (internal) HD?

Somebody here said I could move the entire iTunes music folder but mentioned /Music/iTunes -- that folder doesn't exist. Which folder should I move instead?

• ~/Music/iTunes Music
• ~/Music/iTunes Media

What about the following files:

• ~/Music/iTunes Library Extras.itdb
• ~/Music/iTunes Library Genius.itdb
• ~/Music/iTunes Library.itl
• ~/Music/iTunes Music Library.xml
• ~/Music/iTunes Music Library Backup.xml

Should I move those to my HD as well?

Thx!

Stefan.

Hi Stefan. Yes this is the iTunes for Mac forum, but sometimes questions end up in the wrong place or there is some crossover. You should be able to relocate the MobileSync/Backup folder using a junction as described elsewhere. As a PC user I don't have all the answers for this aspect for Mac users. Regarding the library itself however...

Here are typical layouts for the iTunes folders:

However in your case it would appear that your library has ended up in the ~Music folder instead of ~Music/iTunes.

If you have upgraded from version 8 (or earlier) to iTunes 9 (or later) at some point, then your media folder (everything inside the red outline) may still be called iTunes Music instead of iTunes Media. The extra Music folder inside the media folder is used if you have allowed iTunes to Upgrade to iTunes Media Organization (iTunes 9) or used File > Library > Organize Library > Reorganize files in the folder "<Media Folder>" (iTunes 10). Depending on your choices for Keep iTunes Media folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library plus a little bug in which one build changed the name of the file storing the choice of layout it is quite easy for some of your files to be organized according to one layout and some the other.

Assuming you're happy letting iTunes organize your files the following steps should tidy things up:

1. Make sure that under Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab your media folder is given as ~Music/iTunes Media. Edit if necessary, but don't consolidate files at this stage if prompted.

2. Select File > Library > Organize Library... > Tick Reorganize files in the folder "iTunes Media" and click OK. Skip if this option is greyed out (already upgraded).

3. Select File > Library > Organize Library... > Tick Consolidate files and click OK. This will bring any files currently organised outside the designated media folder into it. NB This will create duplicate copies of any file that needs to be consolidated, and you will need to manually clean up afterwards. If space is at a premium use something like Move Files to Folder to move files into the correct folders.

4. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab, uncheck Keep iTunes Media folder organized and click OK.

5. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab, check Keep iTunes Media folder organized and click OK. This triggers iTunes into reorganizing everything into the correct, portable, layout.

6. Close iTunes, wait a few seconds for it to finishing saving the library, then copy the entire Music folder to the root of the internal hard drive.

7. Rename the copied folder as iTunes

8. Click the icon to launch iTunes and immediately press down Option and continue to hold down until asked to Create or Choose a library. Choose the new copy of the library on the internal hard drive.

9. Once you are satisfied all is well you can delete the old copy on the SSD.

tt2

This does work, but what happens in my case is that it writes the content to both folders... so while it copies to my empty drive, it's also filling my C: - it's creating a mirror of content instead of just "linking" to the directory on the large drive... any ideas on how to remedy that?

Does this work even after your reboot or do you have to do the Junction command again each time you reboot? Other then that this worked great. Thanks guys.

It'll work after reboots.

I've been battling with this for a large part of this afternoon - I have linked my iTunes backup folder to my external drive, and it's copying stuff there, but the problem is it's still writing to the iTunes folder, so I'm getting two copies.... it's drving me nuts.