how to move MobileSync backup folder?

f_jancik wrote:

I can`t update my iPhone because I don`t have enough spage for a backup on C: created a link on D: but the moment I create the link everything that is in the Backup folder on D: pops back up on C: 😟

That's the point, the data appears so be on drive C: so it still where iTunes expects to find it, but the space is actually used only on drive D: (or whereever your link goes).

tt2

But then what's the point in creating the junction in the first place if it still uses space in the original location? LOL this is so stupid that it's beyond stupid..

I'll just uninstall the whole God **** thing of an iTunes and install it on D! Is there a chance to make a backup of my music and playlists so that when I reinstall iTunes I don't have to spend hours again importing and organizing my music?

If doesn't use the space in the original location (assuming you've done it properly) but iTunes still checks availabe free space on drive C: before it attempts the backup. As long as you have enough for iTunes to proceed the backup can complete without eating any of your free space at all.

The MobileSync backups will always go into the AppData data area of your profile, which is typically on C: Reinstalling the iTunes application on D: (if the installer gives you a choice) won't affect that, but will free up a few MB on C: I suppose.

Uninstalling then reinstalling iTunes won't shouldn't affect your library but you should have it backed up anyway. I use SyncToy 2.1 to keep a clone of my iTunes folder synced to another drive.

tt2

I read somewhere... someone said that when updating iPhone to iOS 5.. after the warning popped up that he doesn't have enough space on C: he pressed continue anyway and half way through the process it stopped because there wasn't enough space..

If it doesnt use space in tge original location why the **** it won't let me create a backup?

I can't free more than 3 GB of space on C: SOB!

Because iTunes isn't clever enough to know you've used a symbolic link to move the backup folder to another disk with plenty of free space. If there is a continue anyway option then you are probably good to proceed. There's bound to be a few gigs of stuff on C: that you don't need on C:for just as long as it takes you to upgrade. You could move that, upgrade, then put it back where it came from...

tt2

Hi,

I am running Windows 7 on a Dell M6600 workstation and ran into the same problem as my OS drive C (128SSD minicard) was filling up. I used a free junction program that made it a breeze to have my 10gb itunes backup reside on my 512GB SSD D drive. The only thing you need to make sure of is that you create the backup directory on your second drive then with itunes closed, move the backup file from your users/yourname/appdata/roaming/apple computers/mobilesync into the new folder on drive D (or whichever drive you have) and then use "Junction Link Magic" (a free program for advanced users) to create the junction. Works perfectly.

Hi Chris,

I'm having the same issue as others, but I just wanted to clarify that the mobilesync folder is located in users/library/application support/MobileSync. From what I can tell, it's in no way related to the itunes music folder?

I did what you suggested last year when I moved my iTunes to an external esata raid and the mobilesync is still located on my main HD in the above path?

Just trying to clarify and in no means trying to trash what you suggested b/c we all appreciate the time we take to help each other.

I could use Carbon Copy Cloner to automatically clone that folder to my external, but that doesn't make sense to me.

We have 4 devices in our house so the space these backups hold on my HD is silly. I'd sure like to move them.

Cheers,

Keebler

Decided I'd finally update to iOS 5 on my iPod Touch 3rd Generation, but ran into the problem of limited HDD space. I fixed the junction link, and it's back-upping just fine, but when I select 'upgrade' it tells me that I don't have enough HDD space again. However, I know it's backing up to my other drive, but the error message I'm receiving states:

The media on this iPod cannot be backed up because there is not enough free space on this computer to hold all of the backed up files (50,21 GB required). Would you like to continue to update this iPod?" And then in normal lettering "Continuing will result in the loss of all media on this iPod."

So perhaps you can understand why I'm hesitant about continuing...has anyone encountered this before and successfully backed up despite this message? I'd hate to find out after updating that my data is gone and I have to restore all my music and books again.

Edit: by the way, my Windows partitions on both my laptop and pc are under 50 GB, so there's no way I'd ever be able to update normally.

Instead of downloading this "junction" link I found a MUCH simpler fix to quelle these storage issues. It involves tricking iTunes by manipulating windows folders.

Step 1:

Find the backup folder: C:Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\AppleComputer\MobileSync\Backup

Step 2:

Cut and Paste the Backup folder to the external hard drive you wish to use.

Step 3:

Create a shortcut from the NEW location (External Hardrive) of the BACKUP folder and place it where the original used to be (on the C: drive).

Now, the SHORTCUT will act as a conduit to the external hard-drive for file backups. This also works with AppStore download data as well! Enjoy!

I use Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

I have a 120 GB SSD for c:\

And I just 6 GB free now on this drive.

But I have 28 GB from my iPad 3 I want to backup.

So when I try to do that sure I don’t have space.

So I try, like some here show, using junction.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896768

But it’s not work really since iTunes continue to want make the backup in drive c:\

My drive d:\ and other (e:\, f:\, etc.) have more than 100 GB free.

What exist already:

c:\Users\nickname\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync

“Backup” folder don’t exist.

they exist a test file (test.txt) in d:\ to try the junction.

What I did:

junction "c:\Users\ nickname \AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "d:\iPad3\Backup"

Junction is create.

Now I open cmd in administrator mode and go in root of d:\

d:\>copy test.txt c:\Users\nickname\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

and what happen is the “test.txt” file is copy in both folders:

c:\Users\ nickname \AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

and

d:\iPad3\Backup

But I want just to be copy in d:\iPad3\Backup

If I try with “-s” switch nothing change and same result.

If I open iTune (10.6.1.7) and try a backup, iTune continue to want to backup in c:\

So what I did that is bad?

I used the "Junction Link Magic" solution as noted above by "drerwinfrommontreal" on my Win7 box. Works great for me as well and easy to use. One note though, I could not see my newly created Junction link in the list and was concerned then about removing it if I needed to. Did a reboot and then a rescan and it came up in the list no problems.

This solution cleared off 18GB from my C: drive. I did a backup and so far, so good!!

Also, make sure to click the "more info" button. It will bring up the help file to guide you if you're not sure what to do.

Sadly, MobileSync is not in /Music/iTunes/ folder on my iMac. MobileSync is in Library/Application Support.

Starting iTunes with Option will only link to Music/Itunes which has all the iTunes media not MobilSync, where all the GBs of mobile backup is. So I guess I will need another solution.

For Windows 7, mklink is the way to go. There is no need for junction.

mklink will also work if you have sub directorie, ie, instead of creating shortcut of Backup, you can do MobileSync and the rest will follow.

In %APPDATA%\Apple Computer directory,

move MobileSync directory to d:

mklink /d MobileSync d:\MobileSync

I am using Windows XP and your solution sounds like the best one. I cut and pasted the MobileSync/ Backup folder to a Apple folder on an external drive. I then made a shortcut in the Backup folder on this drive and pasted it into the original MobileSync folder on my C:. When I sync my Iphone, it just creates a new Backup folder in the MobileSync folder and ignores the backup. Any suggestions?

Using Windows XP, I could not find anything that worked until reading Droopalong's post. Using "Junction Link Magic" as suggested by drewinmontreal was effective and simple to install. I previously tied a Junction program from another vendor that did not work. I also tried creating a shortcut to Backup as someone else here suggested. Junction Link Magic took about 2 min. to install, and 10 minutes to scall all of my drives. A pop-up menu allows you to easily create a junction between the "C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" and the backup folder location located on your storage drive. Although you need to cut your Backup folder from c: and paste it to your storage drive, make sure you still have the MobileSync folder (at least in name) located on your C:. "JLM" shows all of the files in the C: folder, yet they take up no physical space on that drive. A mirror of this folder is located on your storage hard drive. This has freed up an incredible amount of space on my 16GB C: drive and allows me to easily update iOS, add music, video, apps, etc. to numerous Apple devices. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS EASY SOLUTION!!!!