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User profile for user: nickcrowney
nickcrowney Author
User level: Level 1
2 points

Can I delete the files/folders in 'Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup'?

Hi!

I have just tried to backup and update my iphone to iOS 5.1. The backup seems to have worked but when it came to restoring the iphone, I think the hard disk ran out of space and so it failed. I saw this and so I freed up around 3Gb of disk space and I tried it again. It again failed. Again I noticed that there was no space left on the hard disk. I assumed that to continue the restore it probably won't need that much more space (as it had already done most of the work) so I freed up a few more Gb.


Again it failed. When it fails, itunes leaves the partially restored elements on my hard disk meaning that my 'Apple Computer' folder is now 28Gb!! I cannot afford to delete anything else from the hard disk. I am using a PC by the way. I have noticed that in the folder 'Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup' has 5 folders in it which is the same amount that I tried to restore the iphone (before the last restore attempt there were 4 folders). These folders amount to 20Gb. From this I am assuming that the actual backup that I made is infact in 'Apple Computer\iTunes\Mobile Backups'.


Can I delete the folders in 'MobileSync\Backup'? This would free up 20Gb of disk space giving me enough to properly restore (in theory!).


Thanks for your time!!


Nick

iPhone 4, Windows XP

Posted on Mar 27, 2012 3:52 AM

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15 replies
User profile for user: danvlarsen
danvlarsen
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 21, 2017 6:50 PM in response to nickcrowney

So, I was looking under <user>\etc.\MobileSync\Backup and saw a ******** of directories. Checked the accumulated file size: 80 GB! Sweet Jesus.


But, I followed wjosten's advice of going through iTunes to remove the backups. So I remove all but 3 of my most recent backups, and watch most of the directories in Finder vanish. Sweet! Surely, that freed up close to 80 GBs on my drive, right??


Nope. Didn't do anything. So ... those files are obviously STILL on my drive somewhere, just moved somewhere else. What the ****?


Anybody know where they went so I can REMOVE them?


------


Edit: Weird. Looks like it is actually sloooooowly deleting the files. I see my drive space gradually creeping up again. Nice.

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User profile for user: STEVEWISONUSA
STEVEWISONUSA
User level: Level 1
4 points

Nov 6, 2014 9:28 AM in response to wjosten

your advice worked for me and saved me what ever evil lurked behind my thought to just delete the backup and get back my very lmited space on my 250GB Mackbook Pro using daisydisk pro https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daisydisk/id411643860?mt=12

Why DaisyDisk?

DaisyDisk remains the tool of choice for film makers (including companies like Pixar), digital artists, IT professionals and hundreds of thousands of Mac users worldwide when it comes to disk space management. Constantly improving since its initial introduction, the app easily blows away competition in terms of speed, efficiency and user experience.

@wjostenMar 27, 2012 4:03 AM Re: Can I delete the files/folders in 'Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup'?
Re: Can I delete the files/folders in 'Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup'?in response to nickcrowney

Delete iOS backups this way: iTunes>Preferences>Devices...select the backup/backups...hit delete. Do not mess with your backup folder.

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Can I delete the files/folders in 'Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup'?

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