where does iphone backup when hooked to mac

Open iTunes and connect iPhone. Scroll to bottom of iTunes to Options and select the ones you want or don't want.

Regarding the Back Up Location on computer here is quote from Participant wjosten:

Your iPhone backup is stored here, where ~ is your user account:

~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

You may have to turn on show all hidden files & folders to see it.

Because backups cannot be turned off.

What logical reason would you have for wanting to turn off backups?

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It does not automatically put your Apple ID on any device that is plugged into the computer.

Here's a thought, READ the messages that display on the screen instead of mindlessly clicking "Ok".

You can always check the option to prevent iTunes from automatically syncing devices when connected in Edit > Preferences > Devices.

<Edited by Host>

Just to 'Help' and not to 'Bash', my personal experiences are that having backups enabled (both in iCloud and on my Mac) is a VERY secure and safe set of options, even if I have to select each option independently in order to benefit from both!

Having had a Mac failure and a 'connected device' failure in succession, I've been able to recover both from backups (including a Time Capsule in the mix) without ANY data-loss, solely because of having adequate backups in the 'Apple' world linked to my AppleID.

I have friends who think that Apple has some 'other' motive for backups: something to do with spying on individuals (or other mistaken reasoning).

Someone said "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean that they're not out to get you!", but who is SO important that Apple would waste their time using their SERVICES to HARM any individual by spying on them? If an individual is worried about 'others' having access to Apple, then perhaps that individual needs to think more about their possibly 'questionable' activities which might make that individual a target for the 'others' about whom they are so concerned?

To me, if a company offers a service and breaks its own rules surrounding that service then SUE THEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL!! Otherwise, use the service, wisely, for your own benefit! 😉