Change backup location?

Moving the iOS device backup location

Open a command prompt by hitting the start button and typing CMD<Enter> in the search box that opens up, or with Start > Run on older Windows.

To move the current backup folder from C: to D: (for example) type in this command and press <Enter>

Move "C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\Backup"

Where <User> is your Windows user name.

To make iTunes look for the data in the new location type in this command and press <Enter>

MkLink /J "C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\Backup"

If your preferred drive has a different letter or you already have a folder called "Backup" then edit "D:\Backup" accordingly in both commands.

If you have Windows XP then you'll need a third-party tool such as Junction to link the two locations together instead of the MkLink command. The source folder is C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

tt2

Hmmm. I'm sure I'd tested the steps I gave above but in a recent thread elsewhere it transpired that iTunes is (now?) using the roaming branch, not the local one. The revised version of the tip reads thus:

Relocate iOS device backups

Assuming you're running Windows Vista or later you can use the following steps:

1. Using Windows Explorer move the current Mobile Sync Backup folder from C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backupto your chosen location, e.g. as X:\Backup where <User> is your Windows user name and X: is your preferred drive.
   
2. To make iTunes look for the data in the new location open a command prompt by hitting the start button and typing CMD<Enter> in the search box that opens up, thentype in this command and press <Enter>MkLink /J "C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "X:\Backup"

If your external drive has a different letter or you already have a folder called "Backup" then edit "X:\Backup" accordingly.

Anyone still running Windows XP can use Junction (cmd line tool) or NTFSLink (shell ext). In either case move the existing folder to a new location, create an empty folder where the old one used to be, then use one of the tools to get the operating system to link the two together and silently redirect any file operation on the old location through to the new one in a similar fashion to MkLink.

Note that while this method works for iOS device backups it cannot be used to redirect sections of the media library. iTunes will break the connection the first time it tries to write a file to the target folder.

It may be that following the earlier advice you've created the link in the wrong place, and creating it in the right one will fix things. Ideally you would only have attempted this procedure when the device and library were behaving normally and would then have synced/backed up the device which would have highlighted any problems at that time so you could reverse the procedure if it had failed.

tt2

No, you don't need Junction. Windows 7 has the MkLink command. See Relocate iOS backups for details

For the command to work the following must apply:

• The backup folder that is to be linked to must exist
• The folder %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync must exist and not contain a folder, file or link called Backup
• The source and target drives must be in NTFS format

%AppData% will be replaced by the path to the roaming folder in your user profile, typically C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming.

tt2

Alright, I did it manually and I went to enter the MkLink line and got this:

Ignoring the Move command as I realized that was just unnecessary on Win 7 when I did it manually, the Mklink gives a "Cannot create a file when it already exists." error. Unless thats normal?

The folder C:\Users\Robert\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync should no longer contain a file or folder called Backup before you issue the command:

MkLink /J "C:\Users\Robert\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\iTunes\MobileSync\Backup"

tt2

Dear tt2,

Thanks for your sincere help! I have created a empty Backup folder in the MobileSync and moved away the content.

However, the junction still had problem to create the link.

Do you have any idea what's the problem of it?

I have tried different ways, none are working. I need help.

My Iphone 6+ have seriously in bad shape with all problems, screen freeze, apps closed all the sudden, phone hang up. I talked to Apple Staff, they said I might have software problems. I need to back up my stuff. Apple is going to install fresh software to my phone, but I can not use my back up because the software error. Now I have no clue what is the purpose of backing up and not able to use it? Just because I updated the IOS 9. I made the reservation but it is a week from now. I took off work and try to get it done but wasted the whole day in Apple store because I didn't back up my iphone. This is frustrating and stressful to use this phone.

After moving my backup data here is what I see in:

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync

Note the link arrow over the folder icon in which also shows in the sidebar.

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Showing the linked content that is really on D:

D:\MobileSync\Backup

The actual location of the data.

I can remove the existing junction by deleting the Backup icon shown in the first image, and then recreate it with the command:

MkLink /J "%AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\MobileSync\Backup"

Have you got to the point where you see something similar in those locations? If not, what do you see at the moment?

tt2

I tried your syntax on a Windows 10 Pro command prompt and got an "Access is denied." message (see first attachment below). I also tried using an elevated (Administrator) command prompt and got the same message (see second attachment below). How do I resolve this problem?

See the section Relocate iOS device backups in my user tip Make a split library portable for an updated description of the process. It seems that using Windows/File Explorer for the initial folder move is more reliable than using the command prompt.

tt2

As given above see the section Relocate iOS device backups in my user tip Make a split library portable for an updated description of the process.

Which command is being rejected? Is iTunes still open when you try?

tt2

See the section Relocate iOS device backups in my user tip Make a split library portable for an updated description of the process.

Which command is being rejected? Is iTunes still open when you try?

tt2

Hi, just in from work. 😉

In the backup folder on D: you should have folders with filenames similar to this:

02eea44dbf576a7151bb23cc3d04f258c7fa8af4

optionally followed by a timestamp for backups that have previously been used for a restore.

Do you see this or have the folders ended up at a different level?

If you can see the folders make sure that your used account and system have full access to the folders and files therein. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows. Close iTunes and restart. Anything listed under Edit > Preferences > Devices?

tt2

See Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates if you want to try reinstalling, but if iTunes runs I don't think that is necessary. Do you see any folders with the long filenames in the backup folder? If you're not reliant on restoring an existing backup then you could empty the folder and see if iTunes will make a brand new backup for you.

tt2

Hi,

Still working properly for me last time I looked. I suppose it is just possible there could be some weird permissions issue. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows and apply the same advice to the backup folder.

tt2