Can't Change iPhone Backup Location

Perhaps you just need to try again.

Relocate iOS device backups

1. Make a new folder called MobileSync at the root of the drive you want the backup data to live on, e.g. as D:\MobileSync
   
2. Use Windows Explorer to move current Backup folder at <SystemDrive>\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup into the folder you just made. If the backup folder is large this may take some time.
   
3. To make iTunes look for the data in the new location copy the text below, open a command prompt, click the small icon at the top left to paste in the command, edit the drive letter if needed, and then press <Enter>.
   

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

   
   

If you want the backup elsewhere replace D:\MobileSync accordingly.

Note that while this method works for iOS device backups it cannot be used to redirect sections of the media library.

If your library files are on your SSD see Make a split library portable.

tt2

iPhoneTacoBell wrote:

Thank you for helping me twice, but this solution did not work. When I enter the command, it says "Cannot create a file when that file already exists."

There error would suggest that the folder %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync isn't empty when you issue the command

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

tt2

Dear turingtest2,

Thank you very much for your tips. The mklink command works. But why do I still see the backup folder (and its content) used up the space in local SSD? I thought it's supposed to be empty as I moved it to external drive before mklink. After back up via iTunes, it shows both backup folders in SSD and external drive are used. Sorry to disturb but very appreciate your guide/suggestion.

Thank you,

Narin

The answer to all three questions is I don't know.

Drop a line to iTunes Feedback.

And yes, you can move the entire user profile folder if you wish. iTunes will look where Windows tells it to.

See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87555-user-profile-change-default-location. html

and this "gotcha" http://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-move-your-windows-user-profiles-folder-to-anot her-drive/

for some thoughts.

tt2

The only thing I can think offhand is some kind of permissions problem. The steps in this user tip applied to the backup folder might help. Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows. That or some change to iTunes now stops this method working. I will test when I get home.

tt2

This is a brilliant workaround! Thank you so much turingtest2!

I spent an hour talking to apple support today about this and after a lot of learning (on their side) they finally told me this wasn't possible. I actually knew about mklinks from earlier but did not think of it this way in this case. Now I can let this happen automatically and save space on my SSD. Again, brilliant! 🙂

Edit: this also must work for apps being saved on my SSD.

Ah, even better! Seems to work just fine.

About the backups however, they will still be created in the AppData\Roaming etc folder right? Set the mklink up, but do you think it is possible to batch command a complete move contents of AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\ folder to mklinked folder, or will that create all kinds of problems? What I mean is basically to create a batch file to run after any new backup has been made, so all files are moved to the other hard drive, and only is linked back to the SSD appdata.

Once the link is in place you don't need to do anything. iTunes will continue to use the path on drive C: but the data itself is placed at the other end of the link. No batch files or other management required. It appears to be at both paths but only takes up space on the one drive.

tt2

Dear Turingtest

I followed your instructions, (Windows 7, iTunes 12.01.26) and got the in DOS box message about successful junction to redirect the backup of ipad (I had deleted the backup contents and folder before doing the /J routine).

But when I try to make a backup of my ipad 6, I get this message

"iTunes could not back up the iPad “My iPad” necause the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPad. Delete the backup for this iPad , then try again."

There's no backup to delete, so I'm stymied

Can you please advise how to rectify thjis position or how can I I reverse the /J redirect routine?

You may have deleted the original backup data but does iTunes think it still exists? Check under Edit > Preferences > Devices and remove any backup sets listed there.

Otherwise to remove the junction delete the link object Backup from within the folder %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync.

tt2

The space is only consumed on the F: drive, however all of the content still appears to be on the original path, so checking the properties of the folder will show the same overall size. You should find your C: drive has more free space since you completed the move.

tt2

The folder details show what's in the destination folder, it doesn't know that it is elsewhere. Check the free space on the partition itself - that does not decrease when you add stuff to the mklinked folder. Only free space on the destination folders partition decreases.

This is a great post with very helpful information. Thank
you!

The most pressing question that I (and probably millions of
users) have though, is why does iTunes not allow one to change the location of
their Device Backups? It seems like such a simple thing that would solve many
users’ problems-- Especially with the prevalence of small SSDs for the system
partitions. I guess I could be asking the same thing of Microsoft and their
<user> folder location but that is for another site’s blog.

Does apple intend to implement the ability to change the
location in future iTunes updates?

Are the Apple developers even aware that is it a source of
tremendous frustration for their otherwise loyal user base?

Thanks,

-Q

terrific advice, I followed it and got the junction set up, but my issue is that my SSD doesn't have enough space for the backup I want to make; iTunes gives me that error message even with the junction in place. I'm guessing that iTunes is still looking at the C: drive to validate space, even though the files will be stored on D: (in my case)

any ideas would be very appreciated -

thanks

Yes, I'm pretty sure it will look at free space on C:\ and assume it cannot successfully complete a backup. You'll need to reclaim some space. You can try the DIsk Cleanup utility but if that doesn't give enough then you might need to uninstall some software and reinstall it on a different drive, or potentially (and with caution) look for other data that could be safely relocated using junctions.

tt2