How to move itunes backup location

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, use the menu icon at the top left to paste in the command, edit the drive letter/path 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.

See also Make a split library portable if your library files are on one drive with the media on another.

tt2

turingtest2 wrote:

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, use the menu icon at the top left to paste in the command, edit the drive letter/path 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.

See also Make a split library portable if your library files are on one drive with the media on another.

tt2

Great help turingtest2!

I also have the tiny SSD issue loaded with main software/games and these 50GB backups keep growing, so it was time to change it over to one of the storage drives. Your instructions worked great, I did have issues though getting the "Cannot create a file when that file already exists" prompt, but deleting the original C drive "Backup" folder inside of MobileSync after copying it to the new destination resolved the issue.

Thanks again.

Ah, in case it isn't clear the data should appear at both %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup (which is where iTunes will still try to read and write to the folder) and at D:\MobileSync\Backup, but it only takes up room on the D: drive. The process transparently maps to folder to the new drive while still allowing it to be accessed using the hard coded path in iTunes.

tt2

Erick407 wrote:

Your instructions worked great, I did have issues though getting the "Cannot create a file when that file already exists" prompt, but deleting the original C drive "Backup" folder inside of MobileSync after copying it to the new destination resolved the issue.

That's why the instructions say to move rather than copy the backup folder. Anyway glad to hear you got it working. 🙂

tt2

Try renaming the device backup folder inside \MobileSync\Backup to force iTunes to generate a completely new backup set for your device. If it works throw away the old folder.

tt2