backup iphone to external drive windows

You simply have to create a symbolic (virtual) link in Windows, to a folder on your external drive.

I followed the instructions found here: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/backup-iphone-external-drive-72349.html

You close iTunes first, then navigate to your MobileSync folder for your user account:

Something like: “C:\Users\yourWindowsusername\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync"

There you will find the normal "Backup" folder location. If it exists, rename Backup to Backup.old.

Then create a folder in the root of your external drive named "iPhoneBackup" (or whatever you want).

Next, you run a command prompt, and enter the following Windows command:

mklink /J "c:\users\(yourusername)\appdata\roaming\apple computer\mobilesync\Backup" f:\iphonebackup

(Assuming your external drive is drive "F".)

* If you want to see more about mklink first, simply run "mklink /?" to see the help info.

Then run iTunes, and it thinks it is working in the old "Backup" folder, but it is actiually working in the "f:\iphonebackup" folder. You can even move the contents (included folders) of "Backup" to "f:\iphonebackup", and they will show up in iTunes as backups. The new virtual link shows up as a folder with a link "arrow" icon on it. It can be deleted like any file, but this does not affect the target folder on your external drive.

Hope this helps.

Doug

Hi Frank. mklink is built into cmd.exe, and cannot be run by itself. Open a command prompt as Administrator, and enter just mklink. How are you running it?

More info can be read here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16226/complete-guide-to-symbolic-links-symlinks- on-windows-or-linux/
and here (about why it doesn't work in powershell):
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/894430/creating-hard-and-soft-links-using-po wershell

Here is what my cmd prompt looks like:

Good luck,

Doug

From one of the top experts on this forum:

"You need to point iTunes to the library on the external drive. Hold down the OPTION key while opening iTunes. You will be prompted to select a library. Navigate to the external drive to select the iTunes library you wish to use. From that point on when you sync the phone the backups will go to the iTunes library on the external drive."

How to Back Up iPhone to External Hard Drive via iTunes?

Some 3rd party software can do this if you don't mind.😕😕 They can transfer files from iPhone/iPad to external drive directly, so they can solve your problem well. But you should make sure your external drive can connect to your computer.

You can google iPhone transfer is OK. And I only used the FonePaw iOS Transfer which is really helpful. And most of them will have tutorials on their website. Like this is about how to backup iPhone to an external drive.

Hi

When you charge an iPhone /ipad it will be backed up to iCloud over your WiFi Automatically

I havent use my PC for over 2 years for apple devices

Almost everything can be done over iCloud & WiFi .

Cheers

Brian

Hi,

I have done all this and create the Backup folder on my external hard drive. But when I run my Backup from iTunes, it still won't go through the end. it still said that there's not enough memory to finish the back up. But I do have lots of free space on my external hard drive.

Please help me. I need to back up my Iphone 7. I have lots of pictures that I want to back up. I'm using a PC, windows 8.1 version.

Thank you so much!

Doug thank you. I will read your links to see if I can garner some knowledge. The PC I have unfortunately is an old one from and old job and I don't have access to the Administrators password.

Regards

Frank

You would have to set up iTunes on an external drive. The following article may help:

http://ipod.about.com/od/advanceditunesuse/a/Itunes-External-Hard-Drive.htm

Hi! Did you receive any solution for this problem? Thanks.

Thank you Doug. What a treat it is to fine someone who firstly understands the question, and secondly, knows the right answer!

Hi,

You could try copying the images to a folder on your external drive and then point iTunes to that folder for backup.

Rusty

Hi Doug, what happens when my Window 7 PC does not recognized the command mklink /J.

I tried typing in mklink /? and got the same message that Mklink could not be found

Regards

Frank