backup iPhone using iTunes

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Level 1

4 points

backup iPhone using iTunes

I previously moved the folder that contains the iPhone backup files form my Mac hard drive to an external harddrive to save space. That external drive has since failed, and I want to back up my iPhone using iTunes, however, the backup folder is no longer on my mac. How do I direct the backup to point to my hard drive instead of the external drive which I do not have anymore? I tried to back up my iPhone using iTunes but received an error message for obvious reasons, as the destination folder is no longer present.

iPhone 6s, iOS 10.3.3

Posted on Aug 23, 2017 2:14 PM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Aug 24, 2017 8:42 AM in response to rharoot

Did you just move the backup data over to the external drive, or did you have it connected via a symbolic link so that iTunes could still back up to it. See Relocate iOS device backups for one way to do this. If you used this method then as Niel has said you will need to remove the backup link at /Users/<User>/Library/Application Support/MobileSync and put an empty Backup folder there instead.

tt2

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Answer 2

Niel

Level 10

741,929 points

Aug 23, 2017 2:20 PM in response to rharoot

If you created a symbolic link or alias, delete that.

If you used another method, reverse it; without knowing what it is or the error message you get, nobody here will be able to provide specific instructions.

Allan: That article applies to an iTunes library, not iOS backups.

(153083)

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

272,760 points

Aug 23, 2017 10:18 PM in response to rharoot

rharoot wrote:

There does not appear to be any backup folder to delete.

Allan Eckert asked what happens when you follow the error message instructions. Those instructions say nothing about any backup folder. They direct you to use iTunes' menu to go to iTunes > Preferences > Devices and delete the backup from there.

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Answer 4

Aug 23, 2017 2:18 PM in response to rharoot

Try Open a different iTunes Library file or create a new one - Apple Support

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Answer 5

rharoot Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 23, 2017 2:27 PM in response to rharoot

the message is "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone. Delete the backup for this iPhone in device preferences, then try again."

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Answer 6

Aug 23, 2017 2:37 PM in response to rharoot

So what happens when you do what the error messages says?

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Answer 7

rharoot Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 23, 2017 3:53 PM in response to Allan Eckert

There does not appear to be any backup folder to delete.

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