Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

On both Windows and macOS, iOS backups are stored in a MobileSync folder.

On macOS, iTunes will store backups in /Users/[USERNAME]/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. (macOS 10.15 creates backups using Finder rather than iTunes, but these backups are stored in the same place.)

Under Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10 iTunes will store backups in \Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup.

The Microsoft Store version of iTunes stores its backups in \Users\[USERNAME]\Apple\MobileSync\Backup.

Under Windows XP, iTunes will store backups in \Documents and Settings\[USERNAME]\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup.

Our blog provides this information in more detail.

There's a simple way to easily find this folder: iPhone Backup Extractor will show you the default backup folder (and let you change it) with a click or two:

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc
iPhone Backup Extractor's Preferences pane showing backup locations

By default, Apple iTunes stores the backup onto the primary disk of your PC or Mac and doesn’t allow you to change the default backup location. iTunes backups are done automatically when you connect your iPhone to iTunes and sync. These regular backups can take up several gigabytes on your system and, therefore better to delete or move older iTunes backups. To find out the secret location where does iTunes stores backups, continue reading the piece.

Part 1. Where does iTunes store backups?

iTunes backups are stored in different locations primarily based on the operating system.

1. Where does iTunes store backups Windows 10

On Windows 10, you can find your iTunes backup files in the MobileSync folder. Now, how to get to the mobile sync folder. Here’s the path

C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Or
C:\Users\Your username\Apple\MobileSync\Backup\

You can also find the backups using the Windows Start Menu’s Search box. Here are the steps:

Step 1. In Windows 10, open the Start menu. Right next to the Start button, you’ll see a search bar.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 2. If you downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store, click in the Search bar and enter %appdata%

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 3. Or %USERPROFILE% and press Enter/Return.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 4. Once in the Appdata folder, double-click the “Apple” folder and then “Apple Computer” and “MobileSync,” and finally go to the “Backup” folder, and you’ll find all your iTunes backups.

Note: If you aren’t able to find the backup folder, this may be due to the AppData folder being hidden. You can change the settings by enabling “Show hidden files” in the Explorer settings and then repeat the procedure.

2. Where does iTunes store backups Windows 7

On Windows 7 you’ll find iTunes backup files in the MobileSync folder. Here’s how to get to the mobile sync folder. Here’s the path

C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

To manually locate the list of backups, use the Windows Start Menu’s Search box. Here are the steps:

Step 1. In Windows 7, open the Start menu. Above the Start button, you’ll find the Search bar.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 2. Click in the Search bar, type %appdata%, and hit Enter/Return.

Step 3. Now open Apple Computer > MobileSync > Backup folders one by one.

Step 4. All the backup files will be in the folder, just as in the image above.

3. Where does iTunes store backups Windows 10

To find the backups on your Mac device, follow the steps

Step 1. Click on the search bar (magnifier icon) in the Finder menu or press the combo command of “Command + F” in the Finder window to search the location.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 2. You can also use the “Go to Folder” menu option in the Finder menu to jump to the location.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 3. Copy and paste or type this directory location: ~/Library/Application

Support/MobileSync/Backup/

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 4. Here you’ll find all your iPhone and other Apple devices backups, with a jumbled-up string of letters and numbers.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 5. You can also locate the files from iTunes (if macOS is older than 10.15) or Finder if you’re using the latest macOS Catalina.

a. Go to iTunes and open preferences. In preferences, click on Devices, right-click your device, and then press Reveal in Finder. This will show the backups associated with the particular iPhone.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

b. If using the latest Catalina, head to the connected iPhone under the Locations section in the Finder window. Click on “Manage Backups,” and a Device backups window will pop up. Right-click on the backup file and press “Show in Finder.”

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

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Part 2: How to change the iTunes backup location?

1. How to change iTunes backup location Windows 10

We will use the symlink method – symbolic link- to change the iTunes backup location on Windows 10. The symlink is a new path for iTunes to get to the backups folder. Here I’ll show you how to use the Windows Command Prompt application to create a symbolic link that effectively tricks iTunes into backing up to the new location you want.

You need to use the Windows Command Prompt to perform the finagling. I’ll take you through each step of the process.

Step 1. As we’ve already located the current iTunes backup directory, make a copy of the “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” directory.

Step 2. Create a new directory wherever you want iTunes to store all your backups. For example, create a directory in C:\ folder.

Step 3. Go into the newly-created directory by using the “cd” command.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 4. Now navigate to the current backup location – “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” using the Windows File Explorer and delete the backup directory and all its content.

Step 5. Head back to the Command Prompt and type the same command: mklink /J “%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup” “c:\itunesbackup”. Again, ensure to use the quotes.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 6. You’ve successfully created the symbolic link, a virtual connection between the two directories, and changed the iTunes backup location to Windows 10.

Step 7. New iTunes backups will go to “C:\itunesbackup” or the location you’ve defined.

2. how to change iTunes backup location windows 7

A symbolic link connects two folders, one serving as a proxy for the other. The linking is on the operating system, so it works perfectly fine. We will use the same steps as we used for Windows 10. Employing the Windows Command Prompt to trick iTunes.

Step 1. Head over to the current iTunes backup directory, make a copy of the “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” directory.

Step 2. Create a new directory wherever you want iTunes to store all your backups from now on. For example, create a directory in C:\ “folder name.”

Step 3. Go into the newly-created directory by using the “cd” command.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 4. Navigate to the current backup location – “C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\” using the Windows File Explorer and delete the backup directory and all its content.

Step 5. In the Command Prompt, type the command: mklink /J “%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup” “c:\itunesbackup.” Ensure to use the quotes.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 6. You’ve successfully created the symbolic link, a virtual connection between the two directories, and changed the iTunes backup location for Windows 7.

Part 3: Backup iOS with MobileTrans – Backup

Wondershare MobileTrans can be used to quickly and seamlessly create backups of all your iOS devices. This astounding piece of software is serving millions of people around the globe in resolving their problems with any mobile operating system, from Android to iOS and Windows.

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Let’s see how using MobileTrans, you can back up your iOS devices easily.

Step 1. Download MobileTrans and install it on your computer system, either a Windows PC or a Mac, launch it and select the Backup & Restore module.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 2. Connect your iPhone, iPod, iPad, or any other iOS device to the computer system via a USB cable. The software will automatically detect and display the mobile on the MobileTrans window.

Step 3. Now choose the Phone Backup & Restore feature and click on the Backup button.

Step 4. You’ll see an extensive list of data that can be backed up on your computer. You can select the files and then click on the Start button.

Where is the iphone backup stored on pc

Step 5. Now, wait for the backup process to be finished. That's it! Backup your phone with MobileTrans is easy and quick.

We effectively found the iTunes backup location and updated it successfully with the help of a symbolic link connection. I also introduced the best solution for you to back up any of your iOS devices – the MobileTrans backup and restore tool with the ability to backup selected types of files without any computer expertise and much effort. The procedure only requires two mouse clicks and is easier than the iTunes method of backing up the iPhone.

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