Welcome to our guide on how to change iTunes backup location in Windows 10. If you’re looking to customize where your iPhone backups are stored, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in!
Why Change iTunes Backup Location?
By default, iTunes saves iPhone backups in a specific location on your Windows 10 computer. However, some users may prefer to change this location to a different folder or drive. It can come in handy if you want to keep your backups organized or if you’re running out of space on your primary drive.
How to Change iTunes Backup Location in Windows 10
Follow these steps to change the location of your iTunes backups:
- Make sure you have manually backed up the iTunes directory by navigating to either %APPDATA%Apple ComputerMobileSyncBackup (Apple.com version) or %userprofile%AppleMobileSyncBackup (Windows 10 Store version).
- Create a new, empty directory where you want future backups to be saved. For example, you can create a folder called “iTunesBackup” on your desktop or another location within your computer.
- Open the command prompt and navigate to the new backup location by typing
cd [drive letter][folder1][folder2]and replacing[drive letter][folder1][folder2]with the location you created. For example, if you created the folder “iTunesBackup” on your desktop, you would typecd C:iTunesBackup. - Once in the new backup location, open File Explorer and navigate to either %APPDATA%Apple ComputerMobileSyncBackup (Apple.com version) or %userprofile%AppleMobileSyncBackup (Windows 10 Store version). Delete the backup directory located there.
- For the Apple.com version of iTunes, open Command Prompt and type
mklink /J "%APPDATA%Apple ComputerMobileSyncBackup" "C:iTunesBackup"(with quotes) to create a symbolic link. - For the Windows Store version of iTunes, open Command Prompt and type
mklink /J "%userprofile%AppleMobileSyncBackup" "C:iTunesBackup"(with quotes) to create a symbolic link.
Remember to replace “C:iTunesBackup” with the actual directory path you created in step 2.
Questions People Might Have
- Q: Can I change the backup location to an external drive?
A: While it’s possible, it is not recommended as it can lead to corrupted backup files and restore issues. We advise against it. - Q: What happens if I delete the original backup directory without creating a symbolic link?
A: If you delete the original backup directory without creating a symbolic link, iTunes will not be able to find the backups and won’t be able to restore your iPhone from a backup.
More Interesting Info
Did you know that iTunes backups are an important part of your device’s data protection? By learning how to change the backup location, you can have better control over the security and organization of your iPhone backups.
It’s always a good idea to stay up to date with the latest iTunes versions and Windows 10 updates. This ensures compatibility and optimal performance when managing your iPhone backups.
We hope this guide has helped you understand how to change iTunes backup location in Windows 10. Remember to use this feature with caution and always back up your data regularly. Happy organizing!
If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!
Thank you for reading!
