The top of the line iPhone comes with 512 GB of storage capacity. When you need to back up this iPhone to your computer, you will have to make sure that the system drive (Windows 10 drive) has at least the same amount of free space (assuming that the iPhone’s storage is almost full).
Most iPhone and iPad users use the official iTunes software from Apple to back up their iOS devices to Windows 10 PC once in a while or at least before updating the iOS software to the latest version.
iTunes backs up all data from your iPhone and iPad to one of the following two locations depending on where iTunes is installed from:
If the iTunes is installed from Windows 10 Store:
%UserProfile%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup
If iTunes is installed using a setup file (outside the Store):
%AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
If your Windows 10 drive is filling up fast or don’t have enough free space to back up your iPhone data, you might want to change the default backup location of iTunes.
By now, you might have discovered that iTunes doesn’t allow you to change the default backup location. This means that, if you don’t have enough free space on the drive where Windows 10 is installed, you cannot back up your iPhone or iPad to your PC.
Fortunately, there is a workaround out there to change the default backup location used by iTunes. We use the symbolic link functionality available in Windows OS to change the default iTunes backup location used to backup iPhone and iPad. Here is how to do just that.
We recommend changing the backup location before backing up your iPhone/iPad.
Method 1 of 2
Change iTunes default backup location via Command Prompt
Step 1: Create a new folder called MobileSync at the root of the drive that you would like to use the new backup location. Make sure that the drive where you have created the MobileSync folder has enough free space to back up your entire iOS device.
Step 2: Next, navigate to one of the following locations:
If the iTunes is installed from Windows 10 Store:
C:\Users\UserName\Apple\MobileSync
For the classic desktop version of iTunes:
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync
Step 3: Cut (don’t copy) the Backup folder and paste it to the new MobileSync folder that you created in the first step. So, the path to the Backup folder would be:
D:\MobileSync\Backup
Where “D” is the drive letter.
Step 4: Open the Command Prompt as administrator. To do that, type CMD in Start/taskbar search, right-click on Command Prompt in the results and then click Run as administrator.
Step 5: Now, execute the following command:
If iTunes is installed from the Store:
MkLink /J “C:\Users\UserName\Apple\MobileSync\Backup” “D:\MobileSync\Backup”
If iTunes is installed outside the Store (using Setup file):
MkLink /J “C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup” “D:\MobileSync\Backup”
In the above commands, “C” is the drive letter of Windows 10 drive, UserName is your actual user name, and “D” is the drive letter of the drive (new location) where you intend to save iPhone and iPad backups.
Method 2 of 2
Use a third-party tool to change iTunes backup location
FolderMove is a small utility designed to move folders of installed programs. Here is how to use FolderMove program to change the default backup location of iTunes used to backup iPhone and iPad.
Step 1: At the root of the drive where you would like to save iPhone and iPad backup, create a folder called MobileSync and then create another subfolder called Backup. So, the path should be:
D:\MobileSync\Backup
Where “D” is the drive letter of the drive.
Step 2: Download FolderMove and run it as administrator.
Step 3: In the “Move from” field, type one of the following locations depending on where iTunes is installed from.
For iTunes app installed from Store:
C:\Users\UserName\Apple\MobileSync\Backup
For iTunes installed using the setup file (outside the Store)
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
Replace “C” with the actual drive letter of your Windows 10 drive and UserName with your user name.
Step 4: In the “Move to” field, type the new location (D:\MobileSync\Backup) which you would like to use as the new backup location. Click Move and set Symbolic link button.
You can now backup your iPhone or iPad using iTunes. The backup data will be saved to the new location instead of the default one.
How to change Netflix download location in Windows 10 guide might also interest you.
Gary Brown says
Does this interfere with the restore procedure from itunes?
Eric says
How do you undo this? Now it’s saving in both new and old locations. I’ll just use the application next time.
itzik Harary says
Thanks for the advise. Unfortunately, I while trying to use the CMD method – got the message”
“Cannot create a file when that file already exists”
Of course, I used the exact MkLink /J …
Any idea ?
Don Holmberg says
Great! I didnt remove the backup file in the folder on hd so it left the folder and backup on the hdd. When I deleted the backed up info from the hddd, it also deleted the file from the external drive! Found that when I deleted the backup folder as should have happened when I “cut” it, the file on the extern ssd stayed put. Phew!
Now, how to update IOS from itunes? somehow to dl update to external disk on pc move to phone and run it somehow? too easy huh?
Don
Audrius says
Thank you. Method 1 worked.
C Coker says
How do you reverse this? I successfully used Method 1 (Command Prompt) to move backup location to external hard drive….. many thanks.
I now want to return the backup location from external drive (D:) back to my computer internal hard drive (C:)….. and do it safely!
Pls advise.
admin says
Tammy K, glad to know that.
Tammy K says
Thank you so much for this! Your directions worked perfectly! It stuff like this that makes me hate apple! Thanks again!
A Eustace says
Finally a set of instructions that work! Apple needs to get over itself and sort this out. Clearly just want you to pay and upgrade to icloud storage