How To Change The Backup Location In iTunes?

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How To Change The Backup Location In iTunes: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to relocate your iTunes backups? It’s not possible within the iTunes interface itself, but this guide explains how to change the backup location in iTunes by using symbolic links, effectively redirecting iTunes to save backups to your desired storage location.

Why You Might Want To Change Your iTunes Backup Location

Many users find themselves needing to relocate their iTunes backups for various reasons. Understanding these motivations is the first step in appreciating the solution.

Limited Disk Space: Your primary hard drive might be running low on storage, making it necessary to move large iTunes backups to an external drive or a larger internal drive.
Organization and Efficiency: Keeping backups separate from your system drive can improve overall system performance and organization. It prevents the primary drive from becoming cluttered.
Backup Redundancy: Storing iTunes backups on an external drive or network-attached storage (NAS) provides an extra layer of protection in case of system failure.
Multiple Computers: You might want to store backups from multiple computers in a central location for easy access and management.

The Method: Symbolic Links (Symlinks)

iTunes doesn’t offer a built-in option to change the backup location directly in its settings. The solution lies in creating symbolic links, also known as symlinks or soft links. These links act as shortcuts, redirecting iTunes to store backups in a different folder than the default one. Here’s a breakdown:

What is a Symbolic Link? A symbolic link is a file system object that points to another file or directory. It’s like a shortcut, but at the operating system level. When iTunes tries to access the default backup location, the symlink redirects it to your chosen location.
How it Works: You create a symlink from the default iTunes backup folder to your desired backup folder. iTunes will then “think” it’s saving backups to the default location, but in reality, it’s saving them to your specified alternative location.
Operating System Dependency: The process for creating symlinks varies depending on your operating system (Windows or macOS). We’ll cover both in detail.

How To Change The Backup Location In iTunes? (Windows)

Here’s the step-by-step process for creating a symbolic link on Windows:

Close iTunes: Ensure iTunes is completely closed before proceeding.
Locate the Default Backup Folder: The default iTunes backup folder on Windows is typically located at: C:Users[Your Username]AppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup
Move the Backup Folder: Important: Move the entire Backup folder to your desired new location (e.g., D:iTunesBackup). Don’t copy, move it. This is crucial to prevent data loss.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click on “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator.”
Create the Symbolic Link: Use the mklink command to create the symbolic link. The syntax is: mklink /D "[Original Path]" "[New Path]"
- Replace [Original Path] with the original path of the Backup folder (e.g., C:Users[Your Username]AppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup).
- Replace [New Path] with the new path where you moved the Backup folder (e.g., D:iTunesBackup).
- Example command: mklink /D "C:Users[Your Username]AppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup" "D:iTunesBackup"
Verify the Symlink: A new folder named “Backup” will appear in the original location. It should have a shortcut arrow overlaying the icon. This indicates it’s a symlink.
Test iTunes: Open iTunes and perform a backup. Verify that the backup files are being created in the new location (e.g., D:iTunesBackup).

How To Change The Backup Location In iTunes? (macOS)

Here’s the step-by-step process for creating a symbolic link on macOS using Terminal:

Close iTunes: Ensure iTunes is completely closed before proceeding.
Locate the Default Backup Folder: The default iTunes backup folder on macOS is typically located at: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ (This can be accessed by going to Finder, clicking “Go” in the menu bar, selecting “Go to Folder…”, and typing in the path.)
Move the Backup Folder: Important: Move the entire Backup folder to your desired new location (e.g., /Volumes/ExternalDrive/iTunesBackup). Don’t copy, move it.
Open Terminal: Open the Terminal application (found in /Applications/Utilities/).
Create the Symbolic Link: Use the ln -s command to create the symbolic link. The syntax is: ln -s "[New Path]" "[Original Path]"
- Replace [New Path] with the new path where you moved the Backup folder (e.g., /Volumes/ExternalDrive/iTunesBackup).
- Replace [Original Path] with the original path of the Backup folder (e.g., ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/).
- Example command: ln -s "/Volumes/ExternalDrive/iTunesBackup" "~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/"
Verify the Symlink: A new folder named “Backup” will appear in the original location. It should have a shortcut arrow (or similar indicator) overlaying the icon. This indicates it’s a symlink.
Test iTunes: Open iTunes and perform a backup. Verify that the backup files are being created in the new location (e.g., /Volumes/ExternalDrive/iTunesBackup).

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Even with detailed instructions, mistakes can happen. Here are some common issues and how to address them:

Incorrect Paths: Double-check the paths you’re using in the mklink or ln -s command. Even a small typo can prevent the symlink from working correctly.
Not Running as Administrator (Windows): Creating symlinks on Windows requires administrator privileges. Ensure you’re running the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Copying Instead of Moving: It’s crucial to move the original Backup folder, not copy it. Copying will create duplicate files and defeat the purpose of changing the backup location.
iTunes Still Using Old Location: Ensure you’ve completely closed iTunes before creating the symlink. iTunes might have file handles open that prevent the symlink from working. Restarting your computer after creating the link might also resolve this.
Insufficient Permissions: Ensure that iTunes has the necessary read/write permissions to the new backup location.

Alternatives To Changing The Backup Location With Symlinks

While symlinks are the most common and effective solution, there are alternative approaches, though they may have limitations:

Third-Party Backup Software: Some third-party backup software allows you to specify the location for iTunes backups. However, these solutions often come with a cost.
Cloud Backup Services: Cloud backup services like iCloud (for Apple devices) can back up your iOS devices directly to the cloud, eliminating the need for iTunes backups on your computer. However, this relies on having sufficient iCloud storage and a stable internet connection.

Feature	Symlinks	Third-Party Software	Cloud Backup
Cost	Free	Typically Paid	Often Requires Paid Storage
Complexity	Moderate	Low	Low
Storage Location	Local/External	Specified by Software	Cloud
Control	Full	Variable	Limited
Internet Dependency	No	No	Yes

FAQs: Diving Deeper into iTunes Backup Location Changes

Why can’t I just change the iTunes backup location in the iTunes preferences?

iTunes, by design, doesn’t offer a direct setting to customize the default backup location. This is likely due to Apple’s preference for managing backups internally and encouraging the use of iCloud.

Will creating a symlink affect my existing iTunes backups?

No, creating a symlink after moving your existing Backup folder will not affect them. iTunes will continue to read and use these backups from the new location.

Is it safe to delete the original, empty ‘Backup’ folder after creating the symlink?

No! The folder that exists at the original path after creating the symlink is not a normal folder, it is the symlink. Deleting it will break the link and potentially cause iTunes to fail when backing up.

What happens if I disconnect the external drive where I moved the backup folder?

If the external drive is disconnected, iTunes will not be able to access the backup folder. This could lead to backup failures or data loss. Make sure the drive is connected before attempting a backup.

Can I use a network drive (NAS) as the new backup location?

Yes, you can use a network drive, but ensure that the network drive is properly mapped and accessible from your computer. Also, be aware that backups over a network might be slower.

Does this method work with the latest version of iTunes?

Yes, the symlink method is a reliable solution that works with most versions of iTunes, even the latest ones. However, be prepared to research or seek guidance if Apple changes the default directory structure in future versions.

What happens if the symlink breaks or becomes invalid?

If the symlink breaks (e.g., if you accidentally delete the symlink file), iTunes will likely revert to using the default backup location if it exists. Recreate the symlink to fix the issue.

Does this affect iCloud backups in any way?

No, this method only affects iTunes backups stored on your computer. iCloud backups are completely separate and are managed by Apple.

How do I undo the changes and revert to the default backup location?

To revert to the default location: 1) Delete the symbolic link in the original folder location. 2) Move the Backup folder from the new location back to the original folder location.

Can I use this method to back up multiple devices to different locations?

While technically possible by creating symlinks with different names for each device, it’s generally not recommended due to the complexity. Consider using third-party software for more granular control.

Will this method affect my ability to restore from a backup?

No, restoring from a backup created using this method is the same as restoring from a backup created in the default location. iTunes doesn’t know (or care) that the files are stored elsewhere.

I’m having trouble creating the symlink. Where can I get further help?

You can find helpful tutorials and support forums online by searching for “mklink tutorial Windows” or “ln -s tutorial macOS”. Be sure to include your operating system and the specific error message you’re encountering in your search.

By following these steps and FAQs, you can effectively change the backup location in iTunes and manage your backups more efficiently. Remember to always back up your data before making any significant changes to your system.