how to delete itunes backup on windows 10

How to find and change iTunes backup location in Windows 10

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer. She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies -- AI and DNA computing in... Read more

iTunes backup location windows 10

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Since it was created by Apple, iTunes has changed the way users can organize and play music and videos. iTunes has allowed millions of users to download their favorite tracks, songs and videos via the iTunes Store.

Thankfully, iTunes has an advanced backup system able to backup and restore the important files on Iphone, Ipad, Ipod or Mac computers.

Using iTunes is also possible on computers or other devices running Windows 10. If you are an iTunes user, this article will be useful to you. It will help you to find the iTunes backup location in Windows 10 and how to change it.

What are iTunes backup files?

Backup files are copies of files created with iTunes and stored locally on your computer.

Usually you do not need to know the exact location of the iTunes backup files, because iTunes itself will show them automatically when needed.

Nevertheless, if you buy a new computer and you wish to transfer iTunes backup files from your old PC to the new one, it is necessary to know the exact location of the backup file, in order to create a copy.

Sometimes the user may need to save space on the computer. So, the best idea could be to delete iTunes backup files or move important backups to another location or drive. In this case, you should also know where the iTunes backup files are stored on your computer.

You have two solutions to find a list of the backups if they are using Windows 10.

Where can i find iTunes backup files on PC?

Method 1: Check the Backup folder

The various backup files in Windows 10 are located in C:UsersUSERAppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup.

Method 2: List all the backup files

The second way to find the list of backups requires simple steps, as it follows.

STEP 1 – Find the Search bar: click the Search bar next to the Start button.

STEP 2 – In the Search bar, enter %appdata% or %USERPROFILE% (if you downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store).

STEP 3 – Click on Return.

STEP 4 – Click two times these folders: "Apple" or "Apple Computer", then go to MobileSync and Backup.

You should now have the list of all your iTunes files.

— RELATED: How to fix iTunes crashes in Windows 10, 8

What to do to avoid ruining your iTunes backup files

To avoid damaging backup files, it is important to highlight two things:

iTunes saves backups into a folder within the Users folder. The location of the Backup in Windows 10 is the one already highlighted in the previous paragraph. Although you can copy the Backup folder, you must never move it to a different one, an external drive, or a network drive.
Do not modify, reposition, rename or extract content from your backup files, as these actions may corrupt the files. For example, to restore a repositioned backup file, you need to put it back to its original location. Otherwise, the file will not work. Backups are a secure copy of your entire device. Therefore, even if you may be able to view the contents of backup files or access them, they are usually not stored in a readable format.

How to change the iTunes backup location?

iTunes places all backups into the path shown before (C:UsersUSERAppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup) and you cannot select to save these backup files to another drive directly.

Nevertheless, changing backup location is possible and it is also quite easy to achieve in few steps.

STEP 1 – Create a New iTunes Backup Folder on another drive, for instance D or E Drive. You can also create the folder in a flash drove, external hard drive or thumb drive. You can name the folder as "iTunes 2.0", "New iTunes backup", or with another name able to catch your attention while letting you understand what there is in the folder.

STEP 2 – Retitle the old iTunes backup folder on system drive, to make clear the old folder is not anymore the one you want to open to check for your backup files.

STEP 3 – Change iTunes backup location on Windows PC. This can be done creating a junction point, also called symbolic link. The latter is a link to a directory that acts as an alias of that directory.

Despite its almost tautological definition, this junction point will be the one allowing you to change backup location.

— RELATED: Why is my computer not authorized on iTunes?

STEP 4 – After having retitled or renamed the first iTunes backup folder, click on SHIFT key and right click on the old iTunes backup file location, you will see appearing a pop-up menu.

STEP 5 – Pick "Open command window here"

STEP 6 – Now, within the window opened, you can manually type in the command where D: (or E: etc.) is the new drive location and "Backup" is the name of th e iOS backup folder you moved:mklink /J "%APPDATA%Apple ComputerMobileSyncBackup" "D:Backup".

STEP 7 – If everything went smoothly until now, it should appear the command prompt window with a proper backup junction. The new folder shortcut called "Backup" will appear in the original location.

Image 3 - Screen with the backup folder created

STEP 8 – The last step requires to delete the old iTunes backup files existing in the MobileSync folder. In this way, you can connect your iPhone to PC and back up it with iTunes. You will find the new backups in the new Backup folder.

Conclusion

Knowing where the backup location is and having the possibility to it represents useful know-how for all Windows 10 users. Let us know if this article has been useful by dropping a comment below.

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