Relocate Backup Files on Windows 11

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Relocate Backup Files on Windows 11

In this forum, the following solution had been suggested by TT2:

Relocate iOS device backupsOn computers with SSD system drives any iOS device backups can take up a significant proportion of the available space. iTunes doesn't provide a mechanism for choosing where this backup data is stored, but it can be relocated onto another locally connected drive and a symbolic link or junction put in place so that it appears to iTunes as if the data hasn't moved.

This set of steps would place the data at D:\MobileSync\Backupbut the path could be adjusted to suit. Close iTunes while you do this.

Make a new folder called MobileSync at the root of the drive you want the backup data to live on, e.g. as D:\MobileSync.
Use Windows Explorer to move the current Backup folder at <SystemDrive>\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup into the folder you just made, e.g. using Ctrl+X to cut from the current location and then Ctrl+V to paste into the new one. If the backup folder is large this may take some time.
To make iTunes look for the data in the new location copy the text below, open a command prompt, right-click to paste in the command, edit the destination drive letter/path if needed, and then press <Enter>.

MkLink /J "%AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\MobileSync\Backup"

It turns out that the /J option tries to make a folder that already exists, and that the /H and /D options do not work either (responding with various error messages). Also, at least on my system, the folder name is not Apple Computer but simply Apple. Any ideas how this can be resolved?

An unrelated question in this context is whether there are any hints as to when Apple plans to get rid of its amateurish programming for backups via iTunes. Currently:

1) The program does not check for availability of free disk space before attempting a backup

2) The program aborts with no explanation when the disk space runs out during a backup

You would expect these flaws from code written in the 70s...

iPhone 13, iOS 18

Posted on Dec 22, 2024 11:43 AM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

275,020 points

Dec 25, 2024 12:43 PM in response to wolfhomma

Hi,

Step 2 of my instructions emphasises that you should move your current backup folder to the new location. While I don't go into details this is precisely so that the folder name that will be created with the MkLink command doesn't exist at the point that you issue it, and so can complete successfully.

There is also the following note:

If you've installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store use this command instead.

MkLink /J "%UserProfile%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\MobileSync\Backup"

Because traditional apps and Microsoft Store apps have been given different locations into which to store data.

FWIW iTunes does make some attempt to estimate available storage needs before making a backup but it doesn't always get it right. I've seen reports of not enough space errors on drives with large amounts of free space that can only be explained by some sort of integer overflow error. And yes, iTunes doesn't fail gracefully when there is a problem. There is a lack of garbage collection. When you relocate the backup folder using a junction or symbolic link iTunes will still test for free space on the system drive as it has no knowledge of the redirection.

tt2

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