How to Change the Location of Your iTunes iPhone Backups (Mac)

POST

MAIL

Posted March 20, 2013 at 6:16pm by iClarified

These are instructions on how to change the location that iTunes uses to backup your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch for Mac.

Step One
Launch Terminal from your Applications:Utilities folder.

How to Change the Location of Your iTunes iPhone Backups (Mac)

Step Two
Navigate to the MobileSync directory by inputting the following command and pressing Return.

cd ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync

Step Three
Rename your old backup folder using the following command.

mv Backup Backup_Old

Step Four
If you haven't created a new folder to store your backups please do so now. You can do this with Terminal or Finder, or you can use an existing folder.

Example: mkdir /Volumes/Storage/iTunes/MobileSync/Backup

Step Five
Input the following command to create a symbolic link to your new folder.

ln -s /Volumes/Storage/iTunes/MobileSync/Backup ~/Library/Application\\ Support/MobileSync/Backup

Step Six
You can use Finder to verify the symbolic link was created. Notice the arrow at the bottom left of the icon.

Step Seven
Test out the change by performing a backup with iTunes and verifying that your files are backed up to the new folder.

Follow iClarified

Farrukh Ehsan Khokhar - January 15, 2017 at 1:14am

both backup folders , i.e one on the MacHD and one on the external drive, are getting filled with backup data. How to stop local folders to not get filled up with data?

Reply · Like

Vikram singh - September 14, 2016 at 11:04am

Hi, I am trying to change my backup file position through command prompt, the problem is it's not allowing me to change. More obe it's not showing up any details as I am entering command. Cd~/library/application support/mobilesync. Will oh help me in this. Thanks.

Kenneth Tubungbanua - September 21, 2014 at 5:51am

Is there a way to use a symbolic link to move the backups to an external hard drive?

elizabeth - August 21, 2014 at 3:34am

Thanks for the post! Very helpful. As for the "no such file" error, try this: The symbolic link command should read: ln -s /Volumes/YourNewLocationFolder/ ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup Adding the last "Backup" to the end should create the symbolic link and avoid the "no such file or directory error."

The symbolic link command should read: ln -s /Volumes/YourNewLocationFolder/ ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup Adding the last "Backup" to the end should create the symbolic link and avoid the "no such file or directory error."

J STone - January 29, 2014 at 1:45pm

Ok, Here is a question. MacBook Air. OS X I know there is an iTunes backup in there but it is not in file path as indicated in ALL the literature I can find. ~Library\Application Support\MobileSync It simply is not there. Took it to Apple store, they did it but didn't show me where it was, So, please, where is it physically/logically on the disc?

Fidel - January 3, 2014 at 2:32am

I keep getting an error stating that Itunes can't back up my phone because of the backup is corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone. I don't understand. There is no backup as of yet, so how could it not be compatible. Any fix for this issue once you create the symbolic link?

Amirul - October 30, 2013 at 5:17am

it is actually like this ln -s /Volumes/ /Mobilesync/Backup ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync your hdd name is example: Mac OS X Data. it should be Mac\(spacebar)OS\(spacebar)X\(space)Data -- every space needs \ and (spacebar) For this: my destination in my MAC OS X Data is mobilesync > backup

Ken Kwok - September 23, 2013 at 3:52pm

Hi , I follow the instruction but then backup the iphone failed. Got the message iTune could not back up the iphone xxx because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iphone. I try to restore back the backup file but still fail. Anything I can do to backup the iphone again? How to cancel the symbolic link?

Judo_boy2001 - September 9, 2013 at 4:31pm

-bash: ln-s/Volumes/Storage/Itunes/MobileSync/Backup: No such file or directory OC-INTERNATIONALs-MacBook-Air:mobileSync THE_BOOK$ Can Somebody tell me why do I get this Error? Help Is Greatly Appreciated!

Gill - March 20, 2013 at 7:45pm

Sorry for the noob question but: whats the benefit to this?

te72s - March 20, 2013 at 10:35pm

Your iTunes backup folder can quickly exceed hundreds of GBs, especially for those with multiple devices. This is a big problem for people with small hard drives, SSDs, or no free space. Following this tutorial will let u backup to a larger external drive for example; therefore, saving space on your primary drive.

Jamie - September 22, 2013 at 10:59am

Thanks for all this useful advice. I have managed to perform this link however I get an error when I try to backup. I am trying to do this via an ethernet to a time capsule I have attached. Is this possible? does this change the settings I need to make? your help is greatly appreciated