An iPhone or iPad doesn't need any special knowledge. Apple engineers made this process as simple and accessible as possible for ordinary users. But what if you need to transfer a backup from one computer to another? Or get some specific data from a backup in iTunes? Or download the entire iCloud backup to your computer? Any of these and many other non-standard iPhone backups can be tackled with this guide.
Where is the iPhone backup stored
Let's start moving from simple operations to complex ones. Let's say you need to copy an iPhone or iPad backup made using iTunes. For example, in order to save it to external media or in the cloud storage. This can be useful if the backup contains really important information and you want to additionally make sure that it does not disappear anywhere. Even if your computer breaks down.
Finding a backup is easy, but different operating systems have it in different locations.
- On macOS: in the ~ // Libraries / Application Support / MobileSync / Backup / folder.
- Windows XP: \ Documents and Settings \ (username) \ Application Data \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \.
- For Windows 7/8/10: \ Users \ (username) \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \.
On computers running Windows 7/8/10, the iTunes backup folder is hidden. Initially, you need to make it visible. To do this, go to " Control Panel» → « Folders settings» → « View"And check the box" Show hidden files, folders and drives».
Note that on newer versions of Microsoft OS, it is even easier to navigate to the folder with backups. It is enough to press “ Start"And enter the command" % appdata% / Apple Computer / MobileSync / Backup"(Without quotes). The query will open the folder with iTunes backups saved on your computer.
How to determine for which device which copy
It was possible to locate the iPhone and iPad backups, but now how do you figure out which folder should be copied? The folder with backups will greet you with a similar window if you have backed up several iOS devices in iTunes.
Fortunately, finding the folder you want is easy. To do this, go to one of the backup folders and find the file in it Info.plist... Open it with a text editor like WordPad and search for it Product Name... Under the found line it will be written to which of your mobile devices this copy belongs to.
How to properly transfer a backup to another drive
Finding and copying a folder from a backup from one disk to another is not enough for its correct transfer. In order for the backup to be detected in iTunes after the transfer, you need to create symbolic links.
For Windows
Step 1. Close iTunes.
Step 2. Copy the folder \ Users \ (username) \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \ to another drive, for example, to a folder \ Backup \ Backup.
Step 3. Delete the folder with backups from the drive from which you moved. Important! Be sure to make sure the entire folder has been copied to avoid accidental data loss.
Step 4. Run Command Prompt as administrator. To do this, go to the menu " Start", Enter the query" Command line", Right-click on the utility shortcut and click" Run as administrator».
Step 5. At the command prompt, enter the following command:
MKLINK / D “old path to backup folder” “new path”.
MKLINK / D “C: \ Users \ username \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \” “D: \ Backup \ Backup”,
- C: \ is the drive letter where the backups were previously stored.
- D: \ is the letter of the drive to which you want to transfer the backups.
- Username is your username.
- \ Backup \ Backup - the folder where the backup was copied in step 2.
Let's give an even more illustrative example. If your username in Windows is "Vasily Petrov" and you are transferring backups from drive C to drive E, then you must enter the following command:
MKLINK / D “C: \ Users \ Vasily Petrov \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \” “E: \ Backup \ Backup”.
Step 6. If everything is done correctly, the result of the operation will be a message about the successful creation of symbolic links.
Ready! You have migrated your backups from one drive to another. You can verify this by launching iTunes and going to the menu " Edit» → « Settings» → « Devices". In the list " Device backups"A list of all your backups will be available.
For mac
Step 1. Quit iTunes. To do this, right-click on the iTunes icon in the panel Dock and select " To complete».
Step 2. Go to the folder / Library / Application Support / MobileSync /.
Step 3. Copy the folder Backup to another drive, then delete the original backup folder. Again, we warn you that you need to wait until the copying is completed, otherwise you may lose important data.
Step 4. Run " Terminal". The easiest way to do this is using search. Spotlight.
Step 5. In the window " Terminal"Enter the command:
ln -s / Volumes / new_folder / Backup / Library / Application \ Support / MobileSync /,
where "new_folder" is the folder where you previously moved your backups.
Ready! You can check the success of the operation by launching iTunes and looking for backups on the "Devices" tab.
Similarly, the activation of iTunes backups on a computer with a reinstalled system, or on a new computer is carried out. In order for iTunes to see the backups of your devices, after installing it on a new system, you will need to enter one of the above commands.
How to extract data from iPhone and iPad backups
Quite often, iPhone and iPad users need to extract some specific information or files from an old, and sometimes up-to-date, backup of an iOS device. The iTools utility, which is well known to many Apple technology owners, helps with the solution of this problem.
Step 1. Download the latest version of iTools from official site programs. Note that the utility is completely free.
Step 2. Unpack the archive with the utility and run iTools.exe. You don't need to connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer.
Step 3. Go to the " Instruments».
Step 4. Select a tool iTunes Backup Manager.
Step 5. Double-click on the backup from which you want to extract files.
Step 6. Select the information you want to download from the backup, click " Export»And specify the folder to save the files.
iTools allows you to extract a variety of information from iPhone and iPad backups, from contacts and text messages to documents from applications and photos. Most of the data is downloaded in the traditional way, but there are a couple of exceptions.
First, data from applications. You can find them using iTools, but you have to tinker. The fact is that the utility does not show a list with a clear listing of application names. Because of this, it will not be possible to quickly find the application you need, but the main thing is that it is possible. To start the search, you need to go to the folder var → mobile → Applications, in which it is already methodical to search for applications, the data from which you need.
We recommend that you focus on the names, which, although not specific, contain information about the application. Viber messenger attachments, for example, can be found in the folder com.viber → Attachments.
And secondly, it is not so easy to download a contact book and a collection of text messages. There are no problems with their detection, they are in the section " General directories»Under their own names, but with further use is. In the backup, contacts and SMS are stored in the ".sqlitedb" format, which cannot be launched by any standard utilities. Therefore, you will need to use a special converter.
Step 1. Download the free software SQLite Browser.
Step 2. Install and run the program.
Step 3. Press Ctrl + O and select the contact book file in the format .sqlitedb.
Note: select "All files" as the file type.
Step 4. Go to the " SQL Execution"And paste the following command into the form:
ABPerson.prefix, ABPerson.suffix, ABPerson.first, ABPerson.middle, ABPerson.last, ABMultiValue.value, ABPerson.note, ABPerson.nickname, ABPerson.organization, ABPerson.department, ABPerson.jobtitle, ABPerson.birth from ABPerson. , ABMultiValue where ABMultiValue.record_id = ABPerson.ROWID
Step 5. Press the button Start.
Step 6. Click on the save button and select " Export to CSV».
Immediately after that, your contact book (or text messages) will appear in the specified folder in a format that is easily digestible for later use.
How to download an iCloud backup
Step 1. Download and install Wondershare Dr.Fone for iOS utility from official site programs. The application, alas, is paid, like any other tool with a similar set of functions.
Step 2. Launch Wondershare Dr.Fone and go to the menu Recover from iCloud Backup File.
Step 3. Enter the login and password of your Apple ID account.
Step 4. Wait for the list of backups to appear.
Step 5. Select the required backup and click Download.
Step 6. Check the boxes of the backup data you need to download.
Step 7. Wait until the end of the processing process and the list of data downloaded from iCloud appears in the program window. Select the required files and click Recover.
Step 8. In the window that opens, select Recover to Computer and specify the folder where the files will be saved.
If you have no desire to spend money on special utilities, then there is only one way out, very obvious. Back up your iPhone or iPad to iTunes, complete your mobile device and during the initial setup, select the backup from iCloud as the backup to restore. Thanks to this solution, your iPhone or iPad will have the same iCloud backup you need. Next, a copy of the gadget should be made in iTunes and the method described earlier to get access to it. Of course, not the most convenient way to use, but it works nonetheless.
I think everyone had such a situation when you bought yourself an iPhone, and then decided to change it to another or flash it, then you need to make a backup copy, which does not always come out to do.
In this article, we will share: Where iTunes stores iPhone / iPad backups on Windows and Mac computer.
Where iTunes Stores iPhone and iPad Backups on Windows and Mac Computer
The main method for backing up iPhone and iPad is iTunes. With its help, you can create a regular or password-encrypted copy of the data, which is located:
1. Windows
Windows XP: C: \ Documents and Settings \ username \ Application Data \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \
Windows Vista: C: \ Documents and Settings \ username \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \
Windows 7, 8, 10: C: \ Users \ username \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \
Note: if the folder is not displayed, then go to "Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View" and enable the display of hidden files and folders and check the "Show hidden files, folders and drives" checkbox.
2. Mac OS X: \ Users \ username \ Library \ Application Support \ MobileSync \
A backup copy is a folder with a name of 40 characters (letters and numbers), which contains a large number of files without a filename extension. The file names are also 40 characters long. Other than iTunes, the backup files cannot be recognized.
How to determine which iPhone / iPad this iTunes backup was created for
You can find information for which device the backup was created using the file " Info.plist", Which is located in each copy folder.
And so, to find for which device the backup was created:
1. Open the file "Info.plist" in any text editor, Notepad, for example.
2. In the document search (Ctrl + F) find the line "Product Name".
3. Information about the device model is located between the tags "": "iPhone 5s". This means that there is a backup copy of the iPhone 5s in the folder with the open file. Also, the device can be identified by the serial number or IMEI. The data is located under the corresponding lines (Serial Number and IMEI).
Info.plist also contains information about the date of the backup, device ID (iPhone 5s is iPhone6,1), phone number (for iPhone), iOS version, serial number, IMEI and much more.
1. The size of the backup file can take up more than 10 GB. This can affect both the memory of the hard drive and its performance. And if you still have backups of other devices, then storing them on the system drive can be unsafe.
2 In the event of damage to a Windows file or a software failure in the operating system, which can lead to data loss when the computer starts to reboot and you need to reinstall Windows.
And so in order to protect your system from crashing and occupying a large amount of memory, you need to transfer the backup to another hard drive.
So how do you do it right?
How to properly transfer iTunes backups to another drive in Windows 7, 8 and 10
1. You need to close iTunes
2. Copy or move the "C: \ Users \ username \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" folder to another drive (replace your username with your own). Just in case, copy the folder somewhere else.
4. Run the command line (command line handler) "сmd.exe" with administrator rights ("Start" -> "Find programs and files" -> "cmd" ->
5. Enter the command: MKLINK / D "from where" "where"
Example:
mklink / d "C: \ Users \ Alexander Varakin \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" D: \ iTunes \ Backup
6. An example of command execution.
How to Transfer iTunes Backups to Another Drive in Windows XP
1. You need to close iTunes
2. Copy or move the "C: \ Users \ username \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" folder to another drive (replace your username with your own). Just in case, it's better to copy the folder somewhere else.
3. Delete the "Backup" folder on the system drive (where the backups were moved from).
5. Run the command line "сmd.exe" with administrator rights ("Start" -> "Find programs and files" -> "cmd" -> Right-click the context menu on the file "cmd.exe" and select "Run from administrator name "). The name of the command line window must contain "Administrator: С: /Windows/System32/cmd.exe".
6. Enter the command: C: \ Path_to_Junction \ junction.exe "from" "where" -s,
"From" - the previous location of the "Backup" folder on the system drive;
"Where" is the new path to the folder with backups.
Example:
C: \ Junction \ junction.exe "C: \ Users \ Alexander Varakin \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" D: \ iTunes \ Backup -s
7. Launch iTunes and check for backups in the program settings on the "Devices" tab.
How to Transfer iTunes Backups to Another Drive in Mac OS X
For Mac computers with the function of backing up using the built-in OS X Time Machine program or third-party iBackup and ChronoSync, the issue of the safety of backups is not so urgent, but it will still be useful to someone.
1. Quit iTunes (right-click the iTunes icon in the Dock (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201730) and select “Quit”).
2. In Finder, press the key combination "Shift + Cmd + G" and in the window that appears in the field "Go to folder" enter the text: "/ Library / Application Support / MobileSync /" and click on the "Go" button (or press "enter ").
3. Copy or move the "Backup" folder to another drive.
4. Launch Terminal (you can find it using Spotlight or in "Programs -> Utilities").
5. Enter the command:
ln -s / Volumes / your_disk / Backup / Library / Application \ Support / MobileSync /,
where "/ your_disk / Backup" replace with the path to the new folder with backups. You don't have to type the path manually, just drag the required folder into the Terminal window.
6. After executing the command, an Alias (Shortcut) will appear in the "MobileSync" folder leading to the backup on another disk.
7. Launch iTunes and check for backups in the program settings on the "Devices" tab.
Backups transferred to another disk will be available in iTunes until the next reinstallation of the operating system, after which the symbolic links will need to be recreated.
I don’t know about you, but for me the contents of the memory of my iPhone 5s are much more expensive than the device itself. If you bought it once, you can buy it a second and third time, but if it is possible, accumulated over the years, it is not easy to do it.
How to Transfer iTunes Backups to Another Drive in Windows 7, 8 & 10
- Close iTunes.
- Copy or move the "C: \ Users \ username \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" folder to another drive (replace your username with your own). Just in case, copy the folder somewhere else.
In my Windows 10 virtual machine, it is located along the path: C: \ Users \ le7andr \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \
- Run the command line (command line handler) "сmd.exe" with administrator rights ("Start" -> "Find programs and files" -> "cmd" -> Right-click the context menu on the file "cmd.exe" and select "Run as administrator"). The name of the command line window must contain "Administrator: С: /Windows/System32/cmd.exe".
- Enter the command: MKLINK / D "from" "where"
Example:
mklink / d "C: \ Users \ Alexander Varakin \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" D: \ iTunes \ BackupReplace "Alexander Varakin" with your username. If the path contains spaces (here - Apple Computer), it must be enclosed in quotation marks (""). To avoid typing the path manually, drag the required folder into the command prompt window. Press Enter.
- Example of command execution.
- Launch iTunes and check for backups in the program settings on the "Devices" tab.
How to Transfer iTunes Backups to Another Drive in Windows XP
- Close iTunes.
- Copy or move the "C: \ Users \ username \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" folder to another drive (replace your username with your own). Just in case, it's better to copy the folder somewhere else.
- Delete the "Backup" folder on the system drive (where the backups were moved from).
- Download Junction from the link, unzip, for example, to the root of the "C" drive.
- Run the command line "сmd.exe" with administrator rights ("Start" -> "Find programs and files" -> "cmd" -> Right-click the context menu on the file "cmd.exe" and select "Run as administrator "). The name of the command line window must contain "Administrator: С: /Windows/System32/cmd.exe".
- At the command prompt, enter the command: C: \ Path_to_Junction \ junction.exe "from" "where" -s,
- "From" - the previous location of the "Backup" folder on the system drive;
- "Where" is the new path to the folder with backups.
Example: C: \ Junction \ junction.exe "C: \ Users \ Alexander Varakin \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \" D: \ iTunes \ Backup -s
- Launch iTunes and check for backups in the program settings on the "Devices" tab.
How to Transfer iTunes Backups to Another Drive in Mac OS X
For Mac computers with the function of backing up using the built-in OS X Time Machine program or third-party and the issue of the safety of backups is not so acute, but still useful to someone.
On Mac computers in OS X, the procedure is slightly simpler:
Backups transferred to another disk will be available in iTunes until the next reinstallation of the operating system, after which the symbolic links will need to be recreated.
As you can see, there is nothing difficult about finding an iTunes backup on your Windows or Mac computer. It is not difficult to move "heavy" backups to another drive (partition or external drive) and associate them with iTunes using symbolic links.
If you have any questions or additions, write in the comments - we will discuss.
For active users of Apple technology, the iTunes library sometimes grows to incredible sizes. As a result, it starts to take up a lot of space on the main disk, which is especially unpleasant when it comes to an SSD drive. Fortunately, it's easy to transfer your iTunes library to another drive.
Step 1. Launch iTunes and go to the " Edit» → « Settings».
Step 2. On the “ Supplements"Activate the items" Save song information in iTunes Media folder" and " Copy to iTunes Media folder when added to library».
Step 3. Click on the " Change"Located to the right of the" ITunes Media folder location».
Step 4. Select the folder where your iTunes library will be stored on another drive and click " Folder selection».
Step 5. Click " OK»To save the settings.
Step 6. Go to the " File» → « Mediathek"And select" Organize a library».
Step 7. Check the box “ Collect files" and press " OK».
Ready! Your library has been successfully copied to another drive. Yes, it was copied, not moved, so if the purpose of transferring your library was to free up disk space, you must delete the old files in the library.
In order to do this, you need to delete the folder iTunes Media, which is located along the path:
- Mac: Finder → username → Music → iTunes
- Windows Vista or newer: \ Users \ username \ Music \ iTunes.
- Windows XP: \ Documents and Settings \ username \ My Documents \ My Music \ iTunes.
Important! You only need to delete the iTunes Media folder. The iTunes root folder should never be deleted, otherwise the previously performed transfer of the library will be reset.
Store valuable documents in the system drive ( usually drive C:) is not safe. Many know this from their bitter experience, since the system disk quickly live its life, often deteriorates, and most of all suffers from virus attacks, which is especially not a supernatural phenomenon in the Windows OS family ( Unfortunately or fortunately, I am not a MAC OS user). But in any case, it is better to keep everything of value in an external drive, or at least in another section. Fortunately, operating systems allow you to change the locations of system folders by specifying a new path in their properties.
It is also advised to keep your iTunes files in another drive ( section), so that you do not have to throw them back and forth every time you rearrange the operating system, or not to tear the hair on your head if the system disk fails. We are talking not only about downloaded applications and games, about music, films, books, etc., but you also need to take into account backup copies of devices, which, depending on their number and the volume of the content itself, can be from 10 to 50 GB and more. This manual will be useful for those who want to transfer data to another computer.
MOVING ITUNES MEDIA
MEDIATEKA stores downloaded applications, music, movies, your videos, ringtones and books. By default, the files are located at:
c: \ Users \ (USER NAME) \ Music \ iTunes \ iTunes Media - (USER NAME) folder name of your account.
If you have already changed the location of the My Music folder by entering a different address in the tab Location, in the property of this folder, then all files will be saved there. But this must be done before installing iTunes, or you will also have to manually change the address in the field Itunes media folder location entering the menu Edit => Settings, in the tab Additional... If you check the box Copy to itunes media folder when added to library, then the program will copy all music files to this folder, otherwise, by default, it just plays them from the original location.
Better, let's start all over again and do it in order. Let's say you have new iTunes installed, after reinstalling your system, or changing your computer. Or you yourself decided to move the iTunes folder from the above address to another drive. In all cases, if you start iTunes right away, it will create a new, empty library file.
The root folder of iTunes contains the library files and various folders, which also contains the iTunes Media folder where your applications, downloaded films, books, ringtones, or maybe music are located. For example, you moved the iTunes folder itself to a different drive and a new address, for example: D: \ iTunes.
1. Launch iTunes as follows. Press and hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard and double-click on the iTunes shortcut on the desktop, and instead of the usual launch of the program, a window will appear asking you to choose a path to the library or create a new one.
2. Press the button Select a library, and in the window Open itunes library select the iTunes folder and find the iTunes Library.itl file in it. ITunes will think a little, check the files and open with all your data. Just, just in case, check in the settings if the address of the media library is correct.
This is how everything is done in 2 steps, easy and simple. I think you can do all this in the MAC OS in a similar way.
MOVING BACKUP COPIES OF DEVICES
ITunes automatically backs up your devices' data every time you sync, just in case of fire. This gives you the ability to restore the software system in case of device failure or data loss. With the release of iOS5, a copy of the data is created in the cloud storage of iClouds. But it's always a good idea to keep copies on your computer. This is especially necessary if you are doing a jalebreak or like digging into the insides of the system. For example, when the system did not officially support Multitasking gestures, it was possible to enable it without jalebreak by slightly changing the configuration file that is in the backup, and then restoring this copy.
The backup files are located at:
c: \ Users \ (USER NAME) \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ backup
And they always weigh decently. There is no way to change the path to the backup folder in the iTunes program itself, but it can be done. To do this, you need to use SYMBOLIC REFERENCES (JUNCTION). This feature allows you to create a virtual disk or folder that will physically reside on another disk or folder. That is, we will create a virtual backup folder where the content will be located in a different location, for example in D: \ iTunes \ backup. It's not hard to do. But the possibilities of the symbolic links themselves are many. You can find out about it on the website and.
Before starting migration, create a new folder ( for example d: \ iTunes \ backup) where you want the backup files to be and copy the contents of the backup folder ( after which we delete the folder itself).
1. Go in and download a small file by clicking DOWNLOAD JUNCTION at the bottom of the page.
2. Unpack junction.exe from the Junction.zip archive file into a folder at:
c: \ Users \ (USER NAME) \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync.
3. Press the combination of buttons to open the EXECUTE window. Insert the following line into the OPEN field, changing it to suit you ( don't forget to also change (USERNAME) to the folder name of your account).
c: \ Users \ (USER NAME) \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ Mobile \ Sync \ junction.exe backup d: \ iTunes \ backup
The first attribute is virtual folder name and the second attribute is the address where the folder refers.
Click the OK button and check if the backup virtual folder has been created, which, if you did everything correctly, should be located as follows:
c: \ Users \ (USER NAME) \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ backup
To check, you can copy any file to this folder and make sure that it is physically located on another disk.
That's all. From now on, iTunes will store backups in the d: \ iTunes \ backup folder without knowing it. Maybe all this will seem difficult to you, but believe me, it will take no more than 5 minutes. It may also seem that the idea of transferring is unnecessary and meaningless, but at some point it can save you nerve cells and wasted time.
