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This article will show you how to find iPhone backup location on Mac and Windows PC. No one wants their data to be lost. But not everyone is used to going backwards. We all know that iCloud automatically syncs our contacts, memos, photos, and other information across the network to all of the devices that are linked to our Apple ID.
But local files don’t work with iCloud Sync. So you could still lose data on your iPhone if you run out of space, the system crashes, or you delete something by accident. This is why regular backups are so important and are slowly becoming something everyone does every day. Most of the time, you can back up your iPhone with iTunes or iCloud. You might wonder what is in your backup files and where they are kept.
How to find iPhone backup location on Mac
All the backups of your iPhone or iPad are kept in one place on your Mac. Here is how to get to it:
- Open Finder and hit Command+Shift+G on the keyboard or magnifier icon in the menu bar
- In the text input field, copy and paste this:
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
- Hit Return and the directory will open.
Find a Specific iPhone Backup Location in macOS
- Connect your iPhone or iPad using a cable
- Open Finder and click on your device on the left pane of the window.
- Click on Manage Backups to see a list of all your backups.
- To find the location of a specific backup, right-click on it and then select Show in Finder.
- On the next screen, you will see the folder containing backup files.
Locate a Particular iPhone Backup in macOS
- Content your device with the Mac
- Open iTunes, click Preferences, and then select Devices
- From here, you can right-click on the backup that you want, then choose Show in Finder.
- Click OK once you are done
How to find iPhone backup location on Windows PC
No matter which version of iTunes you use, different versions of Windows save backups of your iPhone and iPad in different places. You can also go to the official Microsoft support site to know more information about this.
- On Windows 11 or Windows 10 system, iPhone or iPad backup location would be:
\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
- On your computer running Windows 11 and Windows Vista you can locate the backup at the following path:
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
- On your Windows XP machine, the backup would be at:
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
You can also Find the Search bar on Windows PC
- In the Search bar, enter: %appdata% OR if you downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store, enter: %USERPROFILE%
- Hit Return and then navigate to the folders “Apple” or “Apple Computer” → MobileSync → Backup.
FAQ
Where is my iPhone backup stored on my PC?
Type %appdata% in the search box. Enter %USERPROFILE% if you don’t see your backups. Hit “Return.” Click on these folders twice: “Apple” or “Apple Computer” > MobileSync > Backup.
How do I view iPhone files on Windows?
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Windows or Mac PC and install iTunes.
Step 2: Once iTunes shows the iPhone in the list of devices, you can click on it in the sidebar on the left to see the files.
Step 3: iTunes lets you open, change, delete, or copy files and folders to your PC.
How do I view photos from iPhone backup on my computer?
On your computer, open the Photos app. The Photos app has a screen called “Import” that shows all of the photos and videos on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn’t show up automatically, click the device’s name in the Photos sidebar. If you’re asked, use your passcode to unlock your iOS or iPadOS device.
Can I move my iPhone backup to another drive?
When Finder opens, choose the Backup folder and press Command + C. Then, go to the external hard drive and press Command + V in Finder. You can also use Drag and Drop to move the backup folder to your hard drive. When the copying is done, change the name of the old Backup folder to “OldBackups.”