How to Change iTunes Backup Location to NAS or External Drive Using One Command
By default, iTunes stores iPhone backups in a specific folder on the C drive.
But with a single command, you can easily redirect the backup location to a NAS or external hard drive — no third-party software required. All you need is Command Prompt.
Default iTunes Backup Locations
The default backup folder depends on how you installed iTunes:
- From Apple’s website
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup - From Microsoft Store
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Apple\MobileSync\Backup
I got stuck here myself — make sure you check your installation source!
Step 1: Remove the Original Backup Folder
Before creating a symbolic link, you must delete or rename the original Backup folder.
Symbolic links cannot be created if the folder already exists.
Step 2: Create a Symbolic Link
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and enter one of the following commands:
If installed from Apple’s website:
mklink /D "C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\iTunesBackup"
If installed from Microsoft Store:
mklink /D "C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Apple\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\iTunesBackup"
Replace "D:\iTunesBackup" with the path to your NAS or external drive.
Step 3: Back Up Your iPhone
Now, when you back up your iPhone using iTunes, the data will be saved to the new location.
Optional: Delete the Symbolic Link
rmdir "C:\Users\[YourUsername]\...Backup"