The default iPhone backup folder can be pretty hard to find on the internal drive due to the predefined settings of Finder and iTunes. So when it’s time to access your backup folder finally, you’ll be going in circles trying to find its exact location.

To make that process much more straightforward, you have to change the default iPhone backup location on your Mac. But, how do you do that? We’re here to tell you how with an uncomplicated, step-by-step guide.

You will be able to manage your storage space better, but you’ll also rest assured knowing your backup folder is right where you want it to be. Keep reading to find out how to change iPhone backup location to Mac.

How to Change iPhone Backup Location Mac

Here’s a step-by-step guide detailing how to change iPhone backup location on macOS Catalina.

Step 1

First, find the top menu bar and click “Go.” When you select “Go To Folder…” you can type this address:

~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync.

You can also copy-paste this address if you like.

Step 2

Once you enter this address, you’ll reach the hidden location where your Mac makes iPhone backups by default. When you right-click on the backup folder, you can select “Copy Backup.”

Step 3

Now, you have to open a new Finder window. Next, go to the desired location where you want your new backup folder. You can pick the new location to be anywhere, whether it’s the Desktop, Documents, or a different location.

Once you reach that location, you should right-click at any spot and click on “Paste Item.” Then, let your Mac finish transferring your backup folder to this new location. But remember to keep the Finder window open, as you’ll need it later in the procedure.

Step 4

Now, your copying process should be done. Once it is, you can go back to the first open Finder window, the ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync folder. Right-click on the backup folder and select “Rename.”

Or, you could select the folder named Backup and press the enter key. Then, you can add “.old” to the file name. This way, you’ll be able to differentiate between “Backup.old” and the new backup folder.

Step 5

You’ll see the Apple logo in the top left. Click on it, then select “System Preferences.” You have to go into “Security and Privacy,” where you’ll find the Privacy Tab. When you click on the lock icon, you’ll have to enter your admin password to proceed.

Next, go over to your left sidebar. Select “Full Disk Access,” and you’ll see a small + icon which you should click on.

Then, clicking on “Applications” will lead you to the Utility folder. In this folder, you’ll select the Terminal app and click Open.

After this, clicking on the lock icon will close this window.

Step 6

It’s time for you to know the exact address of the new backup folder. To do so, you have to open the Finder app again. Then, click on “View” from the top bar before choosing “Show Path Bar.” Now, you will see a thin row at the bottom.

This row will tell you the new location of the new iPhone backup folder. Remember to keep this window open!

Step 7

Now, press the Command and Spacebar keys together before searching for Terminal. Open the Terminal app and edit this command to suit your computer:

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

You can copy and paste it into your Terminal window.

Step 8

This step is crucial, so remember not to skip it. If you’re wondering how to edit the above command, this is how you do so.

First, you have to open a notepad app and paste that command there. Then, replace the /Volumes/Drive/Backup/ with the new location of your backup folder. For example, if the new location is under the Users folder in Macintosh HD, the command will look like this:

ln -s /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Users/Backup/ ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/

You may have chosen to change the location to the “iPhone” folder in your pen drive. In that case, your command will look like this:

ln -s /Volumes/Donald/iPhone/Backup/ ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/

Now that you know how to change the file path address in the command, you can use it.

Step 9

You have to copy the final address and paste it into the Terminal app. Press the enter key, and you’re good to go. You’ll see a new folder named “Backup” when you open the original backup folder named “Backup.old.”

This new folder will have a small arrow next to it.

Step 10

Finally, it’s time for the last step. Open the Finder app on your Mac and then connect your iPhone. Allow your Mac to Trust it, and click on “Back Up Now.” Your data will be backed up and saved in a new iPhone backup location.

You can choose to delete the old iPhone backup folder if you want to free up storage space on your Mac.

How to Restore Backup Folder to its Original Location on Mac

If you want to restore the backup folder to its default location on your Mac, here’s how you can do so:

Step 1

Open up the Finder window and click on “Go.” In the “Go To Folder…” copy and paste this address:

~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync

Step 2

Now, please right-click on the iPhone backup folder with a small arrow next to it. You can delete it by selecting “Move to Bin.”

Step 3

To be safe, you can drag this iPhone backup folder to this iPhone backup location. This means any future iPhone backups will also be saved in this backup location on Mac. Don’t worry if you miss this step, as a new iPhone backup folder will be automatically created the next time you make an iPhone backup.

FAQs

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about how to change iPhone backup location.

Where is the iPhone Backup Location on Mac?

If you’re wondering about the iPhone backup location on Mac, this method can help you find backup files on Apple devices, including your iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

All these backup files can be found on ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/. Now, let us break this address down for you to make it more simple. Firstly, the ~ symbol represents your home directory, where all your files are kept.

A backup directory is represented by hexadecimal. We wouldn’t recommend changing these names if you want to change your iPhone backup location since it may not work on iTunes. For jailbreaking, you need to keep copies of your iPhone backups.

How Do I Change the Itunes Backup Location via Full Disk Access?

Changing your iTunes backup location via full disk access is simple; you need to follow these few steps:

  1. First and foremost, you have to download a reliable iPhone Backup Extractor. AnyTrans, iPhone Backup Extractor, iBackup Extractor, and iSkysoft Toolbox are great examples of high-quality extractors.
  2. Backup extractors help you get your lost or deleted iPhone data from iCloud or iTunes. Once you’ve finished the download, you can move on to the next step.
  3. This step is essential, so make sure not to skip it! First, open “System Preferences” and select “Security and Privacy.” Next, click on the “Privacy” tab and the lock icon. Then, you’ll have to enter your admin password to proceed.
  4. After that, you have to select “Full Disk Access” and the small + sign. Next, click on “iPhone Backup Extractor” and select “Open. Simple enough, right?
  5. Then, you can return to the iPhone Backup Extractor app window. However, your device may display another pop-up window, on which you’ll have to click “OK, I’ve made this change; let’s restart the app to continue!”
  6. You’ll find “iPhone Backup Extractor.” Click on it and then Preferences. You’ll be led to Backups, after which you have to select Change.
  7. A pop-up window may show up, saying “Backup contains data,” on which you should select Open. Here, you’ll find a folder with a lengthy name like 149652….. Drag this folder to a different location, such as your Desktop.
  8. Inside the iPhone Backup Extractor app, you should click on Change and select the desired folder. Viola! You’ve now changed the iTunes backup folder location.

Conclusion

It may seem a little complicated, but you must put your iPhone backup folder in a different location. That’s because the default backup location on Mac is tough to find since it’s hidden away.

Now that you know how to change your iPhone backup location, you’ll never have to worry about spending hours looking for your backup folder.