Move itunes backup folder

Keeping your operating system on a small SSD makes the default iTunes backup location a problem. You can’t change the backup folder from iTunes, but a symbolic link solves it: leave the default path in place and point it at another disk. I gained ~50GB of system-disk space this way.

First, find the backup location:

Go to:

C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync

(replace XXX with your user account name)
This path may change between Windows versions — this one is from Windows 8.1. Apple’s current recipe: press Win+R and — depending on which iTunes you run — enter %USERPROFILE% (Apple Devices app or Microsoft Store iTunes: backups live under Apple\MobileSync\Backup) or %AppData% (classic desktop iTunes: backups live under Apple Computer\MobileSync). See Locate and manage backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for the exact paths per app and OS.

Secondly, choose another disk with lots of free space (e.g. E:\).

Move the contents of

C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

to a new folder, then go one directory up and delete the Backup folder.

Lastly, run this handy command from an elevated command prompt:

mklink /d Backup "d:\backupItunes\"

This creates a symbolic link — a virtual directory pointing at the new path. iTunes keeps reading and writing the original location and never notices. A directory junction (mklink /j) works too and doesn’t need an elevated prompt. Microsoft documents mklink and symbolic links on Learn.