How to delete iTunes backup on Windows 11

iTunes Backup Location on Windows 11

Before jumping into the method of deleting iTunes backup, it is very important to know the exact location where these backup files are stored on Windows 11 PC. It turns out that the default location of your backup folder depends on how iTunes was originally installed on your PC.

If you installed iTunes using the Microsoft Store

If you installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store, the backup folder will be located on your PC at the following address:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup

You can also search for %userprofile% in the start menu and open the Apple file from there folder.

If you installed iTunes using the Apple website

If you installed iTunes from the Apple official website, the backup folder will be located on your PC The following address is:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\%appdata%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

You can also search in the Start menu%appdata%And open the Apple Computer folder from there.

2 Ways to Delete iTunes Backup on Windows 11

Before we start deleting our iTunes backup, let’s take a look at them Location in Windows 11. You can then delete your backup later using one of the methods in the next section.

Method 1: Delete backup from iTunes

First, launch the iTunes application from your PC.

Note: You do not need to plug your iOS device into your PC when deleting your backup.

In the iTunes app, click Edit in the menu toolbar.

Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.

In the Preferences menu, select the Devices tab.

On this screen under Device Backup, click the backup you want to delete.

Once selected, click Delete Backup to permanently delete this backup from your PC.

Click Delete to confirm the deletion process.

The selected iTunes backup will now be deleted from your PC and will no longer appear in the "Device Backups" section.

Method 2: Manually delete the backup in File Explorer

You first need to find the UDID of the device to help identify the backup on local storage. Once found, you can manually identify and delete the backup in File Explorer. Let's take a quick look at the process.

Step 1: Find your iOS device’s UDID

Since the backup folder is named after the UDID of its source device, it’s important to know the device’s UDID before proceeding to the next step. Let’s see how to find out the UDID of a device using the iTunes application itself.

NOTE: Make sure your device is plugged into your PC to perform this step.

Open the iTunes app on your PC and click on the phone icon in the same row with the Library, For You, Browse, Radio and Store tabs.

#When your phone appears, click Serial Number in the right panel until it displays the UDID number of the connected device.

#Make a note of this UDID number. In step 2 you need to identify the backup folder corresponding to the device.

Step 2: Identify and delete the backup

Open File Explorer from your PC.

Depending on your system, enter one of the following addresses into the File Explorer address bar and hit it with Enter.

If you installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup

If you installed it from iTunes is installed on Apple’s official website:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\%appdata%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Once in your respective location, find the backup file you want to delete using the UDID number from step 1 and click on it.

Note: The name of the folder you want to delete is the same as the UDID of the device whose backup you want to delete.

Now, press Delete from your keyboard to delete this backup folder from your PC.

How to Encrypt Your iTunes Backup

If you are looking for a way to encrypt your backups on your computer, the following steps should help you get it done.

NOTE: Make sure your device is plugged into your PC.

Open the iTunes application on your PC and click the phone icon in the upper left corner.

Now, find the "Backup" section and make sure you have selected the "This computer" option under "Automatic Backup" .

#Now, check the Encrypt local backup box under this option.

Enter your password and click Set Password.

Now, if prompted, go to your iOS device and enter your lock screen passcode.

Finally, wait for the process to complete on your PC.

That’s all. Your iTunes backup is now encrypted.

How to Change Backup Location on Windows 11

Before proceeding, it is recommended that you copy the original iTunes backup folder located at one of the following addresses on your PC.

If you installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup

If you installed it from iTunes is installed on the Apple official website:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\%appdata%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Having said this, let us Jump to the main program.

Press the Windows keys on your keyboard to open the Start menu.

In the Start menu, search for cmd and click Run as administrator. Confirm the UAC prompt to launch CMD as administrator.

Now, create the new directory using the mkdir command. For example, if we wanted to store future iTunes backups in a folder named new_backups on the C drive, we would enter the following command and press Enter:

mkdir c:\new_backups

Change the current directory to the newly created directory. In the case of this tutorial, the command will be cd followed by the address of the new directory, i.e. cd c:\new_backups. Enter this command and Enter from the keyboard Press up.

Now, find the original iTunes backup directory and delete it. This directory will appear on your PC in one of the following locations.

If you installed iTunes from Microsoft Store:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\Apple\MobileSync

If you installed it from Apple official The website has iTunes installed:

C:\Users\%userprofile%\%appdata%\Apple Computer\MobileSync

Return to cmd application, depending on your system , create a symbolic link between the original directory and the new directory by entering one of the following commands in cmd.

NOTE: Remember, you must replace c:\new_backups with the location of the new directory you created on your system. mklink /J “c:\Users\"userprofile"\Apple\MobileSync\Backup” “c:\new_backups”

If you installed iTunes from Apple’s official website:

mklink /J “c:\Users\"userprofile"\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup” “c:\new_backups”

The backup directory for your iTunes backups will now change on Windows 11.

Difference between iTunes and iCloud Backup

Before starting the irreversible act of deleting iTunes backup on Windows 11 PC, it is very important to understand the 2 backup options provided by Apple: iTunes Backup and iCloud backup. Let's try to understand how they differ.

iTunes Backup

iTunes is a media management service developed by Apple that can be used to organize the media stored on your iOS device, namely music, pictures, videos, movies, podcasts, audios Readings, etc.

iTunes Backup is a complete backup of your iOS device, including your purchased apps, music, movies, and more. You don't need to re-download your backups every time you restore them. Additionally, iTunes Backup also allows you to encrypt your backups. This encryption allows you to protect your backups from unauthorized users on the same PC or Mac.

iCloud Backup

While iTunes uses local storage on your Windows or Mac system, iCloud is a cloud-based storage service. iCloud is a hands-free, automated, cloud-based backup storage service where your backups are always encrypted, giving you an extra layer of security.

Apple provides only 5GB of default storage space for each Apple ID in iCloud, but you can increase this capacity by choosing one of the paid plans offered by Apple.

iCloud only backs up essential data, namely: app data, device settings, home screen and app organization, iMessages, photos, videos, and purchase history from your services, etc.

FAQ

Here are some common questions when deleting iTunes backup and dealing with iTunes backup on Windows 11. It should help you quickly understand the workings of the Apple ecosystem.

Do I need to plug my iPhone into my PC to delete my iTunes backup?

No. iTunes backups are only stored locally on your PC, and you don't need to connect your iOS device to your PC to delete iTunes backups.

What is the UDID number for my Apple device?

The UDID (Unique Device Identifier) ​​number of an Apple device is a fixed value used to indicate that specific device. This is a fixed value related to hardware, not software. Additionally, a UDID is a 40-character string of numbers and letters.

How many device backups can iTunes store on a Windows 11 PC

You can use iTunes to back up as many Apple devices as you want. Each of these devices will have a unique folder dedicated to the backup content, named after the UDID of the corresponding device.

What data is stored in iTunes backup?

iTunes Backup is a complete backup of your iOS device that includes photos and images, media files, messages, app data, settings, and more.

If you use encryption during backup, Apple will also include your passwords, health, and HomeKit data in the backup.

Will encrypted iTunes backups ask me for my password before deleting them?

No. Even if the backup is encrypted, iTunes will not ask you to set the encryption password before deleting the backup from the iTunes app.

Are iTunes backups encrypted?

By default, iTunes backups are not encrypted. However, you can easily encrypt your backups from the app itself if you wish.

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