How to Change iTunes Backup Location on Windows/Mac [Advanced]

Where to Find iTunes Library Location on Your Computer?

If you don’t know where your iTunes library is on your computer, don’t worry about it. Here are the detailed procedures of finding it on your computer systems.

1 How to Find iTunes Library Location on PC

If you are using a PC, you can find your media files in the iTunes library folder. The media files contain imported songs, downloaded stuff and purchased items from iTunes. You can also find individual folders containing songs and movies etc. Here is the complete address of iTunes library on windows: C:UsersusernameMy MusiciTunes.

2 Where Is iTunes Library on Mac

Oppositely, if you are on a Mac, follow the process below. You can do the same steps including finding the media files including songs and other stuff.

Step 1: While you are in the Finder, click on Go button on the menu bar. The menu bar is located on the top of your screen.

Step 2: Now click on Home>Music>iTunes.

3 How to Locate a Specific Item You See in iTunes?

Everything you see on iTunes including your songs and other media files can be located on your computer. All you need is to find the media folder locations which you can do easily from iTunes. Here is how to locate a specific file or media folder of iTunes.

Step 1: Choose the item and click on Edit>Get Info from the top menu.

Step 2: Choose the File tab.

Step 3: Here you will see the location of this item with its complete address. This item may stored in your computer or a cloud server.

Video

Accessing Podcasts on macOS Catalina

Moving podcast episodes and books would be problematic due to their default locations, but you don’t have to move them. Just open the Podcasts app on your new Mac, and it should automatically display the shows to which you subscribe. From there, you can download individual episodes.

Copy Files With External Devices

HomeGroup is not available in Windows 10, so those with that OS (and Mac users) will have to find an alternative method to copy files between two different machines. You can copy them from the source PC to an external device, then copy them over to the target computer. Another option is to use a USB cable to connect both computers and copy the files over. If your library isn’t too large, you can always copy it to and from an online file storage site such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, Dropbox, or Box.

Change iTunes backup location automatically

Use CopyTrans Shelbee to automatically change the location of your iTunes backup folder and move its contents wherever you like. Begin by downloading CopyTrans Shelbee from the following page: Download CopyTrans Shelbee

1. Close iTunes and start CopyTrans Shelbee. Click Toolbox.

2. Click on the Pencil symbol to choose a new location for your iTunes backup folder.

3. Select the folder and click OK.

4. Tap Start.

   

5. Stand by until CopyTrans Shelbee changes the iTunes backup folder to the destination of your choice and moves all folder contents to the new location.

6. That’s all! The iTunes location was changed and its contents were successfully moved.

Change the iTunes File Location in Windows 10

Changing the default music storage location is a little easier than changing your phone backup location.

Here, you can just tell iTunes where to store your music and media and let the program get on with it.

1. Open iTunes on your PC.

   

2. Select Edit and Preferences.

   

3. Select Advanced and Change.

   

4. Select the drive or location where you want iTunes to store your media.

   

This is a simple folder change and not a symbolic link. The end result is the same though. Once changed, all the media you add to iTunes will be stored in this new location. That includes anything you buy and anything you import into iTunes.

Change where imported files are stored

You can change where your iTunes media files are stored.

Important: For best results, don’t change the location of the iTunes folder or the folders inside it.

1. In the iTunes app on your PC, choose Edit > Preferences, then click Advanced.

2. Click Change, then select a new location for your files.

   From now on, new songs and other items you import will be stored in the new location. Songs you’ve already imported stay in their current location.

   Tip: If you want to now move your current files to the new location. see Consolidate your files in the iTunes folder.

To go back to storing imported files in the iTunes folder, choose Edit > Preferences, click Advanced, then click Reset.

Removing the Symbolic Link

If you want to remove the symbolic link for some reason or another, you need to execute another command via PowerShell. This process deletes the Backup ‘shortcut’ folder that was generated automatically earlier, but your backups at the new backup location are safe and won’t be deleted.

Depending on your version of iTunes, get to the MobileSync directory and launch PowerShell with the Shift key pressed. Once inside, run the following command:

cmd /c rmdir D:\New iTunes Backups

Change the file path at the end of the command line as required to point to your new iTunes backup location.

Press Enter to remove the symbolic link. Afterward, manually create a new folder within the MobileSync directory, name it to Backup, and then copy back your older backups from the previous backup location. Things should be back to the way as they were supposed to from now on.

Final Thoughts

iTunes works pretty well in Windows 10. If you have an Apple device or are switching over from Mac, it makes for an easy transition. If you don’t have an Apple device or any history with iTunes, there are better ways to manage your media.

Do you know of any ways other than symbolic links to change the iTunes backup location in Windows 10? Tell us about it below if you do!

Need more iTunes resources?

Here’s our guide to canceling subscriptions via iOS and iTunes.

We’ll show you how to add music to your iPod without using iTunes.

Tags