Backup iPhone (or iPad) on External Hard Drive [for Windows] - Step by Step

While iTunes doesn't give you the opportunity to backup your iPhone on an external hard drive, this trick will backup all your files to your external hard drive, just like it would in your computer. The good news are that the backup will be stored automatically on your external hard drive.

Here's the MacOS version:

Best External Hard Drives List:

All commands and links are included in the article here
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[dskear]

I was able to get it done. Thank you for putting this together. I would suggest you add the two comand promt link texts to the description section of the video, instead of forcing folks to pull up your web arcticle.

[SnapCracklePapa]

You don't mention it in the video, but it's on the web page - When doing the Command Prompt segment, you need to make sure the code has your proper designations for your drives. For example; my external drive needed to be changed to "D" from "E" in the code.

[Adamtherealboss]

This one actually works! I had to create the folder "backup" in the mobilesync folder on my external drive. Make sure you follow it exactly and change the letter (E or F etc.) for your external drive.

[bethhaddadbunnell]

@techlunar - I backed up my iPhone just as you taught to my hard drive. I dropped my phone in a lake (132 feet), received my replacement phone, and now need to restore the backup from the hard drive to the replacement phone. Do you have a tutorial video on how to do this? Thank you!

[MrTimmmers]

Nice video, but no mention of restoring from backups which is why we back up?

[AB-kksx]

It worked. One of the most helpful videos on YT. Thank you.

[davidebiondi]

the only really useful video, thank you from italy, +1 subscriber

[PhantomBelle]

Finally made space for my trip next month. :D

[colegatrader]

very good video, and now if I want to go back to the original settings what command should I use?

[johnhanley]

So with slight edits to command prompt ie my external drive is the E drive, this worked fantastically! It took a bit of time for ALL the files I had so patience was important. Many thanks again for his very helpful solution.

[tengabs]

Hi, George! Your tutorial works perfectly. I just have one question, how do I revert it back to the old settings? I want to backup my new iPhone to my Computer this time. But I keep on getting an error that my backup is corrupt. For sure it's because I configured the backup via command prompt. Your reply is highly appreciated. Thanks!

[jenjen]

Excellent tutorial! The only change I required was to use a symbolic link instead of junction. Thanks for this video. I've been stuck for months needing to backup my phone to an external drive via iTunes on Windows.

[appetizingcuisinejunction]

Hi george ! After creating path to external hard drive, . I cannot open the "backup folder with an arrow " in mu local drive. Error occurs. However when i try to start backing up using itunes. There occurs an error as well. What to do. Please answer thank you

[hopkat]

excellent video. it worked! (after a few syntax errors of my own making and changing the drive letter to match my external drive)

[jenniferm]

Not working and cannot figure out why, when I copy-paste the command in the Command prompt and change to info to "admin" and drive F (my external drive), I receive "Cannot create a file when that file already exists" :( I've tried renaming the MobileSync and other random folder names on the F drive, and I receive the same response in the dialog box. UGH!

[jlla]

Does it matter what windows you have? For example, windows 7 & 8?

[My_ironman_journey]

I can’t do this. It comes up “there is not enough space on windows. You need an additional 24.9GB to copy these files.”
I’m using a 5TB external hard drive with a cheap small laptop…?

[famiarojas]

great tutorial and solution. Just found it after 3 years.

[jlla]

Would this still work if I'm switching the external hard drive from one computer to a laptop and vice versa? Or, does the external hard drive is assigned to ONE specific computer/laptop?

[TheSexyboywolf]

Hey I just want to say great video and thank you so much. I was looking to back up my iPhone 8 plus with 198GB used and I couldn't back it up on my 120GB MacBook Pro. My only option was to turn to my gaming HP Omen laptop and honestly it didn't work the first time because I didn't have any previous backup to copy to my external drive. I tried again and this time I backed up my iPhone on my C drive first and then copied it to my external drive and after that it worked 110%. Thank You George!