How To Delete iTunes Backup On Windows 11

iTunes is able to each creating and dynamically updating a neighborhood backup of your iOS device every time it’s plugged into your PC. While the backups are saved as non-viewable information, Apple does assist you to entry their location and delete them, each manually and through the use of the iTunes app.

However, iTunes backups in your PC can develop invariable giant, particularly in case your iPhone is totally stacked. In this text, we are going to inform you how one can find an iTunes backup for a particular iOS device identifiable by its UDID on Windows 11 and subsequently delete it.

iTunes Backup Location on Windows 11

Before leaping into methods of deleting an iTunes backup, it’s vital to grasp the place precisely these backup information are saved in your Windows 11 PC. It seems the default location of the backup folder depends upon the best way iTunes was initially put in in your PC.

If you put in iTunes using the Microsoft Store

If you put in iTunes from Microsoft Store, the backup folder will likely be situated on the following tackle in your PC:

C:Users%userprofile%AppleMobileSyncBackup

You may seek for %userprofile% within the begin menu and open the Apple folder from there.

If you put in iTunes using the Apple Website

If you put in iTunes from Apple’s official web site, the backup folder will likely be situated on the following tackle in your PC:

C:Users%userprofile%%appdata%Apple ComputerMobileSyncBackup

You may seek for %appdata% within the begin menu and open the Apple Computer folder from there.

2 methods to delete iTunes backup on Windows 11

Before we begin deleting our iTunes backups, let’s check out their location in Windows 11. You can then subsequently use one of many strategies within the next part to delete your backup. 

Method 1: Delete your backup from iTunes

First, Launch the iTunes app out of your PC.

Note: You don’t have to plug your iOS device into your PC whereas deleting a backup.

In the iTunes app, click on on Edit from the menu toolbar.

Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.

In the Preferences menu, choose the Devices tab.

On this display screen below Device backups, click on on the backup you wish to delete.

Once chosen, click on on Delete Backup to completely delete this backup out of your PC.

Click on Delete to verify the deletion course of.

The chosen iTunes backup will now be eliminated out of your PC and can not present up within the Device backups part. 

Method 2: Delete your backup manually in File Explorer

You will first want to seek out the UDID of your device to assist establish the backup in your native storage. Once discovered, you may then establish and delete the backup manually in File Explorer. Let’s take a fast have a look at this process. 

Step 1: Find the UDID of your iOS device

Since the backup folders are named after the UDIDs of their supply gadgets, it’s vital to know the UDID of your device earlier than shifting on to the following step. Let’s see how yow will discover out your device’s UDID using the iTunes app itself.

Note: Make certain your device is plugged into your PC for this step.

Open the iTunes app in your PC and click on on the Phone icon from the identical row that has Library, For You, Browse, Radio, and Store tabs.

When your cellphone exhibits up, click on on Serial Number from the right-hand-side panel till it shows the UDID variety of the related device.

Make a notice of this UDID quantity. It will likely be wanted to establish the backup folder akin to this device in Step 2.

Step 2: Identify and delete the backup

Open File Explorer out of your PC.

According to your system, enter one of many following addresses within the File Explorer tackle bar and hit Enter out of your keyboard.

If you put in iTunes from Microsoft Store:

C:Users%userprofile%AppleMobileSyncBackup

If you put in iTunes from Apple’s official web site:

C:Users%userprofile%%appdata%Apple ComputerMobileSyncBackup

Once in your respective location, find the backup file you wish to take away using the UDID quantity from Step 1 and click on on it.

Note: The identify of the folder you need to delete is identical because the UDID of the device whose backup you wish to delete.

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

How to encrypt your iTunes backup

If you’re in search of a technique to encrypt your backup on a pc, the next steps ought to show you how to get it achieved.

Note: Make certain your device is plugged into your PC.

Open the iTunes app in your PC and click on on the Phone icon from the highest left nook. 

Now, find the Backups part and be sure you have chosen the This Computer possibility below “Automatically Back Up”.

Now, test the Encrypt native backup field below this feature.

Enter a password and click on on Set Password.

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

Finally, watch for the method to complete in your PC.

That’s it. Your iTunes backup has now been encrypted.

How to vary your backup location on Windows 11

Before continuing, it’s advisable that you simply make a replica of the unique iTunes backup folder situated at one of many following addresses in your PC.

If you put in iTunes from Microsoft Store:

C:Users%userprofile%AppleMobileSyncBackup

If you put in iTunes from Apple’s official web site:

C:Users%userprofile%%appdata%Apple ComputerMobileSyncBackup

With that out of the best way, let’s bounce to the primary process.

Press the Windows key in your keyboard to open the beginning menu.

In the beginning menu, seek for cmd and click on on Run as administrator. Confirm the UAC immediate to launch CMD as an administrator.

Now, make the brand new listing using the mkdir command. For instance, if we wish to retailer future iTunes backups in a folder known as new_backups situated within the C drive, we’ll enter the next command and press Enter:

mkdir c:new_backups

Change your present listing to the newly-created listing. In the case of this information, the command for that will likely be cd adopted by the tackle of the brand new listing, i.e cd c:new_backups. Enter this command and press Enter out of your keyboard.

Now, find the unique iTunes backup listing and delete it. This listing will likely be current at one of many following areas in your PC.

If you put in iTunes from Microsoft Store:

C:Users%userprofile%AppleMobileSync

If you put in iTunes from Apple’s official web site:

C:Users%userprofile%%appdata%Apple ComputerMobileSync

Back within the cmd app, create a symlink between the unique and the brand new listing by getting into one of many following instructions in cmd, based mostly in your system.

Note: Remember, you need to substitute c:new_backups with the placement of the brand new listing created by you in your system. mklink /J “c:Users"userprofile"AppleMobileSyncBackup” “c:new_backups”

If you put in iTunes from Apple’s official web site:

mklink /J “c:Users"userprofile"AppDataRoamingApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup” “c:new_backups”

Your backup listing for iTunes backups will now have been modified on Windows 11. 

Difference between iTunes and iCloud backup

Before plunging into the irreversible acts of deleting iTunes backups in your Windows 11 PC, it’s vital to have a cognizance of the two backup choices supplied by Apple: iTunes backup and iCloud backup. Let’s attempt to perceive their variations.

iTunes Backup

iTunes is a media administration service developed by Apple that can be utilized to arrange media saved in your iOS device, specifically music, footage, movies, films, podcasts, audiobooks, and so forth.

An iTunes backup is a full backup of your iOS device and consists of your bought apps, music, films, and so forth. You received’t have to re-download them each time you restore a backup. Additionally, iTunes backup additionally permits you to encrypt the backup. This encryption permits you to shield your backup from getting accessed by unauthorized customers on the identical PC or Mac.

iCloud Backup

While iTunes makes use of the native storage of your Windows or Mac techniques, iCloud, nonetheless, is a cloud-based storage service. iCloud is a hands-free, automated, and cloud-based backup storage service, your backups are at all times encrypted to provide you an extra layer of safety.

Apple offers solely 5GB of default storage per Apple ID for iCloud however you may improve this capability by choosing one of many paid plans supplied by Apple. 

iCloud backs up solely the important knowledge, specifically: App knowledge, Device settings, Home Screen and app group, iMessage, Photos, movies and Purchase historical past out of your providers, and so forth.

FAQs

Here are a number of generally requested questions on the subject of deleting your iTunes backup on Windows 11 and coping with iTunes backup usually. It ought to show you how to stand up to hurry with the workings of Apple’s ecosystem.

Do I have to plug my iPhone into my PC for deleting an iTunes backup?

No. iTunes backups are saved regionally solely in your PC and you do not want to attach your iOS device together with your PC to delete the iTunes backup.

What is the UDID variety of my Apple device?

A UDID (distinctive device identifier) quantity for an Apple device is a hard and fast worth used to point that particular device. This is a hard and fast worth that’s tied to the {hardware} and never software program. Additionally, a UDID is a 40-character string made up of numerals and letters.

How many device backups may be saved by iTunes on a Windows 11 PC

You can use iTunes to backup as many Apple gadgets as you need. Each considered one of these gadgets could have a singular folder devoted to the backed-up content material, named after the UDIDs of the respective gadgets.

What knowledge is saved in an iTunes backup?

An iTunes backup is an entire backup of your iOS device that features knowledge comparable to Photos and Images, media information, messages, app knowledge, settings, and so forth. 

If you employ encryption throughout backing up, Apple can even embody your passwords, Health, HomePackage knowledge within the backup.

Will an encrypted iTunes backup ask me to enter the password earlier than deleting it?

No. Even if the backup is encrypted, iTunes is not going to ask for the encryption password arrange by you earlier than deleting the backup from the iTunes app.

Is an iTunes backup encrypted?

An iTunes backup isn’t encrypted by default. However, it’s pretty simple to encrypt your backup from the app itself everytime you wish to. To know more about the identical, be happy to learn the part How to encrypt native iTunes backup devoted to this subject on this article itself.

---

: