Transfer iPhone Backup to a New Computer

Moving your iPhone backup to a new computer lets you keep your device history, messages, and settings without starting over. This guide covers both Mac and Windows, using Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows or older macOS), and works whether you’re migrating to a brand-new machine or just want a second copy of your backup.

What You’ll Need

Your old computer with the existing iPhone backup
Your new computer with the latest version of Finder or iTunes installed
A USB cable or a reliable Wi-Fi network (for syncing, not required for backup transfer)
An external hard drive, USB flash drive, or a network location with enough free space (backups can be several gigabytes)

Step-by-Step

Locate your existing backup on the old computer. On a Mac, open Finder and press Cmd+Shift+G, then type ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. On Windows, press Win+R, type %APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup and press Enter. You’ll see one or more folders with long alphanumeric names—these are your device backups.
Identify the correct backup folder. If you have multiple backups, look at the modification date to find the most recent one. To be certain, you can check the Info.plist file inside each folder (open it with a text editor) to see the device name and iOS version.
Copy the backup folder to an external drive. Connect your external drive to the old computer, then drag the entire backup folder (the alphanumeric name, not just its contents) onto the drive. Wait for the copy to finish—this can take a while for large backups.
Connect the external drive to the new computer. Safely eject the drive from the old computer, then plug it into the new one.
Copy the backup folder into the correct location on the new computer. On the new Mac, open Finder and navigate to ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup (create the Backup folder if it doesn’t exist). On Windows, go to %APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup. Drag the backup folder from the external drive into this location.
Verify the backup appears in Finder/iTunes. Connect your iPhone to the new computer with a USB cable. Open Finder (or iTunes on Windows/older macOS). Click your device, then look at the “General” or “Summary” tab. You should see the backup listed with its date and size under “Backups.” If it’s not there, restart Finder/iTunes and check again.
Test the backup (optional but recommended). If you plan to restore from this backup, you can do a test restore to a spare device or just trust that the backup is intact. A quick way to verify integrity is to check that the folder size matches the original.

Common Mistakes

Copying the wrong folder. Make sure you copy the entire alphanumeric folder, not just a file inside it. The folder name is the device’s UDID, and it must remain unchanged.
Placing the backup in the wrong directory. On Windows, some users mistakenly put it in Program Files or My Documents. It must be in the MobileSync\Backup folder under your user profile.
Interrupting the copy. If the copy fails midway, the backup may be corrupt. Always use a reliable connection and wait for the transfer to complete.
Not checking for existing backups. If the new computer already has a backup with the same folder name, it will overwrite it. That’s usually fine, but if you want to keep both, rename the existing one first (though that may cause issues).

Tips

Use a wired connection for large backups. Wi-Fi transfer is slower and more prone to interruption. A USB 3.0 external drive is faster than a USB 2.0 one.
Keep a second copy. Before moving, duplicate the backup folder on the old computer or external drive. That way, if something goes wrong during the move, you still have the original.
Update Finder/iTunes on the new computer. Older versions may not recognize backups from newer iOS versions. Update to the latest macOS or iTunes before restoring.
Check free space. Backups can be 50 GB or more. Ensure the new computer has enough free space before copying.

Troubleshooting

Backup not showing up in Finder/iTunes. First, restart Finder (on Mac, hold Option and right-click the Finder icon, then select Relaunch) or restart iTunes. If that doesn’t work, check that the backup folder is in the exact correct path. On Windows, make sure you’re looking in the right user account—if you’re logged in as a different user, the path changes.

Backup is corrupt or unreadable. This usually happens if the copy was interrupted. Delete the copied folder from the new computer and copy it again from the external drive. If the external drive itself is failing, try copying directly over the network using a tool like rsync (Mac) or robocopy (Windows) to verify integrity.

Restore fails partway through. Make sure your iPhone is running a compatible iOS version. If the backup was made on a newer iOS than what’s on the phone, you may need to update the phone first. Also, disable Find My iPhone before restoring, as it can interfere.

Backup folder is empty or missing files. This could mean the backup was encrypted or the folder was not fully copied. Encrypted backups require a password—if you don’t know it, the backup is useless. Check the Info.plist for a IsEncrypted key.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer a backup wirelessly? Yes, you can use a network share or cloud storage, but it’s slower and riskier. A direct USB connection is recommended.

Do I need to install iTunes on a new Mac? No, on macOS Catalina or later, Finder handles backups. On Windows, you need iTunes (or the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store).

Will transferring the backup affect the backup on the old computer? No, copying is non-destructive. The original stays intact.

What if I don’t know the backup password? Encrypted backups require the password to restore. There’s no way to recover it, so you’d have to create a new backup.

Can I transfer just one app’s data? No, backups are all-or-nothing. You’d need to restore the entire backup to a device, then selectively extract data using third-party tools.

How long does the transfer take? It depends on the backup size and connection speed. A 20 GB backup over USB 3.0 might take 10–15 minutes; over Wi-Fi it could take over an hour.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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