iPhone backups on your Mac are stored in a hidden folder you can't see without changing your settings

When you connect your iPhone to your Mac and create a backup through iTunes or Finder, the files go into a specific folder buried several levels deep in your Mac's system directories. The location depends on which macOS version you're running and whether you're using iTunes or Finder, but the backup data itself is always hidden by default. You won't find it by opening Finder and looking around — you have to either show hidden files or navigate using the path directly.

The reason Apple hides these backups is that they're not meant to be opened or edited by hand. They're compressed, encrypted files that only iTunes or Finder knows how to read. But knowing where they are matters if you need to move them, delete old ones to free up space, or back them up to an external drive.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone backups on Mac are stored in ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/ on Intel Macs and ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/ on Apple Silicon Macs — the path is the same, but the folder is hidden by default.
  • You must enable viewing hidden files in Finder to see the backup folder, or you can navigate directly by typing the path into Finder's Go menu.
  • Each backup is a folder with a long string of letters and numbers as its name; the folder contains all the encrypted data from your iPhone at the moment you created the backup.
  • Backups created in Finder (macOS Catalina and later) are stored in the same location as iTunes backups, so the path doesn't change when you upgrade.
  • You can safely delete old backup folders to free up storage space, but keep at least one current backup in case you need to restore your iPhone.

The exact folder path for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs

The backup folder is located at ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/ on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. The tilde (~) represents your home directory — the folder with your username. Inside that Backup folder, you'll see one or more folders with names like 00008101-000C1234567890AB — a long string of hexadecimal characters. Each folder represents one backup of one iPhone.

The reason the path looks the same on both Mac architectures is that Apple kept the backup location consistent when it switched to Apple Silicon chips. The difference is only in how fast the backup process runs, not where the files end up.

If you have multiple iPhones or have backed up the same iPhone at different times, you'll see multiple folders in the Backup directory. The most recent backup is usually the largest folder, because it contains the most data. Older backups remain in the folder until you delete them manually.

How to find and view the backup folder in Finder

The Library folder is hidden by default, so you won't see it when you open Finder and click on your home folder. You have two options: show all hidden files, or navigate directly using Finder's Go menu.

To show hidden files: Open Finder, then press Command + Shift + Period (the period key). This toggles the visibility of hidden files and folders. You'll now see the Library folder. Double-click it, then navigate to process Support, then MobileSync, then Backup. The backup folders will appear as a list of folders with hexadecimal names.

To navigate directly: Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G. A text box will appear asking you to type a path. Copy and paste this exactly: ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/ Then press Enter. Finder will jump straight to the Backup folder without showing hidden files.

The direct path method is faster if you only need to visit the folder once. Showing hidden files is more useful if you plan to explore other hidden folders on your Mac.

What's inside each backup folder

When you open a backup folder, you'll see dozens of files with no extensions and names that look like random characters. These are the encrypted backup files — photos, messages, app data, settings, and everything else on your iPhone at the moment the backup was created. You cannot open these files individually or read them without iTunes or Finder.

You'll also see a file called Info.plist and another called Manifest.mbdb. These are metadata files that tell iTunes or Finder what's in the backup and how to restore it. Again, these are not meant to be edited by hand.

The total size of the backup folder is roughly the same as the amount of storage your iPhone is using. If your iPhone has 64 GB of data, the backup folder will be close to 64 GB. This is why backups can take up significant space on your Mac, especially if you have multiple backups or a large iPhone.

Deleting old backups to free up Mac storage

If you need to free up space on your Mac, you can safely delete old backup folders. Navigate to the Backup folder using either method above, then right-click on a backup folder and select Move to Trash. The backup is gone when ready, and the space is freed up.

Before you delete a backup, make sure you have a more recent one. If you delete your only backup and then need to restore your iPhone, you'll have to set it up from scratch. A good practice is to keep the most recent backup and delete anything older than a few months.

To know which backup is most recent, look at the folder's modification date. Right-click a backup folder, select Get Info, and check the "Modified" date. The backup with the most recent date is your latest one.

Moving backups to an external drive

If you want to keep multiple backups but don't have space on your Mac, you can move them to an external hard drive or USB stick. Navigate to the Backup folder, select the backup folders you want to move, and drag them to your external drive. This frees up space on your Mac while keeping the backups safe.

If you ever need to restore from a backup you've moved to an external drive, you'll need to move it back to ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/ first. iTunes or Finder won't see backups stored anywhere else. After you restore, you can move the backup back to the external drive if you want.

This method works well for archiving old backups. You keep your most recent backup on your Mac for quick access, and store older ones on external storage in case you ever need them.

Backups in Finder vs. iTunes

If you're using macOS Catalina or later, you create iPhone backups through Finder, not iTunes. iTunes no longer handles iOS backups on newer Macs. However, the backup location is identical — both Finder and iTunes store backups in ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/.

This means if you upgrade from an older Mac running iTunes to a newer Mac running Finder, your backups don't move. They're already in the right place. Finder will recognize and use the backups that iTunes created, and vice versa.

The only difference is the interface you use to create and restore backups. The underlying storage location and file format remain the same across both tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my iPhone backup to a different Mac?

Yes. Copy the backup folder from ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/ on the first Mac to the same location on the second Mac. The second Mac's Finder or iTunes will recognize it when ready. Make sure the destination Mac has enough free space for the backup before you copy it.

Why is my backup folder so large?

The backup folder is roughly the same size as the data on your iPhone. If your iPhone has 50 GB of photos, apps, and messages, the backup will be close to 50 GB. Large backups are normal and expected. If you want to reduce the backup size, you'll need to delete photos, videos, or apps from your iPhone itself.

What happens if I delete a backup folder by mistake?

The backup is gone, but your iPhone is not affected. Your iPhone still has all its data. You can create a new backup by connecting your iPhone to your Mac and using Finder or iTunes. If you need to restore from a backup and you've deleted all of them, you'll have to set up your iPhone as new or restore from iCloud instead.

Do encrypted backups stay encrypted in the backup folder?

Yes. If you created an encrypted backup in iTunes or Finder, the files in the backup folder remain encrypted. You cannot read them without the password you set during backup creation. The encryption protects your data even if someone gains access to your Mac's hard drive.

Can I back up my backups to the cloud?

You can copy the backup folder to cloud storage like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, but this is not necessary. If you want a cloud backup of your iPhone, use iCloud Backup instead — it's built into iOS and doesn't require you to manage files manually. iCloud Backup stores data on Apple's servers, not in the Backup folder on your Mac.