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The backup location depends on which Apple app created it. Press Windows key + R, then enter %USERPROFILE% for Apple Devices or iTunes from the Microsoft Store. For traditional iTunes, enter %AppData%. These are Apple’s Windows instructions, not a guarantee that a backup exists on the PC.
Which location should you open?
| App that created the backup | What to enter in Run | How to identify it |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Devices | %USERPROFILE% |
Use Apple Devices to manage the connected iPhone or iPad. |
| iTunes from the Microsoft Store | %USERPROFILE% |
Apple says this version updates automatically. |
| Traditional iTunes | %AppData% |
In iTunes, look for Help > Check for Updates; Apple identifies this menu item with traditional iTunes. |
Apple’s location guidance and version distinction are in its instructions for locating and managing iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch backups (published January 19, 2026).
Find the backup area with Run
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter
%USERPROFILE%if the backup was made using Apple Devices or Microsoft Store iTunes. Press Enter. - For traditional iTunes, enter
%AppData%and press Enter.
The environment variable opens the relevant starting location; it is not a hard-coded path that applies to every Windows installation. If you have moved or migrated files, Apple’s guidance alone cannot confirm where a particular backup is now stored.
Open a particular backup in Apple Devices
- Open Apple Devices and connect the iPhone or iPad to the PC with USB.
- Select the device if it does not appear selected, and approve the trust prompt if one appears.
- Open General > Manage Backups.
- Right-click the backup you want and choose Show in Explorer.
This is the most direct way to open an individual backup folder from Apple Devices. The same management area may also offer archive or delete actions; use those only if you intend to change the backup.
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If you cannot find the backup
- Unsure which iTunes version is installed? Check for Help > Check for Updates. Apple uses that menu item to identify traditional iTunes.
- Microsoft Store iTunes seems to use
%AppData%? Apple says that for this version, this may indicate a file-location issue or a corrupted installation. Its normal location instruction for Microsoft Store iTunes is%USERPROFILE%. - The device or backup is missing in Apple Devices? Select the connected device, respond to any trust prompt, then inspect General > Manage Backups.
- Still not seeing the intended backup? Confirm which Apple app created it and use the matching location instruction. The location guidance does not prove that a backup exists on this PC.
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