Question about creating a double backup link Itunes cmd mklink

Creating a double backup for your iPhone using iTunes can be a great way to ensure the safety and accessibility of your data. If you’ve already set up your iTunes to back up to an external drive using the mklink command and you’re looking to create an additional backup location, this article will guide you through the process of configuring a second link.

Understanding the Backup Process with mklink

Using the mklink command allows you to create symbolic links to redirect where your backups are stored. When you create a symbolic link to a folder, it’s as if you’re pointing to that folder, but it exists under the original folder path. For instance, if you originally redirected your iTunes backups from:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

to an external drive (D:), you would have executed a command like this in the command prompt:

mklink /D "C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\iPhoneBackup"

Setting Up an Additional Backup Location

Now, to create a second backup on another external drive (E:), you have a couple of options. However, you cannot directly create two symbolic links pointing to two different directories from the same original Backup folder.

Instead, you can modify your existing backup strategy slightly:

1. Choose a Different Directory for the Second Backup: First, create a new folder on your second external drive (E:). For example:

   E:\iPhoneBackup

2. Create a Batch File to Automate the Backups: Since iTunes does not allow simultaneous backups to two different locations through symbolic links, a practical solution is to manually copy your backup files after the iTunes backup process. Create a simple batch file to automate copying the backup from drive D to drive E.

Here is a sample batch file code:

@echo off
REM Set backup source and destination directories
set source=D:\iPhoneBackup
set destination=E:\iPhoneBackup

REM Copy backups from source to destination
xcopy "%source%\*.*" "%destination%\" /D /E /C /I /Q /Y

echo Backup copied from D: to E:!
pause

Save this file with a .bat extension (e.g., BackupScript.bat) and place it in a location that’s easy to access.

3. Running the Batch File: After you initiate your iTunes backup, simply run this batch file either manually or set it to run automatically after a successful backup. This method is straightforward and effective, ensuring that your data is safely backed up to both external drives.

Conclusion

While iTunes doesn’t inherently support multiple backup locations via symbolic links, using a batch file to copy your backed-up files from one external drive to another serves as a workable solution. This method not only helps keep your iPhone backups secure but also minimizes the risk of data loss by having duplicates on separate drives. Regularly check and manage your backups to ensure you have the most recent data available in both locations, providing peace of mind and additional redundancy for your important files.