You may be able to recover deleted iTunes backup files, but finding a folder is only the beginning. Check where the backup was stored, choose a suitable recovery method, and preserve the complete backup structure.
You were trying to free up some disk space. You clicked delete, maybe emptied the Recycle Bin and then it hit you: your old iTunes backup was inside that folder. Can you get it back?
Not necessarily. You might still be able to pull it from the Recycle Bin, an earlier saved copy, or the original drive itself. But before you do anything, stop saving new files to that drive. Recovery depends on whether the backup data remains available.
AOMEI FastRecovery can scan your drive visually to find deleted folder. However, a working iTunes backup requires all files to be intact - a few recovered pieces won't cut it. Start by confirming exactly where that backup was stored, then choose the method that fits your situation.
A missing iTunes backup entry does not automatically mean the files were deleted. Check both standard locations before scanning your drive.
Press Win + R, enter the following path, and press Enter.
%USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup
If the folder won't open, check the Windows account folder for iTunes backups. If you previously redirected backups to another drive, look there too.
%AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
An iTunes backup is a collection of files inside a device-specific folder. The folder name may be a long identifier rather than your phone’s name. Keep its files together.
| 🧩 Your situation | ✅ Suitable method | 🔑 Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The deleted folder remains in the Recycle Bin | Method 1: Restore from Recycle Bin | You don't empty the Recycle Bin or use Shift + Delete |
| File History saved an earlier copy | Method 2: Restore from File History backup | The saved version includes the backup |
| The folder is permanently deleted | Method 3: Scan for Original Drive | Recoverable data remains on the original drive |
Avoid creating another device backup on the original drive during recovery. Those writes could reduce what remains recoverable.
👍 Best for: A backup folder deleted through File Explorer that remains in the Recycle Bin.
Deleted files and folders go straight to the Windows Recycle Bin. Check if your iTunes backup folder is in there. If it is, restore it to get your backup back.
Step 1. Open Recycle Bin from your desktop. Switch to Details view to check the original location and deletion date.
Step 2. Look for the deleted backup folder. Match its original location to MobileSync\Backup, right-click it and select Restore. Windows returns it to its original location.
Nothing there? Large folders can actually skip the Recycle Bin entirely. If that's what happened, check recovering deleted files too big for the Recycle Bin. An empty bin means you need another method.
👍 Best for: A backup folder included in File History before deletion.
File History can restore previously saved versions of files and folders. It must already contain the iTunes backup; enabling it now cannot recreate an earlier copy. Do not assume the MobileSync folder was protected automatically.
Step 1. Connect the drive containing your File History backups. In File Explorer, navigate to the folder containing deleted backup folder. Right-click it and choose Restore previous versions. On Windows 11, you may first need Show more options.
Step 2. Select a version from before the deletion. Expand Open and choose Open in File History to check for the backup folder.
Step 3. Return to the version list. Expand Restore, select Restore to…, and choose a separate drive. This saves the current folder while retrieving the earlier copy.
An empty version list means no usable earlier copy is available through this feature. For broader folder-recovery options, see recovering deleted folder in Windows 10.
👍 Best for: A deleted backup folder no longer available in the Recycle Bin
AOMEI FastRecovery is easy-to-use Windows file recovery software that can scan the drive where your iTunes backup folder was stored instead of searching only for individual files.
Step 1. Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery on a different drive from the drive containing deleted iTunes backup. Open the program and select Deleted Files Recovery.
Step 2. Choose the drive that held the iTunes backup, then click Scan. For a backup stored at either default path above, this is usually C:.
Step 3. Let the default Quick Scan finish. Browse by Path and expand Deleted Files to find the original MobileSync\Backup directory. Then, select it and click Recover.
Save them to a different drive. Another folder on the samedrive is not safe, which may overwrite iTunes backup you are trying to recover.
If your backup is on a USB drive, check recovering deleted files from USB.
Search for the backup folder’s identifier if you know it. If not, click Deep Scan. It searches more extensively but takes longer.
The free edition can recover up to 500MB. Recovery beyond that amount requires an upgraded edition.
A recovered folder name does not prove the iTunes backup is complete. Keep an untouched copy on the destination before attempting to use it.
Check the following:
Do not rename unfamiliar files or delete them to make the folder easier to understand. If Apple software reports an invalid or corrupt backup, keep the recovered copy unchanged. Another saved backup may provide a more usable version.
Can I recover an overwritten iTunes backup?
A disk scan cannot recreate data already overwritten. An earlier independent copy may still help. Deletion and overwriting are different, so avoid treating every missing backup as an overwritten one.
Will System Restore bring the backup back?
System Restore is intended for system changes, not restoring deleted personal backup files. Check File History or another existing file backup instead.
Does SSD storage affect recovery?
Yes. SSD TRIM can make deleted data unavailable, even without deliberate new file copies. Stopping disk use reduces additional activity but does not guarantee recovery.
Can I restore an encrypted backup without its password?
No. Recovering the files does not remove encryption. Creating a new backup password also does not unlock an older encrypted backup.
To recover deleted iTunes backup files, start with the copy still available: the Recycle Bin or a saved folder version. For permanent deletion, scan the original drive and recover files elsewhere. Preserve the whole backup set, then check its usability before relying on it.