Moving iTunes Mobile Applications folder to an alternate drive

I found out how to move the iTunes Mobile Applications folder to either an external drive or as in my case, from my 256GB SSD systems/application drive to a non-SSD drive on my desktop (3.0 TB in size). This is important for any iTunes users with their systems/applications on a SSD drive (i.e. on the C: drive but with constrained SSD drive space). In my case, my Mobile Apps folder is 40+ GB in size.
iTunes allows you to easily move your iTunes music folder to an alternate drive but it does not provide a means to move the Mobile Apps folder. I have confirmed this. However, in Windows Vista, 7 and 8, using the “mklink” command, you can set up a symbolic link from the iTunes Mobile Apps folder on the C: drive to the relocated Mobile Apps folder on another drive. iTunes thinks it is adding new Mobile Apps to the C: drive Mobile Applications folder, but it is actually updating the real Mobile Apps folder on the alternate drive. I’ve tried this approach and it works like a charm. The steps required are as follows:
1. Copy the existing Mobile Apps folder and its content on the C: drive to its new location on an alternate drive on your desktop or to an external drive.
2. Note and record the exact detailed path to the existing Mobile Applications folder as well as the exact detailed path for the new Mobile Applications folder
3. Delete the existing Mobile Applications folder (You cannot create a symbolic link to a directory that already exists on that same drive)
4. Open a Command Prompt (admin) window on your desktop. On Windows 8, this is easily done by right clicking the start icon on the bottom left of the desktop screen and selecting the Command Prompt (admin) option.
5. change directory to C:\ (i.e., enter cd c:\)
6. enter the mklink command and press enter (format mklink /d link_address target_address) for my Windows system this looked like the following:
mklink /d "C:\Users\Marv\Music\iTunes\Mobile Applications" "D:\Music\iTunes\Mobile Applications"
This command recreates the Mobile Applications folder on the C: drive in the exact place it was before, but only as a pointer to the real folder on the alternate or external drive. The link is transparent to iTunes and my 40+ GB Mobile Applications folder can be on a large drive rather than on my 256GB SSD systems/applications drive.

It requires elevation. If you find the command line application (cmd.exe), right-click, run as administrator, and paste the command, that will work.
However, this technique, which worked for me in the past, seems now to be failing. All new downloads are in the root of iTunes Media. The bizarre thing is that iTunes thinks it has put a downloaded file in the correct folder, so says it cannot play it, and if I move it manually to the correct folder, iTunes sees it without problems. I've tried mklink /d and mklink /j, neither works (the former shows the redirected target pathname, the latter behaves as if the target path is actually part of the native directory structure).

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How do I clean up iTunes Mobile Applications folder that has old versions of apps?

I am using the latest iTunes 11.0.3 on my recently new iMac. Previously I had iTunes on my MacPro. The media folder was located on one of the extra (non-boot) volumes on the MacPro (MP). When I got my iMac I changed (in the Advanced section of Preferences) the location of the media folder to point to the same folder on the MP volume as I had been using. Everything seems to work fine. I can plug in my iPhone 4s and sync which goes thru a backup step.
I was then poking around in the iTunes media folder on the MP and found that the Mobile Applications (MA) folder was full of older versions of the apps on my iPhone. They dated back to 2009, 2010 and most were 2011. A few were 2012 or 2013. I would like to get rid of the old versions as they take up space. Being that old I doubt they are useful for anything anyway. But my question is how?
I have read and searched for other threads on this topic and have not found a solution. It appears that iTunes is supposed to toss old versions into the trash. I suspect it is doing that now but for some reason has lost track of these older version. The problem here is I don't know what happened.
My inclination is to take all these app .ipa files and dump them... then do an iPhone sync and have it repopulate this MA folder. But I wasn't sure iTunes would do that. So I selected one app that is currently installed on my iPhone, found several older .ipa files in the MA folder that correspond to that app and deleted all of them. I then sync'd my iPhone and watched it go thru the Backup step. When it was done I checked my MA folder but it still had NO .ipa file for that app. Why is that? To make sure the backup step didn't place it someone unexpected, I did a system wide search for that app name (the core part of the name, not including any version numbers, etc) but it found only one match. It was old (2011) located on an all-together different MA folder so did not come from this iPhone sync.
I wish someone would clearly document what goes on during an iPhone sync when the backup location is iTunes (not iCloud). Does iTunes store the current version of each app in the MA folder? I didn't see that happen in my example above.
What does it mean to remove all .ipa files from your MA folder? It would seem that it doesn't matter EXCEPT for apps no longer available in the App Store. Otherwise I could re-install them, right?
What can I delete safely without ill consequences?
How can i indentify what to remove if I should keep the latest version around?
Help would be appreciated.
To be clear:
* I use iTunes to store my Backups, not iCloud.
* I have used Consolidate after making sure that Keep iTunes Media Folder Organizaed is checked and Copy File to iTunes Media folder is checked. It did not help here.
* Given the dates of the .ipa files in my MA folder, this problem pre-dated my recent addition of my iMac.
* I believe I'm using a new local (to my iMac) iTunes library file but my media folder is on the MP as described above. When I access iTunes app on my MP it too accesses the same media folder. It is used primarily for adding music and movies to, not iPhone apps as I now sync on the iMac.

ITunes has been a disaster for me. It is filled with all sorts of things and there is no way to reorganize any of it. I'm forced to use iTunes because I have an iPhone but the experience has convinced me that it is best to avoid Apple products and I would recommend that course for others.
The operative word here is "avoid." For products like the iPhone and iPad for which Apple has a superior product there is no choice. The problem is Apple control. That means that everything is compatible with everything else which is good. It also means that everything is limited to products that serve Apple's bottom line, which is questionable.
Hopefully, now that Apple's creative genius has sadly left us, other companies will step forward to create products that will allow us to avoid the complications of Apple. I have found iTunes to be the principal complication. iTunes regularly updates itself, practically every Sunday, and then I have to restart my computer which interrupts all the tasks that I have underway.
Despite all these updates I don't use iTunes except for the iPhone and even that is problematic. The entire experience makes me glad that I don't have an Apple since it must be very difficult for Apple users to work with Apple constantly demanding updates and restarts and proprietary software and the like.
If you're not an Apple customer, but you've been listening their hype with their execs pacing a stage clad in jeans, then read this and heed. My experience with iTunes is a warning for all. Watch out. Apple is not your friend. It's a corporation bent on control, monopoly power and coerced profiteering. We may all soon need nets to save us when Apple drives us out the window.

How to move Mobile Applications folder while sharing an Itunes library

For reasons that would be long and hard to explain, I decided some times ago to open a second user on my Book Pro dedicated to my music collection. The collection required to be stored on an external HDD, so the second user's Itunes folder links to a folder where all music is stored, and I put it with all library files (xml etc) in the Shared folder. Now I have decided to let the primary and mostly used user to share the same music of the secondary one. I easily succeeded in doing this, just simply opening the primary ITunes and ask it to link to the Itunes folder under the Shared folder. I have got my entire library also from the primary user, with covers and so on.
The trouble is that I use to manage an Iphone with the primary ITunes, and since I have not moved the Mobile Application folder (and what more?) into the shared ITunes folder, I cannot see anymore all data and applications into my IPhone section under ITunes, and I do not want to run experiments, doing a sync and just running the risk to lose all. How can I share the same ITunes library between two users, but to allow one of those still to see the IPhone data that was originally managed only from her ITunes, that now addresses to the ITunes folder under Shared folder that addresses to a HDD?.....

Still misspeaking. Further use reveals that while the users iTunes use the shared file, when the phones add new apps their iTunes recreates its iTunes Media directory in the users home folder. This time I can exit iTunes, move the apps to the shared Mobile Applications, delete and empty trash the original apps/ and folder, then the users iTunes will find the app in the shared folder when it restarts. Clearly not very tidy...

How to Move my mobile Applications Folder?

I am running our of space on my C drive and at the moment all my media (music & movies) except for my applications are on my D drive.
How do I move my default applications folder to my D Drive?
iTunes 9 by the way.
thanks in advance.

The applications are in the \Music\iTunes\Mobile applications\ folder in iTnes
Do this...
Quit iTunes.
Drag \Music\iTunes\ folder to the D: drive.
Click the icon to launch iTunes then immediately press and hold Shift and select *Choose library*.
Select the *iTunes library.itl* file in the iTunes folder you moved to the D: drive.

HELP: Duplicate copies of apps shown in Mobile Application Folder

I've poured over the "interwebs" and this forum searching for an answer, and to my surprise... I haven't found one yet! Unreal! Especially when you consider how many people have begged for a solution.
Essentially, the problem is this:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=546769
OR... if you don't feel like clicking on the link... Here is a picture:
It appears that every time an application gets updated, it creates a sequential copy of the previous one, leaving your iTunes/Mobile Applications folder filled with unneeded versions, thus increasing the size of the folder needlessly.
I found that highest numbered file is the newest, and that deleting all of the others, then renaming the existing file from IAMNINJA 6.ipa to IAMNINJA.ipa doesn't necc fix the problem because then iTunes has to be redirected to the newly renamed file. That's a LOT of work if you have a lot of apps!!
It just bothers me that I have an app folder that is 13.5 gigs in size, and could probably be cut in half!
It also bothers me that I don't think you can move that directory to a different drive? I'll have to research that one.
So, does anyone have any idea what the solution to this is??? Or are we to just live with it?
Thanks!
Jason
Message was edited by: Count Rockula

Hey TT...sorry for the long delay in following up. But you were right on the money! I ONLY download app's via my iPod because I have two iMac's... one at home and one at work. And early on, I found that unless iTunes sync set up exactly between the two computers, my sync's would be off, games removed, highest record in the world gone, etc.
So, my work around was to always manage my app's on the device and NEVER sync app's via iTunes. However, I "transfer purchases" all the time, just to make sure each computer has the same app's on it, but never sync.
So, this is why I'm seeing so many duplicates! Your answer was right on the money! Look like I can safely delete any of the renumbered ones. I don' think I need to worry about pointing iTunes the correct version, because I never use iTunes to sync app's.
If I only had one computer, then sure. But this is the only way that I can think of to make sure my device stays the way I want it, and avoid a sync messing it up.
Thanks!
Jason

Can I erase older versions of mobile apps in the mobile applications folder within iTunes folder

Can I erase older versions of mobile apps in the mobile applications folder within iTunes folder without distuebing their running in my iPhone and iPad? Thank you

should be okay.
in any event, if something happens, you can always redownload previous purchases:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store (the music feature currently works in the US only)

Mobile Applications folder missing

Hello everyone,
I am trying to acces files, which are supposed to be located inside the "Mobile Applications" folder, which should be located at
C:\Users\<username>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media.
However, this folder is missing. The only things that are present in the iTunes Media folder are:
A folder named Automatically Add to iTunes, both one in English and Dutch "(my PC language) and both are empty.
Another folder named Music, which is also empty.
A file called .iTunes Preferences.plist
No Mobile Applications folder whatsoever.
iTunes version I am using is the latest. (iTunes 12)
OS is Windows 8.1
Device I am connecting with the PC is an iPod Touch 4th Gen. (running iOS 6.1.6)
Some notes:
I have tried syncing the iPod with the computer, creating a backup at AppData, but that still did not make a folder called "Mobile Applications" appear.
I have downloaded all my apps through the iPod's App store, not through iTunes on the PC itself.
I'll appreciate any help!

If this is a new computer that the device has never synced with see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
The process of recovering transferring purchases and recovering other media should create the folder in question. In some cases it may be one level up in the iTunes folder, but that is unlikely here. The only other possibility is that you're not looking in the active media folder.
tt2

HT4928 what and where is the mobile application folder\ on the iphone 5

what and where is the mobile application folder\ on the iphone 5

You're looking at plugin settings. A plugin setting is not an Ultrabeat sample. Wrong place. Look in:
/Library/Application Support/Logic/Ultrabeat Samples/
unless you've moved it elsewhere...

I can't download an app after i deleted it from the Mobile Applications folder

Hi
I deleted an app from music - itunes - iTunes Media - Mobile Applications folder and it is not installed on my ipad. Now when i open itunes and i want to install apps from my mac to my ipad, this app appeares in the list of application that are on my mac but actually it is not there, and when i try to download it again i can't, the download button is not working.
What should i do?

What did iTunes Support say when you contacted them ? If it's been more than 48 hours since you contacted them and you haven't had a reply then contact them again.
If you haven't yet contacted them, then to do so :
- go to http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww
- click on your country's flag
- click on the Contact Support at the bottom of the left-hand column
- click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page
- then Purchases, Billing & Redemption

My MacPro says the startup disk is too full. I have 4 internal hard drives that have 2T each so there is plenty of space, but all start up programs, libraries, iTunes and application folder are on the '1st' hard drive. Can I move any to 2nd drive?

My MacPro says the startup disk is too full. I have 4 internal hard drives that have 2T each so there is plenty of space, but all start up programs, libraries, iTunes and application folder are on the '1st' hard drive. Can I move any to 2nd drive?

Your system will likely fit just fine on a small fast 250GB SSD
What you have is lots of stuff that should not be on the boot drive, data and graphics or media files and libraries that should be moved to another drive.
If you are getting a message like this, STOP, off load files, make room, and make sure to have 15% free or more.
Do not try to move anything from system and its library and sub folders. Move your home user account and just leave the essential home library but move all the rest.
A full drive can have trouble finding free space segments and writing out updates to files and to the directory. And loss of directory means loss of where files are located and their segments.

I redirected iTunes to an external drive and moved my iTunes library and folder, but my hard drive is still low on space. How can I be sure that my music is all on the external HD ONLY, especially with the new iCloud technology?

I redirected iTunes to an external drive and moved my iTunes library and folder, but my hard drive is still low on space. How can I be sure that my music is all on the external HD ONLY, especially with the new iCloud technology? It doesn't look like I created any more space by doing this, AND I totally lost all my iTunes playlists. I'm not sure if because I added old library materials manually if this messed up my playlists, or if the new location is just not reading my moved library. In any case, I followed step by step instructions and found a few holes and thought I'd just "figure it out" but I guess I'm not as smart as I thought since I'm still scratching my head many hours later.
Thanks for any support ;-)
Eaglerocker

Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder.
If this is to a new computer and you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.

Moving iTunes library on to a portable hard drive and then my new laptop?

I am getting a new PC laptop and I want to move my entire iTunes library from my old PC to a portable hard drive and then eventually put it on my new laptop.
How do I do this without loosing all my play counts, play lists etc.?

Assuming you use the iTunes default settings where iTunes copied added items to your iTunes folder and organizes your library (meaning - everything is all self contained in the iTunes folder), then all you have to do is drag & drop your iTunes folder (not just the iTunes Music folder you find inside the iTunes folder) to the external drive and copy the entire thing.
If you want to test that it worked or would like to actually start using it from that location instead, use these instructions when you start iTunes to point it to the new location...
How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
If you are just testing, then close iTunes after you verify it works, and restart iTunes again with the same instructions and point it back to your internal drive (original) location.
Additional info...
Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307074
Cheers,
Patrick

Hi, is it possible to create different application folder for a different drive?

Hi,
My OSX is 10.9.5, processor speed is 1.8GHz i5, 4 GB 1600MHz DDR3, MacBook Air Mid 2012.
I have partitioned my drive in two.
Itunes was previously saved on MAC HD, but due to lack of space i would like to shift it to MAC HD 2. So, i removed Itunes from MAC HD saved all my media on a hard drive. I downloaded the .dmg file for Itunes and would like to save it on MAC HAD 2.
I have noticed that you need drag and drop Itunes in the APPLICATIONS folder, which by default saves it on MAC HD.
THE QUESTION
CAN I MAKE AN APPLICATION FOLDER FOR MAC HD 2, SO I CAN INSTALL ITUNES ON IT OR IS THERE SOME OTHER WAY?? (IN SHORT I NEED 2 APPLICATION FOLDERS)

My OSX is 10.9.5, processor speed is 1.8GHz i5, 4 GB 1600MHz DDR3, MacBook Air Mid 2012. I have partitioned my drive in two.
That doesn't give you any more disk space. it just limits the storage on each partition to 1/2 or less of what was on the unpartitioned drive. What you need is a portable external HD like this one to put your iTunes library (and other seldom used files) on and run from there.

Moving home and application folders to a new drive

i have a couple of questions that may seem stupid, but since i do not know the answers, here they are:
- on a mac pro with two drives, can i just drag my home folder to the new drive to move it there?
- can i move the application folder into my home folder so that whenever i move my home folder to a new computer, my applications follow me without having to reinstall them? is this going to cause problems with the system library or something?
Thank you
Francesco
20" iMac Core Duo, 2GB ram, 250 GB HD Mac OS X (10.4.10)

1. No, except for creating a backup copy of your home folder. Changing the location of the active home folder requires changing the home property for your user account in the NetInfo Manager, which is located in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder, or using a symbolic link to tell Mac OS X where to find the home folder. If the NetInfo method is used, the desired path will be along the lines of /Volumes/volumename/Users/username/.
2. Only for applications you drag-copied to the Applications folder. Applications which were installed with Mac OS X or with other installation programs should be left where they are.
(22931)

Moving iTunes Library and Music to External Hard Drive...Possible?

I want to transfer my iTunes Library to an external hard drive. Is this possible and what are the pitfalls, if any?
Thanks
A.L.I

Yes it's quite possible, that's how I have mine set up, and Moving iTunes Music will tell you how to go about it.
Pitfalls? Can't really think of any.
Regards
TD

Moving iTunes Mobile Applications folder to an alternate drive

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