Moving iTunes 'Application Data' folder

[ukahg]

Hello everybody,

I'm new on here but hope someone will be able to help with an iTunes question...

We use roaming profiles and the Application Data folder is stored on a network drive with restricted space (500MB). This has not been a problem in the past but since we've been rolling out iPad's & iPhones, this restriction is becoming a problem as iTunes download's ios updates and stores device backups in 'application data\apple computers' folder (and not in the media library).

Does anyone know how we can move this 'application data\apple computers' folder to another location or force iTunes to store the downloads/updates in the media library (which can be moved)?

Thanks very much in advance for any help.

Cheers,
Alan

 

[GGJstudios]

Hello everybody,

I'm new on here but hope someone will be able to help with an iTunes question...

We use roaming profiles and the Application Data folder is stored on a network drive with restricted space (500MB). This has not been a problem in the past but since we've been rolling out iPad's & iPhones, this restriction is becoming a problem as iTunes download's ios updates and stores device backups in 'application data\apple computers' folder (and not in the media library).

Does anyone know how we can move this 'application data\apple computers' folder to another location or force iTunes to store the downloads/updates in the media library (which can be moved)?

Thanks very much in advance for any help.

Cheers,
Alan

You don't need to move the Applications Data folder, and you shouldn't, as it can cause some apps to fail to function properly.

Instead, go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced and change your iTunes Media folder location to reflect where you moved your Media folder.

 

[ukahg]

Thanks for the reply but iOS update downloads & device backups are not saved/stored in the media folder (which is easy to move).

The iOS update downloads & device backups are stored in the "application data\apple computers", which is causing the problem with quota limits.

Cheers,
Alan

 

[spacepower7]

I think I know what your are talking about, at least on a single system.

On a single system, iTunes wants to save the backups and iOS updates in the user's home/library/..... regardless of where the iTunes library file and and iTunes media are stored ie external hard drive.

This is a problem if the internal/boot drive needs to be replaced, and the directory containing the backups and updates can't be salvaged, then the iOS device has to be wiped. The device thinks it is connecting to a new computer even though iTunes has all the apps, media, playlists, play counts, song ratings etc, iTunes account data on the external drive.

In your situation, with the 500mb limit, the only workarounds would be to have the iOS devices back up to iCloud rather than the computer, but that might violate your security policies. Also ios 5.0 and above can get iOS updates directly to the device, so there is no need to store that in the 500mb. But problems could arise if users don't know how to do the over the air iOS updates, and who knows what will happen when iOS 6 comes out.

Sometimes it seems like Apple never really thought some of this through.

 

[GGJstudios]

Thanks for the reply but iOS update downloads & device backups are not saved/stored in the media folder (which is easy to move).

The iOS update downloads & device backups are stored in the "application data\apple computers", which is causing the problem with quota limits.

Cheers,
Alan

Why are you talking about iOS? This forum is "Mac Applications and Mac App Store". If you're asking questions about iOS, you should be asking in the appropriate forum for your iPhone/iPad/iPod.

 

[ukahg]

Why are you talking about iOS? This forum is "Mac Applications and Mac App Store". If you're asking questions about iOS, you should be asking in the appropriate forum for your iPhone/iPad/iPod.

If you read the initial post, you will find that this is about iTunes and not about iOS. iOS update downloads contribute to an issue in iTunes, as are device backups but it remains a problem with iTunes.