Apple Devices app on Windows fails to find my Apple device backups

I have backed up my iPhone on my Windows machine. When I launch the Apple Devices app, it says that the iPhone has never been backed up and the "Manage backups" button is grayed out. Yet the iMazing app shows that the backups are there.


Backups via Apple Devices used to work.


It is probably worth noting that C:\Users\<my ID>\Apple\MobileSync\Backup is a junction link to a folder on another device (with much more space than C:). However, Windows Explorer has no trouble navigating to that folder.


Moreover, if I back up the phone manually using Apple Devices, the backup appears to work fine, in the sense that it takes time, and it writes files into the folder that is a target of that junction link. It is just a matter of Apple Devices failing to report that any backups exist for this iPhone.


iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on May 21, 2025 07:47 AM

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3 replies

May 25, 2025 09:31 PM in response to arkoenig

Re: "Apple Devices app on Windows fails to find my Apple device backups"


Seems there are more ways than one to locate back ups:

Eg you can:

"Locate backups manually or using iTunes

Find backups stored on your PC

  1. Press Windows + R key.
  2. In the Run window, type %USERPROFILE% if you’re using the Apple Devices app or iTunes from the Microsoft Store. Type %AppData% if iTunes shows Help > Check for Updates and you are not using the Apple Devices app."


Above comes from Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support which also provides the steps to follow if using Apple Devices.

May 26, 2025 06:28 AM in response to brbo

The problem is not that I have misinformed Apple Devices about the location of my backups. The way I know this is that when I ask it to back up my iPhone or iPad, (a) It runs for much less time than it would take to back up the entire device, (b) It writes new files into the folder where the backups are located, (c) the iMazing app has no trouble locating this new backup, and nevertheless (d) after Apple Devices has finished, it *still* reports that the device has never been backed up.


FWIW I have demonstrated this problem to Apple Support, which has opened a support case.

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Apple Devices app on Windows fails to find my Apple device backups

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