I have an iPhone 6s with 64 GB of storage, all of which is used. I'm using iTunes version 12.10.6.2 on a Window 10 laptop. When I try to back up my iPhone using iTunes, I get the message "iTunes could not back up the iPhone 'xxxxx' because not enough free space is available on this computer."
Why am I getting the message that there's not enough space when I know I have plenty on my laptop?
Usually when I see this issue, it's one of the following:
There's two locations for the iTunes backup folder, depending on whether you installed iTunes direct from Apple or via the Microsoft Windows 10 store.
Direct from Apple:
%appdata% (with the percents) and press return/enter. A file browser window will open to the Application Data folder.From the Windows 10 store:
1. In the Windows search bar paste %userprofile%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup and press return/enter. A file browser window will open to the iTunes backups folder.
Do you have one or both of these folders? I usually like to start by recommending renaming the existing Backup folder and making a fresh new folder named Backup (must be named exactly Backup) and seeing if that helps.
My blog post about how to find the iTunes backup folders: https://deciphertools.com/blog/where-are-iphone-backups/ (Obvious disclaimer: I'm linking to myself as a reference.)
I have more suggestions about fixing an error making a backup here https://deciphertools.com/blog/fix-iphone-backup-corrupt/ under the section "iPhone Backup Corrupt or Not Compatible - Can't Back Up" There's tips about errors restoring a backup as well, but please don't try those for this issue!
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ did not fix the issue sadly.
Commented
Apr 13 at 17:32
Here's a fun corollary to Kelly's answer:
Yes, the error's wording is completely wrong in this case. It says it's your computer that's lacking space, but, if you check Settings >> General >> iPhone (or iPad) Storage and it's almost full, it could be your iOS device.
Just had it happen again... I followed the accepted answer, still no love, even tried installing iTunes as admin and running it as admin by right clicking and saying, well, run as admin, no dice. Tried on the D:\ drive, even though both C:\ and D:\ have over 150 gigs free and it's a 32 gig iPad. I get the "not enough free space on your computer" error complete with unhelpful "emptying the Recycle Bin" message.
Vaguely recalled this happening before, deleted a few gigs of stuff from the iPad, and now all is happy. I just completed an encrypted local backup.
Again, the error said my computer didn't have enough hard drive space & said to empty the recycle bin, etc. But it was, indeed, the iOS device that needed free space for the backup to execute.
I had the same issue, trying to back up an iphone 6s, which was almost full (32GB). First tried cleaning up my mac, no luck. Then moving the location where the backup would be made to another bigger drive. Although that process worked, I got the same error.
So next, I tried to create the backup on another mac, brandnew M1 pro. Same error, then on a PC. Same error.
Then I tried a different cable. Instead of the (perfectly fine, for all other purposes but backing up) offical Apple usb-lighting cable, I uses a usb-lighting cable, and plugged the usb-c directly into my M1 Macbook Pro (not using a usb hub). And then everything worked smoothly.
Hope this experience might help some people.
