Where does iTunes save iOS updates?

Question

When I choose to install a new version of iOS on my device via iTunes, the installation file is huge (e.g. 750 MB). Where does iTunes save this file, and does it get deleted after the installation is done?

I was told elsewhere (https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/371215/how-to-fix-itunes-downloading-ios-update-but-not-installing) that someone's update was four gigabytes (not 750 MB). Mine was 3585 MB and took over an hour to download. — WGroleau, Sep 28 '19 at 22:02
On Win10 the location for me was C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Packages\AppleInc.iTunes_nzyj5cx40ttqa\LocalCache\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates — rupweb, Jul 14 '20 at 13:29

score 43 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 20 '21 at 00:18

43

On Windows XP
Documents and Settings\<User>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

On Windows Vista/Windows 7
Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

Windows 8/10 \Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\

Windows 10 (latest) C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\AppleInc.iTunes_nzyj5cx40ttqa\LocalCache\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

On Mac
~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates

I believe that the updates do not delete after they are installed.

Via this iPhone FAQ article.

edited Oct 20 '21 at 00:18

Dawn Pawn

3

answered Apr 23 '12 at 01:19

Kobi Tate

671

I have only 5.1 there, so I am guessing the previous ones are deleted when a new one is downloaded. – GEdgar Apr 23 '12 at 13:32
Where is it stored in windows 8? – Aug 26 '13 at 07:40
and for iPad the path is ~/Library/iTunes/iPad Software Updates/ – Durai Amuthan.H Apr 10 '14 at 13:31
Is it safe to remove these (update) installation files? I just upgraded my iPad and iPod to iOS 8 and am running very low on disk space on my Mac. – Dust_In_The_Wind Sep 18 '14 at 21:17
Yes, these are only where your Mac stores the files used to update your device. – Kobi Tate Sep 19 '14 at 01:31

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 16 '13 at 21:39

5

On Mac, you can delete the iOS firmware by going to Finder, pressing ⌘ cmd + ⇧ shift + G and go to ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates. From there, you can delete the files.

You don't have to delete them unless you are short on disk space, as they get replaced by newly downloaded files whenever there is an upgrade.

edited Oct 16 '13 at 21:39

grg

201,078

answered Sep 30 '13 at 01:03

manzarhaq

51

score -2 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 09 '13 at 22:38

-2

C:\ProgramData\Apple Computer\iTunes

answered Apr 09 '13 at 22:38

KPR

1

Where does iTunes save iOS updates?

3 Answers3

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