If you need to actually view your photos or messages from these files, you’ll need a third-party tool. Reviewers from iPhone Backup Extractor or forums like the Microsoft Community Hub suggest using specialized software to decode and extract readable data. 4. Pro Tip: Moving Backups to an External Drive

The files inside the backup folder are encrypted data fragments. They rely on specific file names and paths to function. If you rename, move, or delete files inside this folder, the backup will become corrupted and useless.

The fastest way to jump directly to the backup folder without digging through subdirectories is by using a keyboard shortcut: Press the to open the "Run" dialog box.