Old iPhone and iPad backups can take up several gigabytes—or much more—on a Mac. You can remove them from Finder on newer versions of macOS, or from iTunes if you use an older macOS version. Before deleting anything, make sure you no longer need the backup and keep at least one recent backup if you may need to restore your device.
Quick Answer
To remove an iPhone or iPad backup from a Mac:
- Connect the iPhone or iPad to the Mac, or open the backup-management screen if it is available without a connection.
- Open Finder and select the device under Locations.
- Click Manage Backups.
- Select an old backup, click the action button, choose Delete, and confirm.
On older macOS versions, use iTunes > Settings or iTunes > Preferences, open the Devices tab, select a backup, and click Delete Backup.
Before You Delete an iPhone or iPad Backup
An iPhone or iPad backup is a stored copy of device data. Depending on how the backup was created, it may contain settings, app data, messages, photos, and other information that is not currently synced elsewhere.
Deleting a backup is generally permanent. The backup will no longer be available if you later need to restore the device from that specific point in time.
Before continuing:
- Keep the newest backup unless you are certain you do not need it.
- Check whether the backup belongs to a device you still use.
- Confirm that important photos, files, contacts, and messages exist on the device or in another backup.
- Do not delete a backup while an iPhone or iPad is being backed up.
- Make sure you have enough time to complete the process if you are also creating a new backup.
If you use your Mac for other backups, deleting an iPhone or iPad backup does not delete your Mac’s Time Machine backups. For help recovering Mac files, see How to Restore Files from a Time Machine Backup.
Remove an iPhone or iPad Backup in Finder
Finder manages iPhone and iPad backups on newer macOS versions. You may need to connect the device with a USB cable before the backup controls appear.
1. Connect your iPhone or iPad
Connect the device to your Mac with a compatible USB cable.
If prompted, unlock the device and tap Trust or Trust This Computer. Enter the device passcode when requested. If the Mac asks whether you want to allow the connected device, approve the request.
You can sometimes manage backups without keeping the device connected, but connecting it is the most reliable way to access the correct settings.
2. Open Finder and select the device
Open Finder from the Dock or the Applications folder.
In the Finder sidebar, look under Locations and select your iPhone or iPad. If the sidebar is hidden, choose View > Show Sidebar from the menu bar.
The device may appear by its name, such as “John’s iPhone,” or by its model name.
3. Open the backup list
Select the General tab if it is not already selected. In the Backups section, click Manage Backups.
A window will display the local iPhone and iPad backups stored on the Mac. The list may include backups for multiple devices.
Review the device name and backup date carefully. Do not select a backup until you are sure it is the one you want to remove.
4. Delete the old backup
Select the backup you no longer need, then click the action button. Depending on the macOS interface, this may appear as a small button with additional options.
Choose Delete, then confirm the deletion.
Warning: Deleting a backup removes it from the Mac. Do not close the window or disconnect the device while the deletion is in progress.
Repeat these steps for any other outdated backups you want to remove.
5. Close the backup window
When finished, click Done or close the backup-management window. You can then eject the iPhone or iPad from Finder before disconnecting it.
To eject the device, click the eject icon next to its name in the Finder sidebar. Wait for it to disappear before unplugging the cable.
Remove iPhone and iPad Backups from Finder Settings
Depending on your macOS version, you may be able to view local device backups through Finder settings instead of connecting the device.
- Open Finder.
- Choose Finder > Settings from the menu bar.
- Click General or Devices, depending on the available tabs.
- Look for a list of stored backups or device data.
- Select the backup you want to remove.
- Click Delete or use the available action button.
- Confirm the deletion.
The exact layout can vary between macOS versions. If you do not see a backup list in Finder settings, connect the iPhone or iPad and use the device’s General tab instead.
Remove an iPhone or iPad Backup in iTunes
Older macOS versions use iTunes to manage local iPhone and iPad backups. If iTunes is installed on your Mac, use these steps.
- Open iTunes.
- Choose iTunes > Settings or iTunes > Preferences from the menu bar.
- Click the Devices tab.
- Select the backup you want to delete.
- Click Delete Backup.
- Confirm when prompted.
- Click OK or close the settings window.
Check the backup date and device name before clicking Delete Backup. If you delete the wrong backup, it may not be recoverable through iTunes.
Find Out How Much Space iPhone Backups Use
You can check available storage before and after deleting backups.
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner.
- Choose System Settings.
- Click General.
- Select Storage.
On some macOS versions, the path is Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage.
The storage screen may categorize device backups separately, or they may appear under a broader category such as Documents or Other. Storage totals may not update immediately after deletion. Wait a few moments, then reopen the storage view if necessary.
You can also use Finder to inspect the Mac’s storage folders, but avoid deleting files manually unless you know exactly what they are. A folder that looks like a device backup may contain active data used by macOS or another application.
Where Local iPhone Backups Are Stored
Local iPhone and iPad backups are usually stored in your user Library folder. The Library folder is hidden by default to prevent accidental changes.
To open the backup location:
- Open Finder.
- Choose Go > Go to Folder from the menu bar.
- Enter:
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
- Press Return.
You may see folders with long strings of letters and numbers rather than recognizable device names. These folders contain backup data and should not be deleted casually.
Should You Delete Backup Folders Manually?
Manual deletion is usually unnecessary. Finder or iTunes is safer because it can identify the backups and remove them through the supported interface.
If you delete a backup folder manually, you could:
- Remove the wrong device backup.
- Leave incomplete backup data behind.
- Make the backup list inaccurate until macOS refreshes it.
- Delete a backup you still need.
- Lose the ability to restore the device from that backup.
Use Finder or iTunes whenever possible.
Use Terminal to Inspect Backup Storage
Terminal is useful when you want to confirm whether the local backup directory exists or see how much space it uses. It is not the preferred way to delete backups.
Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities, then run:
du -sh ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup
This command reports the total size of the local iPhone and iPad backup folder. It does not delete or modify anything.
To list the backup folders and their sizes, run:
du -sh ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup/*
The folders may have unreadable-looking names because they are identified internally rather than labeled with the device name.
Safe Reversal
These commands only read storage information, so there is nothing to reverse. If you decide to remove a backup, return to Finder or iTunes and delete it from the backup-management screen.
Avoid commands such as rm -rf for this task. They can permanently delete files without the confirmation and device identification provided by Finder or iTunes.
Troubleshooting
The iPhone or iPad does not appear in Finder
Try the following:
- Unlock the device.
- Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable.
- Try another cable or USB port.
- Approve the Trust This Computer prompt.
- Restart the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Make sure Finder’s sidebar is visible by choosing View > Show Sidebar.
- Look under Locations, not Favorites.
If the device charges but does not appear, the cable may support charging but not data transfer.
The backup list is empty
An empty list may mean that:
- The Mac has no local backups.
- The backups are stored on another Mac.
- The device was backed up to iCloud instead of this Mac.
- The backup folder was moved or deleted.
- You are viewing a different Mac user account.
iCloud backups are managed from the device or through iCloud settings, not from Finder’s local backup list. Deleting a local backup from your Mac does not remove an iCloud backup.
The Delete option is unavailable
Make sure you selected a backup in the list rather than the device name or an empty area. If the control remains unavailable, close and reopen Finder, reconnect the device, and try again.
A backup may also be in use if a backup or restore operation is currently running. Wait for that process to finish before deleting anything.
The Mac’s free space did not increase
Storage information may take time to refresh. Try these steps:
- Close the backup-management window.
- Quit and reopen Finder.
- Open System Settings > General > Storage again.
- Restart the Mac if the storage total still looks unchanged.
If you manually moved backup files to the Trash, emptying the Trash may be necessary before the space becomes available. Warning: Emptying the Trash permanently removes all items currently there, not just the backup files.
Finder asks for a password
Your Mac may request an administrator password when changing protected data or settings. Enter the password for an administrator account only if you started the deletion yourself and recognize the prompt.
You deleted the wrong backup
Stop using the Mac for backup changes and check whether another copy exists. If the backup was also included in a Mac backup system, such as Time Machine, you may be able to recover it from there. Do not restore files over the existing backup folder unless you know which folder belongs to the device and date you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting an iPhone backup delete data from the iPhone?
No. Deleting a local backup removes the stored copy from the Mac. It does not delete the apps, photos, messages, or other data currently on the iPhone or iPad.
Does deleting a local backup delete an iCloud backup?
No. Local backups and iCloud backups are separate. Deleting one does not automatically delete the other.
How many iPhone backups should I keep?
Keep at least one recent backup for each device you may need to restore. You may want to keep an older backup as well if you recently changed devices, installed an important update, or need to preserve an earlier state.
Can I delete backups for an iPhone I no longer own?
Yes, if you are certain you will not need to restore that device or recover data from it. Review the backup name and date before deleting it.
Why are iPhone backups so large?
Backups can include app data, messages, settings, photos, and other local content. Their size depends on what is stored on the device and what is already synced elsewhere.
Can I move iPhone backups to an external drive?
Moving the backup folder requires care because Finder and iTunes expect backups in a specific location. A simple drag-and-drop move may cause future backups or restores to fail. Unless you understand symbolic links and backup paths, deleting unnecessary backups is safer than relocating them manually.
Final Thoughts
The safest way to remove old iPhone and iPad backups from a Mac is to use Finder’s Manage Backups window or iTunes’ Devices tab. Confirm the device and date before deleting, keep a recent backup when possible, and avoid manually removing unfamiliar folders from the hidden Library folder.