- Delete an iCloud backup on iPhone or iPad
- Delete a backup on a Mac or Windows PC
- What deleting does, and doesn't, do
- Be careful with your current phone
- Can't delete a backup?
- If you change your mind
- When to delete a backup
- Check the space came back
- Keep a backup somewhere
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To delete an iCloud backup on an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Storage or Manage Account Storage, and tap Backups. Choose the device and tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud. Deleting a backup also turns off iCloud Backup for that device.
Old iCloud backups are the quickest way to win back iCloud space. Backups of a phone you sold two years ago, an iPad nobody uses or a duplicate from a replacement handset can each take gigabytes of your 5 GB. Deleting them is safe, as long as you pick the right device. Here's how on iPhone, Mac and Windows, and the one setting that changes when you do it.
Delete an iCloud backup on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap iCloud.
- Tap Storage or Manage Account Storage.
- Tap Backups.
- Choose the device whose backup you want to delete.
- Tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud and confirm.
The list shows each device by name with the size of its latest backup and when it was made, so you can spot old ones easily. A backup that hasn't been updated in months almost always belongs to a device you've stopped using.
Delete a backup on a Mac or Windows PC
| Computer | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Mac | System Settings, your name, iCloud, Manage, Backups |
| Windows | iCloud for Windows, Storage, Backups |
| Any device | Select the device and delete or remove its backup |
This is handy when the old device's backup is from a phone you no longer have, because you can clear it from any computer signed in to your Apple Account.
What deleting does, and doesn't, do
- It removes that device's backup from iCloud and frees the space.
- It turns off iCloud Backup for that device. Apple notes you can turn it back on in iCloud settings.
- It doesn't delete photos in iCloud Photos, messages synced with iCloud, or files in iCloud Drive. Those are stored separately.
- It doesn't touch the device itself or what's on it.
That third point surprises people. If you use iCloud Photos, your photos aren't in the backup at all, so deleting a backup won't lose them.
Be careful with your current phone
Deleting the backup of the phone in your hand turns off its backups. If it's then lost or broken, there's nothing to restore. If you need space but want to keep backing up your current phone, shrink the backup instead: in the Backups list, tap the device and switch off backup for big apps you don't need saved. Apple describes this as a way to reduce the backup's size without deleting it.
Can't delete a backup?
Apple says a backup that's currently being used to restore a device can't be deleted. Wait until the restore finishes, then try again. If the delete option seems missing, check you're looking in Backups under your own Apple Account, not someone else's in a Family Sharing group.
If you change your mind
A deleted backup is gone. But if you simply turned off iCloud Backup without deleting, Apple keeps the last backup for 180 days, so there's time to restore from it if you need to. That's worth knowing when you set up a new phone: you can turn off backup on the old one without losing the chance to restore.
When to delete a backup
- You've sold, recycled or given away the device, and set up its replacement.
- You've got two backups for the same kind of phone and the older one is from a device you no longer use.
- Your iCloud storage is full and the backup belongs to an iPad or old phone nobody uses.
- You've moved to a different phone brand and won't restore an iPhone again.
Check the space came back
After deleting, go back to Settings, your name, iCloud and look at the storage bar. The freed space usually shows within a few minutes, though it can take a little longer to update on every device. If the bar hasn't moved after a day, restart the phone, or check your storage on iCloud.com from a computer, which often updates sooner than the phone does. Once it's updated, any iCloud storage full warnings should stop, and backups for your current phone can carry on again tonight.
Keep a backup somewhere
Whatever you delete, make sure the devices you use still have a backup somewhere, in iCloud or on a computer. A Mac can back up an iPhone through Finder, and a Windows PC through the Apple Devices app, which doesn't use any iCloud space.
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My verdict
Go to Settings, your name, iCloud, Storage, Backups, and delete backups for devices you no longer own. It's the safest big win for iCloud space, and it takes under a minute. For the phone you're still using, trim app backups rather than deleting the whole thing, because deleting also switches its backups off. And keep at least one current backup of every device you rely on.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete an iCloud backup on my iPhone?
Settings, your name, iCloud, Storage, Backups, choose the device and tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud.
Is it safe to delete old iCloud backups?
Yes, for devices you no longer use. Make sure your current devices still have a backup.
Does deleting an iCloud backup delete my photos?
No. iCloud Photos are stored separately from backups.
Does deleting a backup turn off iCloud Backup?
Yes, for that device. You can turn it back on in iCloud settings.
Why can't I delete an iCloud backup?
A backup in use for a restore can't be deleted. Wait for the restore to finish.
How long does iCloud keep a backup after I turn off backups?
Apple keeps it for 180 days.
