Deleting old iCloud backups is straightforward, and you can do it from your iPhone, Mac, or via a web browser. Below are simple, step-by-step paths for each method. What you’ll need to know
- You can delete backups for old devices you no longer use or want to back up.
- Deleting a backup will free up iCloud storage, but it won’t affect data on your current devices unless you specifically turn off backups for them.
On iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name at the top to access Apple ID settings.
- Tap iCloud, then Manage Storage (or iCloud Storage on some iOS versions).
- Tap Backups.
- You’ll see a list of devices with backups. Tap the device backup you want to delete.
- Tap Delete Backup, then confirm (you may need to choose Turn Off & Delete or Delete Backup depending on your iOS version).
On Mac
- Click the Apple menu, choose System Settings (Ventura and newer) or System Preferences (Monterey and earlier).
- Click your Apple ID, then iCloud, then Manage (or Manage Storage).
- Click Backups.
- Select a device backup you want to remove, then click Delete or the minus/Remove button, and confirm.
From iCloud on the web
- Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
- Open Settings.
- In My Devices or Backups area, select the device backup you want to remove.
- Click or confirm to Delete Backup (or Turn Off & Delete, depending on the interface).
- Confirm the deletion.
Tips and caveats
- If a device is actively backing up, you may need to turn off iCloud Backup for that device first, then delete the backup.
- Deleting backups does not delete existing photos, documents, or app data stored in iCloud Drive or other apps’ data; it only removes the device-specific backup snapshot.
- If you’re using a family sharing setup, backups are per Apple ID, so delete backups only for the account you manage.
If you’d like, tell me which device you’re using (iPhone, Mac, or web) and your current iOS/macOS version, and I’ll tailor the steps to match the exact screens you’ll see.
