How to Delete Backups From iCloud (And What to Know Before You Do)
iCloud backups are one of those things that quietly pile up in the background — consuming storage you're paying for, from devices you no longer even own. Knowing how to find, manage, and delete them is a basic iCloud skill, and the process is more nuanced than most people expect.
What iCloud Backups Actually Store
Before deleting anything, it helps to understand what you're looking at.
An iCloud backup captures a snapshot of your iPhone or iPad — including app data, device settings, messages, photos (if not separately synced), and more. iCloud stores these backups per device, and each backup is tied to a specific Apple ID.
Critically: iCloud backups are different from iCloud Drive files and iCloud Photos. Deleting a device backup doesn't touch your photos stored in iCloud Photos, your documents in iCloud Drive, or your contacts synced through iCloud. These are separate systems.
This is the most common point of confusion, and it matters a lot before you start deleting.
How to Delete an iCloud Backup From Your iPhone or iPad
The most direct route is through your device's Settings:
- Open Settings
- Tap your name at the top (your Apple ID)
- Tap iCloud
- Scroll down and tap Manage Account Storage (on newer iOS versions) or Manage Storage
- Tap Backups
- Select the device backup you want to delete
- Tap Delete Backup and confirm
You'll see a list of all devices that have backed up to your iCloud account. Each entry shows the device name, the size of the backup, and when it was last created. This is where you can identify backups from old iPhones, iPads, or even devices you no longer own.
How to Delete iCloud Backups From a Mac
If you prefer to manage iCloud storage from your Mac:
- Open System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (earlier versions)
- Click your Apple ID
- Select iCloud
- Click Manage (bottom right of the storage bar)
- Select Backups from the left sidebar
- Choose the backup and click Delete
On older macOS versions, the path may vary slightly, but the general structure is the same.
How to Delete iCloud Backups From iCloud.com
You can also manage backups from any web browser:
- Go to icloud.com and sign in
- Click your name/profile icon in the top right
- Select Manage iCloud Storage or go to Account Settings
- Under Backups, select the device backup to remove
⚠️ Note: iCloud.com's interface is updated periodically. The exact menu layout may shift slightly between visits, but the storage management section is consistently accessible from your account settings.
What Happens When You Delete a Backup
When you delete a device backup from iCloud, the following happens:
- The stored snapshot of that device is permanently removed from iCloud
- Automatic backups for that device are turned off — this is important
- Your iCloud storage is freed up immediately
- The device itself is unaffected — nothing is deleted from the phone or tablet
If you delete the backup for a device you're still actively using, that device will stop backing up to iCloud automatically until you re-enable it in Settings under iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up This iPhone.
The Variables That Affect How Much Storage You Reclaim 💾
Not all iCloud backups are the same size, and how much space you recover depends on several factors:
| Variable | What It Affects |
|---|---|
| Number of apps backed up | More apps = larger backup |
| App data size | Games, messaging apps with media histories, and productivity apps can balloon backups |
| Messages and attachments | If iMessages aren't synced separately, they're included in the backup |
| Photos backup setting | If iCloud Photos is enabled, photos are excluded from the device backup; if not, they're included |
| Device age | Older devices may have accumulated years of app data |
A backup from an actively used iPhone can range from under 1 GB to well over 10 GB depending on these factors.
Old Device Backups: A Common Space Drain
One of the biggest sources of wasted iCloud storage is backups from devices you no longer use. When you upgrade to a new iPhone, your old device's backup typically remains in iCloud indefinitely — it doesn't auto-delete.
Checking the Backups section in Manage Storage often reveals devices from years ago. These are generally safe to delete if you no longer own or need to restore that device.
When Deleting a Backup Might Not Be the Right Move
Before deleting, consider:
- Are you mid-setup or restoring a device? Deleting during this process can interrupt it
- Is this the only backup for a device you actively use? You'd lose the ability to restore if something goes wrong
- Are your messages and app data backed up another way? If not, the backup may be holding data that isn't stored anywhere else
The right answer depends on which devices you're managing, whether iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive are handling your key data separately, and how much overlap exists between your backup and other sync systems. Every Apple ID setup is a little different — and that setup is the piece only you can evaluate.