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How to Delete Old iCloud Backups
Old device backups are one of the biggest hidden storage consumers in iCloud. If you have upgraded iPhones over the years, your old device backups are probably still sitting there using 5-15 GB each. Here is how to find and safely remove them.
How to Delete Old iCloud Backups (6 Steps)
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Open Settings
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone. This process can be done from any device signed into the same Apple ID, but it is simplest from your iPhone.
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Tap your name at the top
Tap your name and Apple ID profile picture at the very top of the Settings screen. This opens your Apple ID settings, where you manage iCloud, subscriptions, and account security.
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Go to iCloud, then Manage Account Storage
Tap iCloud. You will see an overview of your iCloud storage with a color-coded bar at the top. Below it, tap Manage Account Storage. On older iOS versions, this button may say "Manage Storage" instead. This screen shows a detailed breakdown of everything using your iCloud storage.
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Tap Backups
In the storage breakdown, tap Backups. You will now see a list of every device backup stored in your iCloud account. Each entry shows the device name, the backup size, and when it was last backed up. Look for devices you no longer own -- these are typically listed with older names like "John's iPhone 11" or "iPad (5th generation)."
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Select the old device backup
Tap the backup for the old device you want to remove. A details screen appears showing what is included in the backup: a list of apps and their data sizes, the total backup size, and the last backup date. Review this information to confirm it is indeed an old device you no longer use.
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Tap Delete Backup and confirm
Scroll to the bottom of the details screen and tap Delete Backup. A confirmation dialog appears -- tap Turn Off & Delete. The backup is removed immediately. Go back to the iCloud storage overview to verify the freed space. Repeat for any other old device backups you want to remove.
What Is Safe to Delete (and What Is Not)
Safe to delete
- Backups for devices you have sold, traded in, or recycled. These backups cannot be used for anything since you no longer have the device.
- Backups for devices stored in a drawer that you will never set up again.
- Old iPad backups for iPads you no longer use.
Think twice before deleting
- Your current device's backup. Deleting this turns off iCloud Backup entirely for your device. If something happens to your phone, you will not have a cloud restore point. Only do this if you back up to a computer regularly instead.
- A device you might set up again. If you have an old iPhone that a family member might use, keeping its backup lets you restore it with all data intact during setup.
How to Reduce Your Current Backup Size
After removing old backups, you may want to shrink your current device's backup to free up even more iCloud space. Here is how:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups
- Tap your current device
- Review the list of apps sorted by backup data size
- Toggle off apps that store large amounts of non-essential data
Apps to consider excluding from backup
- WhatsApp -- often stores 5-10+ GB of chat media. WhatsApp has its own iCloud backup system, so excluding it from the device backup avoids duplication.
- Podcast apps -- downloaded episodes can easily total 2-5 GB. All episodes can be re-downloaded after a restore.
- Streaming apps (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube) -- downloaded offline content adds up. It can all be re-downloaded.
- Games -- some games have multi-gigabyte save files or assets. Many modern games sync progress via Game Center independently.
- Navigation apps -- offline maps (Google Maps, Apple Maps) can be re-downloaded after a restore.
After toggling off unnecessary apps, your next iCloud backup will be smaller. The change takes effect on the next automatic backup (which happens nightly when your phone is charging, locked, and on Wi-Fi).
Alternative: Back Up to Your Computer Instead
If iCloud storage is a constant struggle, consider backing up your iPhone to your computer instead. This uses your computer's storage (which is typically much larger) and does not count against your iCloud plan.
On Mac (macOS Catalina or later)
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable
- Open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar
- Click Back Up Now
- Check Encrypt local backup to include passwords, Health data, and Wi-Fi settings
On Windows
- Install and open iTunes (or Apple Devices app on Windows 11)
- Connect your iPhone with a cable
- Click the iPhone icon, then click Back Up Now
- Enable Encrypt local backup for a complete backup
Computer backups are complete and do not require iCloud storage. The downside is that they are only as current as your last manual backup, whereas iCloud backs up automatically every night.
Smaller Library = Smaller Backups
The fewer unnecessary photos on your phone, the smaller your backups will be. Use Swype Photo Cleaner to quickly review and delete photos you no longer need. Swipe left to delete, right to keep.
Download Swype FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete old iCloud backups?
Yes, for devices you no longer own or use. The backup was only useful for restoring that specific device. If you have traded in, sold, or recycled the old iPhone or iPad, the backup serves no purpose and can be safely deleted. The only backup you should be cautious about deleting is the one for your current device -- removing it also turns off iCloud Backup, leaving you without an automatic cloud restore point.
Will deleting backup delete my photos?
No -- if you use iCloud Photos (which most people do). iCloud Backup and iCloud Photos are completely separate systems. Your photos stored in iCloud Photos are not affected when you delete any iCloud backup. Even if you do not use iCloud Photos, deleting a backup only removes the backup copy -- photos on your current device are always unaffected. The key thing to understand: iCloud Photos syncs photos independently of iCloud Backup.
How to reduce iCloud backup size?
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups > [Your Device]. You will see a list of apps included in your backup with their data sizes. Toggle off apps with large data that you do not need backed up: podcast apps (downloaded episodes), streaming apps (offline content), games with large save files, and especially WhatsApp (which often stores 5-10 GB of chat media in the backup). Your next automatic backup will be significantly smaller.
Why do I have multiple iCloud backups?
Each Apple device with iCloud Backup enabled creates its own separate backup in your iCloud account. Over the years, as you upgrade iPhones and iPads, each old device leaves behind a backup. Old backups are never automatically deleted -- they persist until you manually remove them. This is why many people with multiple previous devices find their iCloud storage mysteriously full. Checking the Backups section and removing old device backups is the fastest fix.