How To Erase iTunes Backups | Free Up Gigabytes

Find and delete iOS backups in the Finder or iTunes backup manager: connect your device, open the General or Devices tab, select the backup, and click Delete.

Old iOS backups can quietly pile up, taking dozens of gigabytes on a drive that needs the space. This guide covers how to erase iTunes backups on modern Macs using Finder and on older systems using regular iTunes, along with the manual folder path for a complete cleanup.

The whole process takes about thirty seconds once you know where to look.

Delete Backups Using Finder (macOS Ventura and Later)

On modern Macs running macOS Ventura or later, Finder handles device connections, and the backup deletion screen lives under the General tab.

1. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the Mac.
2. Open Finder.
3. Select the device under the Locations section.
4. Click the General tab, then click Manage Backups.
5. In the list of backups, right-click the one you want to erase and choose Delete.
6. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Success state: The backup disappears from the list immediately, and its stored data is removed.

Apple’s official guide to locating and managing backups recommends this method to maintain data integrity.

Delete Backups Using iTunes (Older macOS and Windows)

On Windows PCs or older Macs where iTunes is still the primary sync tool, device backups live inside the Preferences menu under the Devices tab.

1. Open iTunes.
2. On Mac, click iTunes > Preferences. On Windows, click Edit > Preferences.
3. Click the Devices tab.
4. Select the backup you want to erase from the list.
5. Click Delete Backup.
6. Confirm the deletion.

Success state: The backup entry vanishes from the Devices pane. If the backup was encrypted, iTunes will prompt you to enter the password before allowing the deletion.

On Windows, the Apple Devices app (available from the Microsoft Store) has largely replaced iTunes for newer devices. The process is nearly identical to the Finder method described above.

Method Comparison at a Glance

Manually Delete the Backup Folder (Mac and PC)

If the backup manager fails to delete a stubborn backup, or you want to bypass the interface entirely, you can navigate to the backup folder and delete it manually.

On Mac:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go in the menu bar, then Go to Folder.
3. Paste

   ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

   and click Go.

4. Find the folder matching your device identifier and move it to the Trash.

Success state: The backup folder is removed from your system. Empty the Trash to reclaim the space.

On Windows:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type

   %APPDATA%

   or

   %USERPROFILE%

   and press Enter. (The correct variable depends on whether you use the Microsoft Store or older desktop version of iTunes.)

3. Navigate to Apple Computer > MobileSync > Backup.
4. Delete the relevant backup folder.

Success state: The backup folder is removed. Empty the Recycle Bin to free up the space.

What About iCloud Backups?

A local Finder or iTunes backup is stored on the computer, while an iCloud backup lives on Apple’s servers and is managed from the device itself. If your goal is to clear space on your computer, deleting an iCloud backup will not help. Conversely, erasing a local backup does nothing to your iCloud storage.

To delete an iCloud backup, open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups, tap the device, and tap Delete Backup.

Common Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

The Delete Sequence That Works Every Time

The fastest route to reclaiming space taken by old device backups is the Finder or iTunes Backup Manager: connect your device, open the General tab (or Devices tab in iTunes), select the backup, and click Delete. For a bulk cleanup or if a backup refuses to delete through the interface, the manual folder path gives you direct control without the dialogue windows. Just make sure you distinguish local from iCloud backups—removing the wrong one is the only real risk in the process, and checking the device name and date before hitting Delete is all it takes to avoid it.