How To Erase Old iPhone Backups | Reclaim iCloud Space

To erase an old iPhone backup from iCloud, open Settings, tap your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup, select the device, and tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud.

That old iPhone backup from a device you traded in two years ago still sits in iCloud, quietly eating 2–10 GB of space. The fix for how to erase old iPhone backups is in Settings, takes about ten seconds, and leaves every photo, message, and contact untouched. The menu path has shifted in recent iOS versions, so the steps below match the current layout on iPhone, Mac, and Windows.

Why Bother Deleting Old iPhone Backups?

Every device you have ever backed up to iCloud keeps a copy there until you remove it. That iPhone you sold, the iPad your kid outgrew — each backup still counts against your storage. iCloud gives you 5 GB free, and once that fills up, backups either stop running or start costing you monthly. Deleting stale backups is the fastest way to reclaim space without paying for more.

The most common situation: a user checks iCloud storage, sees it full, and realizes the culprit is a backup for a phone they no longer own. Apple stores backups by device name, so you can pick exactly which one to remove.

Erasing Old iPhone Backups: iPhone, Mac, and Windows Instructions

The steps differ slightly across devices, but Apple has unified the deletion flow in recent software versions. Whichever device you use, the result is the same — the old backup is permanently removed from iCloud.

On iPhone or iPad (iOS 16 and Later)

Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Tap iCloud, then iCloud Backup. A list of every device backed up to your account appears — tap the name of the old device whose backup you want gone. On the next screen, tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud, then confirm by tapping Turn Off and Delete again. The backup vanishes from the list, and the device name drops into a “Backups Turned Off” section below.

If you don’t see the backup under iCloud Backup, try the alternate path: Settings > your name > iCloud > Storage or Manage Account Storage > Backups. Once you reach the Backups list, the same select-and-delete flow applies. Apple’s official iCloud backup management page confirms both routes.

On a Mac (macOS Ventura and Later)

Click the Apple menu at the top left and choose System Settings. Click your name at the top of the sidebar, then click iCloud. Click Manage (near the storage bar), then click Backups. Select the old device backup from the list and click the remove (−) button. Confirm the deletion in the dialog that appears. You will see the backup disappear from the list and your iCloud storage update to reflect the reclaimed space.

On Windows

Open iCloud for Windows (download it from the Microsoft Store if needed). Click Storage, then click Backups. Select the device whose backup you want to remove and click Delete. Confirm when prompted. The backup is gone from the list and your available iCloud space ticks upward.

What Happens When You Delete an iCloud Backup?

Deleting a backup is permanent — Apple does not offer a recovery option. Here is what the action does and does not affect:

• Does affect: iCloud storage space. That backup’s data is freed immediately.
• Does not affect: Anything currently on the device that made the backup. Photos, messages, contacts, and settings stay exactly where they are.
• Does affect: The ability to restore that specific backup to a device. If you delete it, you cannot use it for a future restore.
• Does affect: iCloud Backup for that device — it turns off as part of the deletion flow. If you want future backups, you must toggle it back on manually.

A common misunderstanding is that deleting a backup also deletes photos or messages stored in iCloud. It does not. iCloud Backup is a separate system from iCloud Photos and iCloud Messages — removing a device backup leaves your other iCloud data untouched.

iPhone Backup Deletion Methods Compared

Deleting Local Backups vs. iCloud Backups

Not all old iPhone backups live in iCloud. If you have ever connected your iPhone to a computer and used Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows or older macOS), a local backup may be sitting on that computer’s hard drive. These are completely separate from iCloud backups and must be deleted through different tools.

On a Mac

Open Finder — Apple replaced iTunes with Finder on macOS Catalina and later. Connect your iPhone or select it under Locations. Click General at the top, then click Manage Backups. A list of every local backup on that Mac appears. Select the old one and click Delete Backup, then confirm.

On Windows

Open the Apple Devices app, which Microsoft recommends as the replacement for iTunes on Windows 10 and 11. Connect your iPhone or select it in the app. Click General, then Manage Backups. Select the old backup and click Delete. If you still use iTunes on an older Windows version, the same flow exists under Edit > Preferences > Devices.

iCloud Backup vs. Local Backup: Key Differences

Checklist: Remove Old Backups and Reclaim iCloud Space

1. Open Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup on your iPhone.
2. Look through the device list for old backups — devices you no longer own or no longer need saved.
3. Tap any old backup and choose Turn Off and Delete from iCloud.
4. Confirm with Turn Off and Delete.
5. If the backup does not show up there, check Settings > your name > iCloud > Storage > Backups.
6. On a Mac, use System Settings > your name > iCloud > Manage > Backups.
7. On Windows, open iCloud for Windows > Storage > Backups.
8. For local backups on a computer, open Finder (Mac) or Apple Devices (Windows) and use Manage Backups.
9. After deleting, check your iCloud storage under Settings > your name > iCloud to confirm the freed space.