iCloud automatically backs up important information from your iPhone and iPad, helping you restore your data when you switch devices or experience a problem. However, if you have upgraded your iPhone several times, your Apple account may contain backups from devices you no longer use. These unnecessary backups can consume valuable storage and prevent new backups from completing.
Learning how to delete old backups on iCloud can help you recover storage without removing the information currently saved on your iPhone.
Apple allows you to manage backups using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC. In this guide, you will learn how to find and remove outdated backups, protect important information, free up additional storage, and troubleshoot common problems.
What Are Old iCloud Backups?
An iCloud backup is a copy of your device’s information and settings that are not already synchronized with iCloud. It helps restore your information when you purchase a new iPhone, replace a damaged device, or reset your existing device.
Depending on your settings, an iCloud backup can include:
- Device settings and preferences.
- Home Screen layout and app organization.
- Data from supported applications.
- Messages, if Messages in iCloud is disabled.
- Photos and videos, if iCloud Photos is disabled.
- Certain device-specific information.
Old backups commonly come from devices you previously owned. For example, if you upgraded from an iPhone 13 to an iPhone 16, your Apple account might still contain the previous iPhone’s backup.
Deleting backups you no longer need can recover storage and make room for new backups. However, check their contents before removing them because some information might exist only in an older backup.
How to Delete Old Backups on iCloud Using an iPhone or iPad
The easiest way to delete an old iCloud backup is through your iPhone or iPad settings. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Settings
Unlock your device and open the Settings application.
Step 2: Tap Your Apple Account
Tap your name at the top of the screen to access your Apple Account settings.
Step 3: Select iCloud
Tap iCloud to view your storage information and synchronization settings.
Step 4: Open Storage Management
Depending on your iOS version, select Storage or Manage Account Storage.
Step 5: Select Backups
Tap Backups to see the devices with backups associated with your Apple account.
Step 6: Choose the Old Device
Select the iPhone or iPad backup you no longer need. Check its device name and storage size before proceeding.
Step 7: Delete the Backup
Tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud, or the equivalent deletion option displayed on your device. Confirm your decision.
The selected backup will be removed from your iCloud storage.
Important: Deleting a device backup through this process also turns off iCloud Backup for that device. If you delete your current iPhone’s backup, turn iCloud Backup back on afterward to continue protecting your information.
How to Delete Old Backups on iCloud Using a Mac
Mac users can remove unwanted iCloud backups through System Settings.
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner.
- Select System Settings.
- Click your name or Apple Account.
- Select iCloud.
- Click Manage next to your storage information.
- Choose Backups.
- Select the backup you want to remove.
- Click the Remove button (–) to delete the selected backup.
- Confirm the deletion if prompted.
Your selected backup will be removed from iCloud. Make sure you select the correct device before confirming.
How to Delete Old Backups on iCloud Using Windows
You can also manage iCloud backups without owning a Mac.
- Open iCloud for Windows.
- Sign in using the Apple Account containing the backup.
- Click Storage.
- Select Backup from the listed storage categories.
- Select the device backup you want to remove.
- Click Delete.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Important: Deleting a backup through iCloud for Windows also turns off iCloud Backup for that device. If you delete your current iPhone’s backup, turn iCloud Backup back on through the device’s iCloud settings to continue protecting your information.
If the Backup category does not appear, check that you are using an appropriate version of iCloud for Windows and have signed in to the correct Apple Account.
How to Find Old iCloud Backups Before Deleting Them
Before removing a backup, identify which device created it and whether you still need its information.
On an iPhone or iPad:
- Open Settings and tap your Apple Account name.
- Select iCloud.
- Open Manage Account Storage.
- Tap Backups.
- Review the available devices.
- Select a device to inspect its backup information.
Pay attention to three important details:
- Device name: Identifies the iPhone or iPad associated with the backup.
- Backup size: Shows how much iCloud storage it occupies.
- Last backup information: Helps determine whether the backup is outdated.
Do not automatically delete the oldest backup. It might contain messages, application data, or other information that you have not transferred to your current device.
How to Delete Old Backups on iCloud Without Losing Important Data
Many users worry about losing photos, contacts, messages, and application information when deleting backups. The important distinction is that deleting a backup does not normally erase information currently stored on your iPhone. However, information available only in that backup may become unrecoverable.
Take these precautions:
1. Check Your iCloud Synchronization Settings
Open Settings, tap your Apple Account name, and select iCloud. Review whether Photos, Contacts, Drive, and Messages are synchronized.
2. Verify Your Current Device
If you recently upgraded your iPhone, check that important information has transferred successfully. Review your photos, contacts, messages, documents, and essential app information.
3. Create a Fresh Backup
Before deleting an older backup, create a new backup of your current device.
- Open Settings.
- Tap your Apple Account name.
- Select iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Backup.
- Enable Back Up This iPhone if necessary.
- Tap Back Up Now.
Keep your device connected to Wi-Fi until the backup finishes.
Important: Make sure your iCloud account has enough available storage to complete the new backup. If storage is insufficient, manage your existing storage or consider another backup method first.
4. Keep Another Copy of Important Information
Consider saving particularly important information to a Mac, Windows computer, or external storage device. Having another copy provides an additional recovery option.
iCloud Backup vs. iCloud Sync: What Is the Difference?
Understanding the difference between iCloud Backup and synchronization is essential before deleting old backups.
| Feature | iCloud Backup | iCloud Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Creates a restorable device copy | Keeps selected information updated |
| Examples | Device settings and app data | Photos, Contacts, Notes, and Drive |
| Updates | Periodic backups | Automatic synchronization |
| Deletion effect | Removes the selected backup | Can remove synchronized content across devices |
| Restoration | Helps restore a device | Synchronizes available information |
For example, iCloud Photos stores and synchronizes your photo library separately from your regular device backup. Deleting an old device backup does not normally delete those synchronized photos.
However, deleting a photo directly from iCloud Photos can also remove it from your other synchronized devices.
What Happens When You Delete an Old iCloud Backup?
Deleting an old backup has several consequences:
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Delete an old backup | The selected backup is removed from iCloud. |
| Recover storage | Its occupied space becomes available. |
| Delete the current device backup | Automatic iCloud Backup is turned off for that device. |
| Delete a backup containing unique information | That information may no longer be recoverable from the backup. |
| Delete one device backup | Other device backups remain separate. |
Can You Recover a Deleted iCloud Backup?
Generally, no. Apple does not provide a normal recovery option for a manually deleted device backup.
If you accidentally delete one, check whether you have another copy stored on a Mac or Windows computer. You can also check whether the missing information is available through iCloud synchronization or another application account.
How Much iCloud Storage Can You Free Up?
Your storage savings depend on the size of the backups you remove.
For example, imagine your account contains these backups:
| Device | Backup size |
|---|---|
| Old iPhone | 8 GB |
| Previous iPad | 4 GB |
| Current iPhone | 6 GB |
| Total | 18 GB |
Deleting the old iPhone and previous iPad backups could recover approximately 12 GB of storage.
These figures are illustrative. Your actual savings depend on the backup sizes displayed in your account.
What Happens If Your iCloud Storage Is Full?
Apple provides 5 GB of free iCloud storage with an account. This space is shared across backups, iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive, and other supported services.
When your iCloud storage becomes full:
- New iCloud backups cannot complete.
- New photos and videos cannot upload to iCloud Photos.
- iCloud Drive and other iCloud apps may stop staying up to date.
- You may be unable to send or receive emails using your iCloud email address.
Deleting unnecessary backups can help resolve these problems. However, if photos, videos, or documents consume most of your storage, you may need to remove other unnecessary content or consider an iCloud+ upgrade.
How to Free Up More iCloud Storage Without Deleting Backups
If you still need your existing backups, try these additional storage-management methods.
1. Turn Off Backups for Unnecessary Apps
Open Settings, tap your Apple Account name, select iCloud, and open Backups. Choose your current device and review the applications included in future backups.
Turn off backup access for apps whose data you do not need to preserve.
Important: Turning off backup for an app also removes its existing backup information from iCloud. Some apps cannot be excluded from backups. Make sure the app has another recovery or synchronization option before disabling its backup.
2. Delete Unnecessary Photos and Videos
Review your Photos library for duplicate pictures, screenshots, blurry images, and large videos you no longer need.
If iCloud Photos is enabled, deleting a synchronized photo also removes it from your other synchronized devices. Save another copy before deleting important content.
3. Remove Unnecessary iCloud Drive Files
Open the Files app, select Browse, and choose iCloud Drive. Review your folders and delete unnecessary documents.
Remember that deleting synchronized files affects your other devices.
4. Delete Large Message Attachments
Photos, videos, and documents in Messages can use considerable iCloud storage. Review your conversations and remove attachments you no longer need.
If Messages in iCloud is enabled, deleting synchronized messages can affect other Apple devices.
5. Review Apple’s Storage Recommendations
Open Settings, tap your Apple Account name, select iCloud, and look for Recommended for You if available. Review Apple’s suggestions for removing unnecessary files and managing storage.
How Long Does Apple Keep Old iCloud Backups?
Apple states that when iCloud Backup is turned off for a device, its existing backups remain available for up to 180 days before being deleted.
For example, if you replace your iPhone and stop backing up your previous device, its existing backup might remain available during Apple’s retention period.
You can manually delete it sooner if you no longer need it.
Important: Do not rely on the 180-day period as your only backup strategy. Preserve important information before an old backup becomes unavailable.
What Should You Do With an Old iPhone Before Selling It?
Deleting an iCloud backup does not erase the physical iPhone. If you plan to sell, trade in, or give away your old device:
- Transfer important information to your new iPhone.
- Verify that your photos, contacts, messages, and app data are available.
- Create a fresh backup of your new device.
- Follow Apple’s instructions to sign out and erase the old iPhone.
- Remove the old device from your account where appropriate.
- Delete its iCloud backup if you no longer need it.
Always erase the physical device separately before transferring ownership.
Common Problems When Deleting Old iCloud Backups
1. The Old Backup Is Not Showing Up
Check that you are signed in to the correct Apple Account. Open iCloud storage management and review the Backups section. The list does not necessarily include every device you have ever owned.
2. iCloud Storage Is Not Updating
Close and reopen Settings, check your storage information again, and restart your device if necessary. Other storage categories may still be using available space.
3. You Cannot Delete a Backup
Check whether the backup is currently being used to restore a device. Apple does not allow backups currently being used for restoration to be deleted.
4. Your New Backup Is Failing
Check your Wi-Fi connection, available iCloud storage, and Next Backup Size. Install available iOS updates and try again. If there is insufficient space, remove unnecessary content or consider upgrading your storage plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I Delete Old iCloud Backups Without Deleting Photos From My iPhone?
Yes. Deleting an old iCloud backup does not remove photos stored on your iPhone. Photos synced with iCloud Photos are managed separately.
2. Does Deleting an iCloud Backup Delete Everything From My iPhone?
No. Deleting an iCloud backup removes the stored backup copy, not the data currently saved on your iPhone. However, you cannot restore your device from that deleted backup.
3. How Do I Delete a Backup From an Old iPhone I No Longer Have?
Open iCloud storage settings on another Apple device signed in to the same Apple Account. Select Backups, choose your old iPhone, and tap Delete Backup.
Final Thoughts
Managing iCloud storage is easier when you regularly review backups from devices you no longer use. Removing unnecessary backups can recover valuable space and help new backups complete successfully.
As explained in this guide, how to delete old backups on iCloud involves opening your iCloud storage settings, reviewing available device backups, selecting an outdated backup, and confirming its deletion. You can complete the process using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC.
Before deleting anything, verify that your important information is available elsewhere. Remember that deleting your current device’s backup also turns off automatic iCloud Backup for that device.
By removing unnecessary backups, managing application data, and maintaining a recent backup of your active device, you can keep your iCloud account organized while protecting your important information.
