You can delete an iCloud backup directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or through iCloud.com on any computer

Deleting an iCloud backup removes the stored copy of your device from Apple's servers and frees up space in your iCloud account. The backup itself stays on your device — deleting it does not erase your photos, messages, or files. You have three ways to do this: through your iPhone or iPad settings, through your Mac, or through the iCloud website. The method you choose depends on which device is in front of you right now.

Before you delete a backup, understand what you are removing. An iCloud backup contains your device settings, app data, messages, photos in the Photos app, and other information stored on that specific device. If you delete the backup and later need to restore your device, you will not have that backup to use. You can create a new backup at any time, but you cannot recover a deleted one.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting an iCloud backup removes only the cloud copy, not the data on your device itself.
  • You can delete a backup from your iPhone or iPad by going to Settings, tapping your name, selecting iCloud, then Manage Storage, and choosing the device backup to delete.
  • On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name, select iCloud, then Manage, and delete the backup from the list.
  • You can also delete backups through iCloud.com by signing in, clicking your name, selecting iCloud, then Manage Storage, and choosing which backup to remove.
  • Deleting a backup does not affect other backups of different devices or other files stored in your iCloud account.

Delete an iCloud backup from your iPhone or iPad

This is the fastest method if you have your iPhone or iPad with you. Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap Manage Storage (on some older iOS versions, this may say Manage iCloud Storage). You will see a list of devices with backups stored in your account.

Tap the device whose backup you want to delete. At the top of the screen, you will see the backup name, the date it was created, and the size. Scroll down and tap Delete Backup. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Tap Delete again to confirm. The backup is now removed from your iCloud account, and that storage space is freed up immediately.

Delete an iCloud backup from your Mac

On a Mac running macOS Monterey or newer, open System Settings and click your name in the sidebar (or go to System Settings > [Your Name]). Click iCloud. Click Manage next to your iCloud storage bar. A window will open showing your storage breakdown and a list of devices with backups.

Find the device backup you want to delete and click it once to select it. Click Delete in the bottom right corner. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click Delete again to confirm. The backup is removed from your iCloud account. On older Macs running macOS Big Sur or earlier, the path is System Preferences > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage, and the steps are the same from there.

Delete an iCloud backup through iCloud.com

You can delete a backup from any computer with a web browser. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Click your name or profile picture in the top right corner and select Account Settings. Click iCloud in the left sidebar. Click Manage Storage. You will see a list of your devices and their backups.

Click the device whose backup you want to delete. Click Delete Backup in the top right. A confirmation message will appear. Click Delete to confirm. The backup is removed from your account. This method works on Windows computers, Chromebooks, or any other device with a web browser, so it is useful if you do not have access to an Apple device right now.

What happens when you delete a backup

Deleting a backup frees up space in your iCloud account immediately. If you were at or near your storage limit, you will now have room for new backups, photos, or other files. The data on your device is not affected — your photos, messages, apps, and settings remain exactly as they are.

If you later need to restore your device and that backup no longer exists, you will have to set up your device as new or restore from a different backup if one is available. For this reason, only delete backups you are certain you no longer need. If you are unsure, create a new backup first, then delete the old one.

When to delete old backups

Delete a backup when you have upgraded to a new device and no longer need the old device's backup. Delete a backup if you have changed your iCloud storage plan and need to free up space. Delete a backup if your device settings or data have changed significantly and you want a fresh backup instead of keeping an old one.

You might also delete a backup if you sold or gave away a device and want to remove its data from your iCloud account. Deleting the backup does not remove the device from your account entirely — it only removes the stored backup. To fully remove a device from your account, you would need to sign out of iCloud on that device or remove it through your Apple ID settings.

Freeing up iCloud storage space

If you are running out of iCloud storage, deleting old backups is one way to make room. You can also delete old photos from the Photos app, remove email from your Mail app, or delete files from iCloud Drive. Each of these actions frees up space in your iCloud account.

If you regularly run out of space, you may want to increase your iCloud storage plan. Apple offers 5 GB free, then paid plans at 50 GB, 200 GB, and 2 TB per month. You can change your plan through Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Change Storage Plan on an iPhone or iPad, or through System Settings on a Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an iCloud backup erase my device?

No. Deleting an iCloud backup only removes the cloud copy stored on Apple's servers. Your device keeps all its data, apps, settings, and files. Nothing on your phone, tablet, or computer is affected.

Can I recover a backup after I delete it?

No, deleted backups cannot be recovered. Once you confirm the deletion, it is gone permanently. If you think you might need a backup later, create a new one before deleting the old one.

Will deleting a backup affect my other devices?

No. Each device has its own separate backup. Deleting the backup for one device does not affect backups of your other devices or any other files in your iCloud account.

How much storage does a typical backup use?

Backup size varies widely depending on how many apps you have, how many photos are stored on your device, and how much data your apps contain. A backup can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes. You can see the exact size of each backup in the Manage Storage section.

What if I delete a backup by mistake?

You cannot undo the deletion, but you can create a new backup immediately. Your device will back up all current data to iCloud. If you need to restore from a backup, you can use this new one or restore from another device's backup if available.