Storage Types

How to Delete iOS Backups on Mac to Free Space

June 7, 2026·2 min read

Where iOS Backups Hide

Every time you back up an iPhone or iPad to your Mac, the backup is stored locally on your drive. These backups can be 10-50 GB each, and old ones stick around forever unless you manually delete them. If you want to free up space on mac quickly, checking for old iOS backups is one of the highest-impact steps.

Backups are stored in `~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/`.

Finding Backups Through System Settings

The easiest way to manage iOS backups is through your Mac's settings. Go to **System Settings > General > Storage**, click the info button next to iOS Files, and you'll see a list of all device backups with their sizes and dates.

Select any backup you no longer need and click Delete. Old backups from devices you no longer own are safe to remove immediately.

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Finding Backups Through Finder

Connect your iPhone to your Mac and open Finder. Select your device in the sidebar and click **Manage Backups**. This shows all local backups with dates. Right-click any backup and select **Delete** to remove it.

This method also shows you when each backup was created, helping you decide which ones are outdated. If you've switched to iCloud backups, local copies are likely no longer needed. Removing them is a great way to free up space on mac.

Switching to iCloud Backups

To prevent local backups from filling your Mac again, switch to iCloud backups on your iOS device. Go to **Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup** on your iPhone and turn it on. This stores backups in the cloud instead of on your Mac.

If you have enough iCloud storage, this is the best long-term solution. You can delete iphone backup mac files knowing your data is safely stored in iCloud.

Verify Before Deleting

Before deleting any backup, make sure you have an alternative. Check that your iPhone has a recent iCloud backup or that you've created a new local backup before removing old ones. Once deleted, local backups cannot be recovered.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much space do iOS backups take on Mac?

Each iPhone backup can be 10-50 GB depending on how much data is on the device. Multiple backups can easily total 100 GB or more.

Are old iPhone backups safe to delete?

Yes, as long as you have a current backup elsewhere (iCloud or a newer local backup). Old backups from devices you no longer own are always safe to remove.

Where are iPhone backups stored on Mac?

In ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/. You can also find them through System Settings > General > Storage.