How to Delete iPhone Backup Data from iTunes and iCloud

For iOS device users, iTunes is a very popular storage app. With iTunes backup, you never have to worry about accidentally losing your data. But sometimes, too many backup files in iTunes causes your iTunes backup to waste space and become confusing. So, you can try to delete iTunes backup files to clean up your iTunes room. There are many methods you can use to delete an iTunes backup on your computer. These methods can make your job easier.

Part 1: How to Find iPhone Backup on Windows and Mac
Part 2: How to Open and View iTunes Backup
Part 3: How to Delete iPhone Backup on Windows and Mac

What is a backup and why is it needed?

This is one of the most important functions of any modern gadget, which not only can perform certain actions, but is also capable of storing data. Backup or “backup” is the duplication of files and personal information. It is carried out with subsequent saving outside the main gadget: on a removable hard drive, computer, memory card, flash drive or in a cloud service.

In the case of the iPhone, the owner can store the created backup copy on the computer (from where it is easily duplicated to other physical media) or in iCloud: Apple's own cloud service. Every iPhone buyer gets 5 GB for free, and this is usually enough for 1 backup.

There are 2 types of backup:

Complete. There is a duplication of the entire system in the form that it currently has.
Partial. When only certain types of files or data are duplicated. Usually those that have undergone changes during the period that has passed since the last full backup.

On iPhone, only a full backup is usually created. This process can be automatic or done manually. If you have a lot of important files stored on your iPhone, it is better to choose the first option: the update will occur daily when the device is connected to WiFi and the battery charge is more than 50%.

Automatic backups are not carried out over a cellular network, because the average finished file size for an actively used iPhone is 1.5–2 GB.

iPhone backup includes:

data of all installed programs;
information about purchases in the AppStore, iTunes (software, books, TV shows, etc.);
a copy of data from Apple Watch (if available);
ringtones, photos, videos;
messages from iMessage and regular SMS;
gadget settings;
passwords;
view of the desktop and lock screen.

For individual applications (for example, instant messengers), you need to make separate copies if you want to save their data: messages, transferred media files. Also, data stored in iCloud (calendars, notes, etc.) will not go into backup - only what is on the phone itself will be here.

Apple recommends that you create backups regularly, but it is especially important to do this before each system update. Despite the fact that errors in the firmware of Apple devices are rare, one cannot rule out an unsuccessful update, after which there will be a “brick” on hand or all important information will be abruptly erased. In this case, restoring from a recently made backup will help you roll back to a “live” state.

Find and manage backups in iCloud

Apple cloud storage is often used to create backups. To access them, simply log in to the system using your account from your phone.

To find the information you need, you must perform the following steps:

Go to “Settings” – “User name” – “iCloud” – “Manage storage”.
In the menu drop-down list, click on “Backup”.
To manage, you need to select the desired backup.

If the data is viewed from the current mobile device, then it is possible to further transform and change the content by editing/adding/deleting files.

The algorithm for how to delete an iPhone backup from iCloud involves a few clicks. It is enough to follow the path described above and, if necessary, clean it.

Note ! If you are viewing a copy of another device, then it can only be deleted from the iCloud cloud storage.

iCloud backup interface

Searching for backups in cloud storage on Mac

Yes, this function is also available to users of Apple products. To do this you need to do the following:

Go through the path “System Preferences” - “iCloud” and again iCloud, which appears in the side menu.
Click on the “Manage” button.
Go to the "Backups" section.

The user has the opportunity to see the name of the device whose backup is stored in the storage. You can also delete all information using the “-” button.

Each user of Apple products has several ways to generate backups, which, in the event of a device breakdown or theft, allow you to restore all information. Do not neglect this option, because it can be very useful.

How to Delete iPhone Backup from iCloud

If a person uses exclusively a free 5 GB cloud, the question of its overflow periodically arises. One way to free up space is to get rid of old backups. This can be done not only for the iPhone, but also for all devices linked to a specific Apple ID, from one gadget.

Principle of operation:

On the home screen, click on the “Settings” icon, go to the top block “Apple ID” and the “iCloud” item. On iOS 11 or younger, already in the main “Settings” menu, scroll down to the “iCloud” line.
Select the "Storage Management" block. For iOS 11 and below: “Storage” – “Manage”.
Find the line "Backups". The volume they occupy will be written opposite it.
Go ahead and see which file needs to be deleted. If backups of several devices are stored in the cloud, each of them can be managed separately.
In the window that opens, the date of the last copy, the total size of the current copy, and the approximate size of the next one will appear. At the bottom there is a red line “Delete”.
After clicking on it, you will need to confirm not only erasing the copy, but also disabling backups to the cloud. If you need to continue making them, be sure to turn them back on after erasing the excess.

You can also delete old iPhone backups via a Mac or Windows PC. For the latter you will need the iCloud application. In it you also need to find the “Storage” item and the “Backup” subsection. On a Mac, the required function is located in “System Preferences”: “Apple ID”, then “iCloud”, the “Management” block and “Backups”. Just like on an iPhone, you need to confirm the actions and then turn on the backup again.

iCloud backup is actually a paid service for all iPhones and iPads

The main reason why Apple is trying in every possible way to force us to back up to iCloud is because the user is upgrading to a paid plan.

For a novice iPhone user (mostly girls), the appearance of such a message even on a new iPhone can be confusing:

iPhone (iPad) – Backup failed . There is not enough free space in iCloud storage to back up your iPhone data.

Moreover, this notice is specially placed everywhere. Judge for yourself. This is indicated on the lock screen, on the home screen (icon on the Settings icon), a banner on the main screen of the Settings application, a message in the backup settings.

It would seem that the iPhone is new, but some space is already missing... In most cases, this happens due to the automatic creation of backups in iCloud being enabled or the iCloud Photos option being active.

The thing is that by default Apple provides only 5 GB of free space in iCloud for free (and this is 2020). And given that on our smartphones or tablets most of the available storage space is taken up by photos and videos, it is not possible to fit them into a free backup of up to 5 GB.

And the larger the internal memory of the iPhone or iPad, the more expensive it will be to buy a tariff plan to create a backup copy of it.

In other words, the free 5GB of available iCloud storage doesn't allow you to back up all your iPhone or iPad data, including photos and videos. This can only be done by purchasing additional space in cloud storage.

And people buy... thinking that it is really necessary (in fact, you can do without buying, more on that below).

Current prices for space in iCloud (price in rubles per month):

♥ ON TOPIC: How to connect a regular USB flash drive to an iPhone or iPad.

How to Delete an iPhone Backup from iTunes

Here the scheme is simpler than erasing through the “cloud”.

Algorithm for mac OS:

Connect your iPhone or other Apple gadget linked to the same Apple ID via USB to your computer.
Open iTunes and find your device on the left.
Select “General” or “Overview” (depending on the OS and its version).
In the window that opens, select “Manage”.
In the list of files that drops down, find the backup you want to get rid of. Click "Delete" and confirm this action.
Wait for the procedure to complete and click on the “Ok” button to close the window.

To delete a backup from iTunes on a Windows PC, you will need to open the program, go to its settings and find the “Devices” block.

Removing a copy from the iCloud cloud

Some users do not want to clog up their computer's memory, and therefore they turn to cloud storage - iCloud. This is where backup copies of data that were saved by the users themselves are stored. To delete a backup, you don’t need to be a professional; you just need to use your Apple gadget and get the desired result.

So, here is the necessary list of steps to delete a copy from iCloud:

Open “Settings” on your iPhone;
Go to the “iCloud” item;
Select the “Storage” section;
A list of created copies is stored here, select the ones you need to delete and click on the button with a red inscription - “Delete copy”.

How to disable backups

Stopping the automatic process via iCloud has a simple principle:

Open Settings.
Go to the “Apple ID” block.
Click on the line "iCloud" and scroll down the list to "Backup".
Move the slider to the left so it turns gray.

After this, backups will be created only when the iPhone is connected to the computer, when iTunes is launched. There it is more difficult to disable automatic copying: you need to use the “Terminal”. You only need to enter 1 line in it.

Commands for different operating systems:

Mac OS: "defaults write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true."
Win: ““%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe” write com.apple.iTunes AutomaticDeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true.”

To activate, you need to press “Enter”. Please note that commands are entered without Christmas tree quotes.

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How to Delete a Backup in iTunes and iCloud

iTunes is a universal tool for storing media content and managing Apple devices. Some users use this program to create and store backup copies. Now we will look at at what level unnecessary backup copies can be deleted.

A backup copy is a backup of one of the Apple devices, which allows you to return all the information on the device if you pass, if for any of our clients the data remains missing or you simply move to a new device. How to remove iTunes from your computer? Apple Software Update and remove Mozilla Firefox from your computer completely. If you need to remove iTunes from your computer and Apple Software Update, follow the Apple link. How to delete iPhone backup from iTunes from computer. Fully. For each Apple device, iTunes can store one of the most important backup copies. When the backup copy made by the program is no longer needed for you personally, if necessary, of course delete it.

How to delete a backup in iTunes?

Storing a backup copy of your device can be done in 2 ways: on a computer, created through the iTunes program, or in the cloud through iCloud storage. How to remove iTunes completely and Apple Software Update from your computer. How to completely remove iTunes. This article will help you upload videos from your computer to how to Add to Instagram. How to completely remove iTunes from your Windows and Mac computer. For both cases, we will look at the principle of deleting backup copies.

READ How to Transfer Contacts from Google to iPhone

Deleting a backup in iTunes

1.

Launch iTunes. Multiple ways to delete iPhone backup from iTunes using computer. Click on the tab in the upper left corner

"Edit"

, and then select the item in the list that appears

"Settings"

2.

In the window that opens, go to the “Devices” tab. The screen will display a list of your devices that are backed up. How to completely remove from Apple Software Update; To completely clean your computer from. How to delete music from iPhone in five different ways. For example, we no longer need a backup for the iPad. Then we need to select it with one click and then click on the button

"Delete backup"

3.

Confirm deleting the backup. remove iTunes from your computer and Software Update. From this moment on, the backup copy of your device created in iTunes on your computer will no longer exist.

Deleting an iCloud backup

Now let's look at the process of deleting a backup copy when it is stored not in iTunes, but in the cloud. In this case, the backup will be managed from the Apple device.

How to Delete iTunes Backups from Windows

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READ How to Remove Google Play From Phone

Delete device backups from iTunes

Spend 5 minutes of your time and free your computer from voluminous backups

your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch.

1.

Open on your gadget

"Settings"

, and then go to the section

"iCloud"

2.

Open item

"Vault"

3.

Go to point

"Control"

4.

Select the device you are deleting the backup for.

5.

Select a button

"Delete copy"

, and then confirm the deletion.

Please note that if there is no such need, it is better not to delete backup copies of devices, even if you no longer have the device. How to Delete iPhone Backup Data from iTunes and iCloud. It is quite possible that soon you will again enjoy your Apple technology, and then you will be able to restore from an old backup, which will allow you to return all the previous data to the new device.

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How to create a new iPhone backup

You can do this in 2 ways:

Via iCloud if there is enough space. With a standard volume of 5 GB and the simultaneous use of all cloud services, there is usually no free space left. iCloud capacity can be increased to 50 GB, 200 or 2 TB by paying for it.
Via iTunes and then saving to your computer.

The latter option is simpler because you don’t have to pay extra for space in the cloud, but it is a little more difficult to implement, especially for owners of Windows-based computers. If you have a Mac, everything is much easier: iTunes is already pre-installed on the system. True, in mac OS 10.15 (Catalina) it was divided into “Music”, “Podcasts” and “Apple TV”. The process of synchronizing and creating backups occurs through “Finder”: an analogue of “Explorer” on Windows.

It looks like this:

Connect your iPhone via USB to your computer. If this is the first time this happens, sign into Finder.
Find your device on the left and click “Trust” in the window that opens.
Click the same on iPhone (you will need to confirm the action with a password).
Go to the Music app and find your device on the left. In the window that opens, select the “Synchronize settings” button.
After this, the iPhone will open through Finder, a large window will appear with many options. In the “Basic” tab, find the “Backups” item.
Go to "Back up everything on this Mac" and click the "Back up now" button. The process will be displayed on the left side of the gadget icon.

On Windows, the principle of operation will be similar, only the iTunes program must first be downloaded. Mutual access between PC and iPhone will be requested by a pop-up window. Instead of “Basic”, the “Review” item will appear.

To make a backup via iCloud, you need to make sure that there is enough space in it, the iPhone is connected to WiFi and is charged more than 50%. After this, automatic copying is configured.

Algorithm:

Go to “Settings”, open the top block with Apple ID.
Find the line “iCloud” or from the list of devices connected to this Apple ID, select the one you need.
In the “iCloud” item or in the section with your iPhone, scroll down to the “Backup” line.
Drag the slider for iCloud Backup to the right until it turns green.
After the action is confirmed and the function is activated, the line “Create a backup copy” will appear at the bottom. Click on it and the “Continue” button in the pop-up window.

How long the process will take depends on the amount of data being backed up. Average time is 2–3 minutes.

Vyacheslav

For several years he worked in mobile phone stores of two large operators. I understand tariffs well and see all the pitfalls. I love gadgets, especially Android ones.

Ask a Question

Question to the expert

What is an encrypted copy?

This is a secure backup that stores passwords, WiFi settings, history of calls and sites visited, as well as information from the Health application (medical record). When performing a backup via iTunes, the option is additional, when working via iCloud it is required.

Where are the copies that were dumped into iTunes?

• Windows PC: “\Users\(name)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\”. • Macs: “~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/” or via iTunes: “Manage Copies,” right-click on the touchpad, “Show in Finder.”

Is it possible to change the path for backups on a PC?

You should not take any action with these files: this will make the process of restoring from a copy impossible. You can only copy the contents of the folder.

Where is the best place to make a backup? To the cloud or to iTunes?

With iCloud, you can make copies automatically when you have access to WiFi, but there may be storage limitations. iTunes requires a direct connection to your computer, which is not always convenient. The reliability of Apple's cloud service is higher than that of a hard drive.

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Part 1, How to Find iPhone Backup on Windows and Mac

Because the difference is between iOS and Windows, the iTunes backup will be placed in a different location, so if you want to delete the iTunes backup on Windows or Mac, you need to find them first. In fact, if you did not change the location when setting up the system, you can find your iPhone backup in the designated location.

Section 1, iPhone Backup Location on Windows

If you have backed up iPhone data to Windows computer, you can find and delete iTunes backup from the following path. This depends on the version of Windows you are using.

Windows 7/8/10 and Windows Vista

C:\Users\\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Windows XP

C:\Document and Settings\User\Application Date\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

If you cannot find your iPhone backup in this location, it means that you have changed the backup location. You can view the location you set up in the app you backed up your iPhone files to.

Section 2, iPhone Backup Location on Mac

If you have backed up your iPhone files to Mac, it will be easier and faster to find and delete your iTunes backup. You can find iPhone backup for iTunes in the same location. On Mac, it is more convenient to find an iPhone backup.

Library\Application Support\MobileSync\Backup\

How to Delete iPhone Backup from iTunes from Computer

What is a backup and why is it needed?

Find and manage backups in iCloud

Searching for backups in cloud storage on Mac

How to Delete iPhone Backup from iCloud

iCloud backup is actually a paid service for all iPhones and iPads

How to Delete an iPhone Backup from iTunes

Removing a copy from the iCloud cloud

How to disable backups

NET.Gadget

How to delete a backup in iTunes?

Deleting a backup in iTunes

1.

"Edit"

"Settings"

2.

"Delete backup"

3.

Deleting an iCloud backup

How to Delete iTunes Backups from Windows

Delete device backups from iTunes

1.

"Settings"

"iCloud"

2.

"Vault"

3.

"Control"

4.

5.

"Delete copy"

Did this article help you?

More articles on this topic:

How to create a new iPhone backup

Part 1, How to Find iPhone Backup on Windows and Mac

Section 1, iPhone Backup Location on Windows

Section 2, iPhone Backup Location on Mac