If you’re cautiously checking whether an old iPhone backup is consuming your iCloud storage, Apple gives you controls on every current device. The confusing part is knowing what each option removes.
You can view backup sizes, exclude app data, turn off future backups, or delete an existing backup. These instructions cover iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26.
Before You Delete an iCloud Backup
An iCloud backup contains device settings, Home Screen organization, and app data that isn’t already syncing through iCloud. Data managed separately by iCloud Photos, Messages in iCloud, Contacts, and similar services doesn’t need another copy inside the device backup.
Deleting a backup removes the restore copy stored in iCloud. It doesn’t erase the live data from your iPhone or iPad.
There is one catch. Deleting the backup for your current device also turns off iCloud Backup until you enable it again. If you only turn off iCloud Backup without manually deleting the stored copy, Apple can retain that backup for up to 180 days.
You also can’t open an iCloud backup and browse individual files. Apple shows its date, size, and included apps, but accessing the backed-up data requires restoring the backup to a compatible device.
View iCloud Backups on a Mac
Your Mac can show backups associated with the same Apple Account. Check the signed-in account first if a device you expect to see is missing.
- Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Click your name at the top of the sidebar, then select iCloud.
- Click Manage beside the iCloud storage information.
- Select Backups from the storage categories.
- Select a device to check its backup. To remove it, select the backup and click Delete, then confirm.
The Mac panel is useful for finding forgotten backups from devices you no longer own. For detailed control over the apps included in your current backup, use the iPhone or iPad that created it.
View iCloud Backups on an iPhone or iPad
The path is the same on iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. Apple puts the backup controls under your Apple Account rather than inside iCloud Drive.
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Backup.
- Tap the name of the device whose backup you want to inspect.
- Review the Last Backup, Next Backup Size, and list of included apps.
So far, the useful information is all where it should be. You can quickly tell whether one large app is inflating the backup or an abandoned device is holding storage you need.
For more detail about what Apple includes, see Apple’s iPhone backup guide.
Reduce the Size of an iCloud Backup
You don’t have to delete the entire backup to recover space. Removing backup data from one or two large apps is often the better fix.
I’d skip this step for apps containing work, projects, or conversations that aren’t synced elsewhere. Saving a few gigabytes isn’t worth losing your only recovery copy.
- Open Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Tap your device name.
- Find the list of apps included in the backup. If necessary, tap the option that expands the full app list.
- Turn off an app you don’t want included, then confirm that you want to remove its existing backup data from iCloud.
Turning off an app here doesn’t uninstall it or remove its current data from your device. It removes that app’s backed-up data from iCloud and excludes it from future device backups.
Start with apps that already keep their data in an account-based service. Be more careful with apps that store everything locally.
Turn Off iCloud Backup
Turn off iCloud Backup when you’re moving to regular encrypted computer backups or retiring a device. Leaving a current iPhone without either type of backup is a risky trade for a small storage saving.
- Open Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Turn off Back Up This iPhone or Back Up This iPad, then confirm.
Your device will stop creating new iCloud backups. Apple can retain the existing backup for up to 180 days after backup is turned off, so don’t treat that retention window as a permanent archive.
To start automatic backups again, return to the same screen and enable the device backup toggle.
Delete an iCloud Backup
Delete a backup when you no longer need its restore point, especially for a sold, recycled, or replaced device. Check the device name and backup date before confirming. Apple’s device naming can become messy when several iPhones share similar names.
Delete a Backup on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Tap the device whose backup you want to delete.
- Scroll down and tap Delete & Turn Off Backup or Turn Off and Delete from iCloud. The wording can vary by current device and software version.
- Confirm the deletion.
Deleting the current device’s backup also disables future iCloud backups for that device. Return to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup if you want to enable them again.
Delete a Backup on Mac
- Open System Settings > your name > iCloud.
- Click Manage, then select Backups.
- Select the device backup.
- Click Delete and confirm.
Apple’s iCloud backup management guide also covers deleting backups from devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
Use a Local Encrypted Backup Instead
A local encrypted backup is a good option when iCloud storage is tight or you want a second recovery method. It can include sensitive information that an unencrypted computer backup omits, such as saved passwords and Health data.
Create or Manage a Backup on Mac
- Connect your iPhone or iPad using a compatible USB-C cable.
- Open Finder and select the device in the sidebar.
- Open the General tab.
- To create a protected backup, enable Encrypt local backup, set a password you can recover, and click Back Up Now.
- To inspect existing local backups, click Manage Backups. You can view, archive, reveal, or delete a selected backup there.
The password matters. Finder can’t restore an encrypted backup if you lose it.
Create or Manage a Backup on Windows
- Connect the iPhone or iPad to the Windows computer with a compatible cable.
- Open the Apple Devices app and select the device.
- Open its backup controls. Enable encryption if you’re creating a protected local backup, then start the backup.
- Select Manage Backups to view or delete backups stored on that computer.
Apple documents both workflows in its guide to local device backups. Local backups consume computer storage, so check available space before starting a large one. An external SSD used for your broader computer backup can provide another recovery layer.
If a Backup Is Missing or Won’t Delete
Confirm the Apple Account
A backup only appears for the Apple Account that created it. Compare the account shown under Settings > your name on the device with System Settings > your name on the Mac.
Stop Looking in iCloud Drive
Device backups don’t appear as folders in iCloud Drive. Manage them through iCloud Backup on an iPhone or iPad, or iCloud > Manage > Backups on a Mac.
Check Which Device You Selected
Deleting the current device’s backup triggers an additional warning because the action also disables iCloud Backup. A backup from an old device can be removed without changing backup settings on your current one.
Trim the Backup Before Paying for More Storage
Check the included apps and Next Backup Size first. A large game, offline media app, or project app may account for most of the backup.
If the backup contains data you need and trimming doesn’t recover enough space, an iCloud+ storage plan is the lower-maintenance choice. Constantly deleting a working backup to stay under the limit creates more risk than it saves.
Is Deleting Your iCloud Backup a Good Idea?
Deleting backups from retired devices is a solid choice after you’ve confirmed that your current device has a recent restore point. Trimming large app backups is worth trying when one or two apps consume most of your allowance.
For your active iPhone or iPad, keep iCloud Backup enabled or maintain regular encrypted computer backups. Apple’s backup controls are working as expected in the current software, but the consequences still deserve a careful read before you press the red button.