To delete iOS backups on a Mac, open System Settings › General › Storage › iOS Files, select the old iPhone or iPad backups, and click Delete — or remove them manually from the hidden ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ folder in Finder. Every time you plug an iPhone or iPad into a Mac, macOS can create a full local backup, and over a few device upgrades those backups quietly consume tens or hundreds of gigabytes.

TL;DR

  • Fastest route: System Settings › General › Storage › iOS Files › Delete.
  • Older macOS with iTunes: iTunes › Preferences › Devices › Delete Backup.
  • Manual route: delete folders inside ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/.
  • Each backup is one folder with a long random name; check modified dates before deleting.
  • Turn off automatic Mac backups and rely on iCloud to stop the pile rebuilding.

What are iOS backups on a Mac?

iOS backups on a Mac are complete snapshots of an iPhone or iPad — settings, app data, messages, and photos not stored in iCloud — created when you back up the device locally. Since macOS Catalina, Finder handles this (iTunes did it on older versions). Each backup is a full copy rather than an incremental difference, so backing up several devices, or the same device across multiple iOS versions, can stack into hundreds of gigabytes of mostly outdated snapshots you no longer need.

How do I delete iOS backups using System Settings?

The native Storage pane is the safest way because it labels each backup with its device, size, and date:

  1. Open the Apple menu and click System Settings.
  2. Open General, then Storage.
  3. Scroll to iOS Files and click the info (i) icon.
  4. Review the backups listed with their sizes and dates.
  5. Select the old ones and click Delete.

On older macOS versions that still use iTunes, the path is iTunes › Preferences › Devices, then select a backup and click Delete Backup.

How do I delete iOS backups manually in Finder?

If the Storage pane is slow, glitching, or won't load, you can remove the backup folders directly:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Press Command + Shift + G to open Go to Folder.
  3. Paste ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ and press Return.
  4. Each backup appears as a folder with a long, random-looking name.
  5. Switch Finder to List view and check the Date Modified column.
  6. Drag the backups you don't need to the Trash, then empty the Trash.

The folder names map to device identifiers, not friendly names, so always check modified dates before deleting if you want to be certain which backup is which.

Is it safe to delete iOS backups on a Mac?

Deleting a local backup is safe as long as it isn't your only copy of that device's data. Removing an old backup does not affect the iPhone or iPad itself, and it does not touch any iCloud backup. The risk is deleting your most recent backup of a device you can no longer access, so before clearing, confirm you either have a current backup elsewhere or no longer need to restore from the one you're removing. Keep your latest backup of any active device; delete the stale ones from previous years and retired phones.

How do I stop iOS backups from piling up again?

If you mainly rely on iCloud, you can prevent the local pile from rebuilding. When your device is connected in Finder, open the device's General tab and choose Back up your most important data on your iPhone to iCloud instead of "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac," then uncheck automatic syncing on connect. With iCloud handling backups, you avoid creating fresh multi-gigabyte snapshots every time you plug in.

FAQ

Where are iPhone backups stored on a Mac?

Local iPhone and iPad backups are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/. Each device backup is a separate folder with a long alphanumeric name, which you can reach quickly via Finder's Go to Folder shortcut (Command + Shift + G).

Will deleting a Mac backup delete data from my iPhone?

No. Deleting a local backup on your Mac only removes the saved snapshot. Your iPhone or iPad keeps all of its data, and any separate iCloud backup is unaffected.

How much space do iOS backups take up on a Mac?

Each full backup can range from a few gigabytes to 50 GB or more depending on how much data the device holds. Backups from multiple devices or multiple iOS versions can easily add up to hundreds of gigabytes over time.

Why do iOS backups keep getting recreated on my Mac?

Finder is set to back up the device automatically when connected. Switch the device to iCloud backups in its Finder General tab and disable automatic backups on connect to stop new local snapshots from forming.

If the weight on your drive turns out not to be backups, the broader culprit is often hidden system files — see how Mac System Data builds up and how to clean it safely. For storage-emergency framing that applies across devices, read what should I delete first when storage is full and storage full, what should I delete first. To keep your phone lean so backups stay small, our free up phone storage solutions hub has a full plan, and Cleanor clears large files and duplicates on the device itself, locally, before you ever back it up.