How to Delete iOS Backups on Mac Safely and Reclaim 40+ GB
To delete iOS backups on a Mac, open System Settings > General > Storage, scroll to "iOS Files", click the info icon, select the outdated iPhone or iPad backup, and click Delete. Alternatively, open ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup in Finder and delete old device folders safely.
Whenever you connect an iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable, macOS may perform a full local backup. Because these backups contain uncompressed photos, app databases, and message histories, a single backup can easily weigh 40 GB to 90 GB.
Native macOS Method (Safest)
- Open Apple Menu () → System Settings → General → Storage.
- Scroll down to the category named iOS Files.
- Click the (i) Info icon next to it.
- You will see a list of device names, backup dates, and exact sizes.
- Select backups from devices you no longer own, or past backups superseded by newer iCloud backups, and click Delete.
Direct Finder Method
If iOS Files does not appear in System Settings due to a corrupted index, navigate to the physical storage folder directly:
Each device backup is named with a 40-character Unique Device Identifier (UDID). Check the modified date to confirm it is old before moving it to Trash.
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