When you use Apple devices, iTunes is a crucial tool to manage various data, including backups. iTunes automatically creates backups of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you sync your device with your computer. Over a period, these backups occupy a lot of space on your computer’s hard drive. Deleting the backups can free up space on your computer and increase its speed. However, many users are not aware of the steps to delete old iPhone backups from their computer. This blog will guide you on how to delete old iPhone backups from a computer.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Delete iPhone Backup from Computer
The primary reason to delete old iPhone backups from a computer is to free up space. The backups can occupy a lot of space on the computer’s hard drive if they are not deleted regularly. Additionally, if you have many backups on your computer, it may slow down your computer’s performance. Moreover, when you connect your iPhone to your computer and backup your device, iTunes automatically creates a new backup, increasing the load on the computer’s hard drive and clogging your storage.
Method 1: Via iTunes
Deleting an old iPhone backup can be done through iTunes. Follow the steps below to delete old backups via iTunes:
Steps:
1. Open iTunes on your Windows or Mac computer.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
3. On the left-hand side of the screen, click on the Device icon which appears as an iPhone.
4. Click on the Summary tab that appears to the right of the screen.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘Manage Backups.’
6. Select the backup that you want to delete by clicking on it.
7. Click on the ‘Delete Backup’ button to delete the selected backup.
Pros:
- You can select the specific backup you want to delete.
- Deleting the backup is simple and straightforward.
Cons:
- You need to connect your iPhone to the computer via USB for this method to work.
- Deleting the wrong backup may lead to data loss.
Method 2: Using Finder (For macOS Catalina or later)
Deleting an old iPhone backup can be done through Finder. Follow the steps below to delete old iPhone backups via Finder:
Steps:
1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
2. Open Finder on your Mac.
3. On the left-hand side of the screen, click on your iPhone’s name under the Locations tab.
4. Click on ‘Manage Backups’ on the right-hand side of the screen.
5. Select the backup that you want to delete by clicking on it.
6. Click on the ‘Delete Backup’ button to delete the selected backup.
Pros:
- You can select the specific backup you want to delete.
- Deleting the backup is relatively simple and easy.
Cons:
- This method only works on macOS Catalina or later.
- Deleting the wrong backup may lead to data loss.
Method 3: Via iCloud
Deleting an old iPhone backup can be done via iCloud. Follow the steps below to delete old iPhone backups via iCloud:
Steps:
1. Open your iPhone settings app.
2. Click on your Apple ID shown at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down and click on the iCloud option.
4. Click on Manage Storage.
5. Click on Backups, then select the backup that you want to delete.
6. Tap on ‘Delete Backup.’
Pros:
- This method does not require you to connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Deleting the backup is easy and straightforward.
Cons:
- You can only delete the entire backup, not specific elements of the backup.
- You need to have sufficient storage space on iCloud to backup your device or to delete your backups.
What to Do If You Can’t Delete iPhone Backup from Computer
If you are not able to delete your iPhone backup from your computer, you may need to try the following fixes:
1. Restart your iPhone, Mac, or Windows computer and try again. Sometimes, a simple solution like this can fix the problem.
2. Ensure that your iPhone is not connected to your computer; otherwise, iTunes may not allow you to delete the backups.
3. Try deleting the backup from a different device with the same Apple ID.
4. Try deleting the backup via iCloud if you cannot delete your backup through iTunes.
5. Try freeing up some space on your hard drive by removing unwanted files and programs to create space for the backups.
Bonus Tip
Whenever you backup your iPhone, ensure that you verify the backup, so it is up-to-date. Go to the Device section in iTunes or under Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage to check the backup. The backups can be encrypted, and you must remember the password to restore from the backup.
5 FAQs
Q1: How often should I delete my iPhone backups?
A: It would be best to delete the backups whenever you feel that you don’t need them anymore. If you’re running out of storage, it’s a good idea to delete them regularly.
Q2: Will deleting the old backups affect my data on my iPhone?
A: No, deleting old backups will not affect your data on your iPhone. The backup is just a copy of the data, and deleting it will not harm the original data on your iPhone.
Q3: How can I ensure my backups are secure?
A: You can encrypt your backups using a password. Encrypted backups guarantee that others cannot access your data, even if they acquire the backup. Remember to save the password somewhere safe.
Q4: Why can’t I delete my iPhone backups?
A: You might not be able to delete old iPhone backups from your computer due to various reasons like permission issues, file corruption, or some errors in the backup files or folder. You can try the fixes mentioned in this article to resolve this issue.
Q5: Can I retrieve my deleted backups?
A: No, once you delete your backup, it’s gone permanently. So, it is always advisable to ensure that the backups are checked and verified before you delete them.
Final Thoughts
iTunes backups take up a lot of storage space on your hard drive, and deleting the old backups can help to free up space and significantly increase your computer’s performance. With the methods mentioned above, you can easily delete old iPhone backups directly from your computer using iTunes, Finder, or iCloud. If you face any issues with these methods, the bonus tips and FAQs sections can help you resolve your queries. Regularly checking and deleting old backups will ensure that you have sufficient space on your computer for new backups and keep your computer in optimal condition.
