How to Delete Backup Files on Mac

When more and more important files and messages are received on portable devices, people value the importance of data backup today. However, the downside of this refers to the fact that outdated iPhone and iPad backups stored on your Mac would take up quite a bit of space, leading to a lower running speed of the laptop.

To delete backups on Mac and regain its high performance, this post will guide you through different paths to achieve the purpose. Please scroll and keep reading the post.

How to Delete iPhone/iPad Backups on Mac

If you feel clueless about where to get started when you want to delete iPhone/iPad backups on Mac, you are welcome to preview these provided methods and select any of them based on your needs. We have 4 easy methods provided for you to easily delete backups on Mac

Method 1. Delete iOS Backups Through Storage Management

To better monitor the storage condition of the Mac, Apple has introduced a feature, Storage Management, to Mac devices with the macOS Mojave system. People can check the storage of the Mac easily and manage it with a clear layout. Here is how you can delete iOS backups from Mac with this brilliant feature:

Step 1. Click on the Apple icon on the menu bar and go to About This Mac > Storage.

Step 2. Tap Manage… for opening the Storage Management window.

Step 3. Turn to iOS Files and you will see all the listed iOS backups.

Step 4. Right-click on the backups you want to delete.

Step 5. Confirm Detele Backup to clear the iOS backups from your Mac.

Method 2. Utilize Finder to Remove iOS Backups

For Mac devices starting with macOS Catalina, people can manage the iOS backups from iTunes cause its syncing feature is now reset with the Finder app.

To delete iOS backups through the Finder app, you ought to:

Step 1. Connect the iPhone or iPad to the Mac.

Step 2. Launch Finder and click on your device from the left menu bar.

Step 3. Tap Manage Backups…, and then the collected backups will be listed in a pop-up window.

Step 4. Select the iOS backup you wish to remove and confirm to Delete Backup.

Step 5. Tap Delete in the pop-up and remove the selected iOS backup from your Mac.

Method 3. Delete Backups From Mac Library

If your Macs are not using the macOS Mojave system version, you can take advantage of the Finder app for locating and deleting iPhone/iPad backups manually. They will all be stored in a subfolder in the Library folder. Therefore, you can quickly access it by typing ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ in the Finder search bar.

After being navigated to the folder, you can discover all the listed iOS backups here. Directly select the one you wish to move (a downside of this method should be that the backups’ names are not readable, so it would be hard for you to tell which is the old backups) and right-click to select Move to Trash. Subsequently, you just need to go to Trash to manipulate to Empty Trash in one click.

Method 4. Use Third-party Tool to Clear Old Backups

Well, instead of deleting the iOS backups manually, utilizing a third-party app such as the reliable Mac Cleaner can locate the files and delete them without so many procedures.

MobePas Mac Cleaner will be your perfect assistant to delete iOS backups on Mac’s brilliant features. It provides:

• Only one click to scan all updated junk files, including iOS backups on Mac.
• Fast scanning and cleaning speed to locate and remove junk.
• Easy-grasping UI for every user to easily handle the app.
• A small size that can be installed on a Mac without taking up much storage.
• A safe environment without adding ads or required to install extra extensions.

Try It Free

The following steps show you how to clear iOS backups with MobePas Mac Cleaner.

Step 1. After installing the MobePas Mac Cleaner, launch it and enter the main feed.

Step 2. In the Smart Scan mode, directly click on Scan, and MobePas Mac Cleaner will initiate to scan through for Mac to locate the iPhone/iPad backups.

Step 3. Subsequently, as all the junk files on Mac are listed, scroll the list to find iOS backups.

Step 4. Please select the iPhone or iPad backups you need to delete and tap the Clean button. In just a while, MobePas Mac Cleaner will delete them from your Mac permanently.

Despite the iOS backups, MobePas Mac Cleaner also facilitates the clean-up process of other sorts of files such as system junks, temporary files, large and old files, duplicated items, and so forth. You don’t need complicated procedures to tidy up your Mac with MobePas Mac Cleaner installed.

Try It Free

How to Remove Time Machine Backups on Mac

To back up iPhone or iPad information on Mac, some users are costumed to utilizing Time Machine instead of iTunes or direct backup. Therefore, you may also consider how to remove the Time Machine backups manually.

What Is a Time Machine App?

Time Machine is utilized for backing up data on the desktop. This app will automatically generate incremental backups, ending up unconsciously taking up the storage of the Mac. Although the app is equipped with the auto-deleting method to clear old backups whenever the Mac storage runs out.

Therefore, cleaning up backups created by the Time Machine app regularly before the outdated backups take up all the space on Mac is a necessity. You will be guided through how to do it manually.

How to Delete Time Machine Backups

Deleting backups in Time Machine will be the fastest and safest way. But you would be required to use an external hard drive. Here shows you how:

Step 1. Connect the hard drive to the Mac.

Step 2. Launch Time Machine.

Step 3. Make full use of the timeline on the right side for turning to the backup data for locating the old backup.

Step 4. Select the backup and click on the ellipsis button in Finder. You can choose to Delete Backup immediately.

Step 5. Confirm to delete it. You would be required to enter the password of your Mac.

That is all for this guide. Nowadays, it is essential to back up phone data regularly to keep all vital messages. However, a rational time basis would be important, and you should also regularly look back for clean outdated backups to free up your desktop storage. Hope this post can help!

Try It Free