How to Delete Old iCloud Backups and Reclaim Storage Space on iPhone (iOS 26 Guide)

Your iCloud account automatically stores backups from every device that’s ever connected to it—old phones, tablets, and devices you no longer own. These backups pile up and consume valuable storage space. Deleting old backups is a safe, permanent way to reclaim that wasted space and free up room for current backups, photos, and documents without affecting your active iPhone.

What is iCloud Backup Deletion?

Every time you back up your iPhone, iCloud stores a complete copy of your device data—settings, apps, photos, messages, contacts, and more. Over time, backups from old devices accumulate in your iCloud account. Each backup consumes storage space from your shared iCloud storage pool, including your free 5GB tier. Deleting old backups removes these stored copies permanently and frees up that space for use. Typical iCloud backups range from 1GB to over 100GB depending on your device’s photos, videos, apps, and other content.

Current as of: iOS 26.3.1 (released March 4, 2026)

Why Freeing Up iCloud Storage Matters

• Reclaim wasted space: Old backups from devices you no longer use take up valuable storage without providing any benefit
• Enable automatic backups: Most users hit their 5GB free tier quickly; deleting old backups creates room for your current device’s automatic daily backups
• Store more photos and documents: Freed space becomes available for new iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive documents, and other data syncing across your devices
• Avoid paid plan upgrades: By deleting unnecessary backups, you may avoid needing to pay for additional iCloud+ storage (50GB, 200GB, or 2TB plans)

Things to Consider Before Deleting

• Deletion is permanent: Deleted backups cannot be recovered through Apple Support. Once removed from Apple’s servers, they are gone forever. You can only restore a device from a backup created before you deleted it. Read the confirmation prompt carefully before confirming deletion
• Don’t delete your current device’s backup: Identify which device is your active iPhone. Avoid selecting it unless you intentionally want to turn off iCloud Backup for that device (you can re-enable it afterward)
• Storage recalculation takes time: After deleting a backup, your iCloud storage may take a few minutes to update and show your new available space

How to Delete Old Backups—Step by Step

Step 1: Open iCloud Settings On your iPhone, open the Settings app. Tap your Apple ID name at the very top of the screen. (Note: On older iOS versions, you may see ‘iCloud’ directly in the Settings menu instead.)

Step 2: Navigate to iCloud From the Apple ID menu, tap iCloud. You’ll see your account summary showing your Apple ID email and current storage status.

Step 3: Access Storage Management Tap Manage Storage (some iOS versions label this as ‘Manage Account Storage’). This screen displays a bar graph showing your storage usage and a list of what’s consuming space on your account.

Step 4: View All Backups Scroll down and tap Backups. You’ll see every device that has backed up to this iCloud account, listed with the backup size next to each one. This list includes old devices, tablets, and any iPhone you’ve ever owned.

Step 5: Select the Device to Delete Identify the backup you want to delete. Choose devices you no longer own or no longer use (old phones, tablets you’ve upgraded from, devices you’ve sold or given away). Do NOT select your current iPhone—check the date or device model to confirm.

Tap the device name you want to delete.

Step 6: Delete the Backup At the bottom of the screen, a red Delete Backup button appears. Tap it.

Step 7: Confirm the Deletion A confirmation popup appears with the warning: “Delete Backup?” The message explains that this action cannot be undone. Read carefully to ensure you’re deleting the correct device. If you’re certain, tap the red Delete button to confirm.

Step 8: Verify the Deletion The backup deletes instantly, and you return to the Backups list. Repeat Steps 5–7 for any other old devices if needed. The storage calculation may take a few minutes to update on your device.

Return to Manage Storage to confirm the storage bar has shrunk and your freed-up space is now available for photos, documents, and automatic backups.

Regional Notes

For most users worldwide: The Settings navigation path (Settings > Apple ID name > iCloud > Storage > Backups) is consistent across all regions.

Users in mainland China: iCloud is managed separately in China and operates under different terms and conditions. The core steps remain the same, but you may see different terminology or account options. Refer to Apple’s China-specific iCloud documentation if you’re unsure.

Users in Europe: EU users benefit from GDPR-related data residency protections. The deletion process remains identical, but your data may be stored in EU data centers.

Deleting old iCloud backups is a quick, safe way to reclaim storage space and ensure your iPhone’s automatic backups have room to complete successfully. Remember: deletion is permanent and cannot be undone, so take a moment to confirm you’re deleting the correct device before confirming. Once complete, your freed-up iCloud storage is immediately available for new content, active backups, and synced data across your devices.