How to delete a backup from iCloud

It takes just a few clicks to delete old backups from iCloud and clear your storage to make space for new files.

1. Access Settings
2. Navigate to “Manage storage” in iCloud
3. Select and delete backup

Generally, it’s useful to create regular iCloud backups and protect all of your data. But you won’t want to hang on to all your backups forever. When your iCloud storage is full, you’ll want to delete old backups. Removing backups is also useful practice to maintain a better overview of your files. Often, you won’t really need all of those files anymore. So how do you delete a backup with iCloud?

Before you delete an old backup from iCloud, make sure that the corresponding backup is really outdated and no longer needed. A good backup strategy optimizes data backup. Use the 3-2-1 backup rule to avoid data loss. Current backups that are still required should be left untouched. You can free up storage elsewhere or compare cloud storage options and switch to one that offers more space. However, once you’re certain that you no longer need a specific backup, you can go ahead and delete it from iCloud using any of your popular devices.

When you delete a backup from iCloud using your iPhone or iPad, the automated backup function is disabled. Undo this in two simple steps:

1. Navigate to “iCloud” in Settings and select your Apple ID
2. Activate “iCloud backup” in one click

Windows gives you the option to create a Windows 11 backup and delete old backups from the iCloud. Here’s how:

1. Launch iCloud for Windows
2. Next to the storage bar you should see the “Storage” option.
3. Select the relevant backup from “Backups”
4. Click “Delete” and confirm the process