# Is it safe to delete old iPhone backups on Mac?

- URL: https://moreroom.app/folders/apple-ios-backups
- Item: iPhone and iPad backups
- Location: `~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup` (items inside)
- Verdict: Review first — Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
- Comes back on its own: no
- Source: MoreRoom rules catalogue (2026-10-17), by Yando Pte. Ltd.

## What is it?

Full local backups of iPhone and iPad made by Finder (or iTunes on older macOS), one folder per backup in `~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup`. Each holds messages, app data, settings and, unless iCloud Photos is on, photos: typically from a few GB to over 100 GB.

## What happens if you delete it?

A deleted backup cannot be recovered. The next backup of that device starts from scratch and takes longer.

## How to remove it properly

Connect a device, select it in the Finder sidebar, click Manage Backups in the General tab, choose an old backup and click Delete Backup. Keep the most recent backup of each device you still use, or copy older ones to an external drive first.

## Before you delete it

Archived backups and encrypted backups (which also contain saved passwords and Health data) may be the only copy of that state: do not delete one you might need to restore from.