TidyMaciPhone and iPad backups made with Finder are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. Each one is a full copy of the device and is often 10 GB or more. Delete a backup only if the device also backs up to iCloud or you no longer have it; the device itself is not affected.
The five questions
Full copies of your iPhone or iPad, made when you backed up to this Mac with Finder.
Each backup holds photos, messages and app data, so one can easily be 10 GB or more.
Only if you don't need it. If the device also backs up to iCloud, or you no longer have it, old backups are usually safe to remove.
You can't restore that device from this backup. The device itself is not affected.
Only if you back up to this Mac again.
How big it gets: 5–60 GB per device. Macs used to back up several family devices, or old phones that were traded in years ago, often carry 50 GB or more.
Where it lives: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup
Finding out which backup is which
Backup folders have random-looking names. Inside each one, an Info.plist file records the device name and the date of the last backup. TidyMac reads that file and shows "Priya's iPhone, 3 days ago" instead of a 40-character folder name.
The safe order of operations
- Check that the device backs up to iCloud (Settings, your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup) or that you no longer need it.
- Remove the oldest backups first. The newest backup of a device you still use is the one to keep.
- Use Finder's Manage Backups or TidyMac, which move the backup to the Trash so you can still change your mind.
Do it yourself
In Finder, select the device in the sidebar, click Manage Backups, choose a backup and click Delete Backup.
ls -la ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup/
See your own iphone and ipad backups in seconds
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Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to delete iphone and ipad backups on a Mac?
Only if you don't need it. If the device also backs up to iCloud, or you no longer have it, old backups are usually safe to remove.
Why are my iphone and ipad backups so big?
Each backup holds photos, messages and app data, so one can easily be 10 GB or more.
What happens after I remove iphone and ipad backups?
You can't restore that device from this backup. The device itself is not affected.
Will iphone and ipad backups come back?
Only if you back up to this Mac again.
How do I clean iphone and ipad backups manually?
In Finder, select the device in the sidebar, click Manage Backups, choose a backup and click Delete Backup.