There are many options at your disposal to backup your devices and iCloud is one of these reputable ways. Backing up your data enables you to restore data even in cases of mobile theft or a malfunction that might make the device dysfunctional. Besides, there can be many conditions that necessitate you to delete a backup. It could be for creating storage space or any other reason. If you are unaware of how to delete iCloud backup, then you can learn the steps here.
Methods to Delete an iCloud Backup
1] Delete Full iCloud Backup Via iOS Device
First, you need to access iCloud Settings.
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Launch the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone.
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See your name at the top of the screen. Click it to access your Apple ID settings.
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Scroll down and select ‘iCloud’ from the list of options.
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Click ‘Manage Account Storage’ and then tap on ‘Backups’.
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Click on your iPhone’s name. You will see a list of apps.
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At the end, you’ll see an option to ‘Delete Backup’. Tap on this option.
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On a confirmation popup, it will ask you if you want to turn off the backup and delete the backup data from iCloud.
If you permit to do it, then the iOS iCloud backup will be deleted. It might take quite a while to do this, given the size of your backup and Internet connection speed. In order to check if the backup was successfully erased or not, navigate to
Manage Account Storage → Backups
You should no longer see your device listed. This confirms that the iCloud backup has been deleted successfully.
2] Delete Partial iCloud Backup via iOS Device
Maybe you need to delete backups only for particular applications. In that case, follow these steps.
- Navigate to Settings → Your Name → iCloud → Manage Account Storage → Backups → Your iPhone’s Name as you did for the previous method.
- This time, do not click the ‘Delete Backup’ at the end. Instead, toggle off the apps for which you do not need the backup.
- It will ask for a confirmation.
3] Delete iCloud Backup on Mac
You do not always need to delete backups from iPhone settings. You can achieve it from your PC. For a Mac, follow these steps.
- Click on the Apple icon on your Mac.
- Go to ’System Preferences’.
- Tap on your Apple ID and then choose iCloud from the options in the sidebar.
- Click the ‘Manage’ button to open the storage manager section.
- Choose ‘Backups’ and select the backup you desire to delete.
4] Delete iCloud Backup from Windows’s Desktop App
To do this, you need to access your iCloud via a desktop application. Here is how you do it.
- Download and install the desktop app either from Apple’s official website or from the Microsoft Store if you do not have it.
- Launch the app and sign in with your credentials.
- Click on the ‘Storage’ and tap on the ‘Backups’.
- Click the delete option to delete the backup.
Tips on Saving Storage
Do not take backups of apps with huge data. If your iOS device is running iOS 17 or above, you will be able to see recommended suggestions to clear up some space. Data for apps like photos should be stored on a PC or Google Drive because they provide more storage capacity without any charges. To delete the iCloud backup of your photos, navigate to
Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Manage Account Storage → Photos → Disable and Delete
Conclusion
Deleting an iCloud backup is a straightforward process that can be done directly from your iOS device’s settings and even your PC. By following the steps outlined above, you can safely delete your iCloud backups and manage your iCloud storage effectively. To avoid data loss, back up important data before proceeding and verify the deletion to ensure that it was successful.
