Can I delete iPhone backups on my Mac?

What it is

Local backups of your iPhone or iPad. Delete a backup only if the device also backs up to iCloud, or you have a newer one.

Where it is on your Mac

• ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

The ~ is your home folder. In Finder, Go → Go to Folder… opens any of these.

Is it safe to delete?

Backup recommended. Your data. Move it to another drive, or pick items one at a time.

What each of the four levels allows.

Doing it yourself

1. Open System Settings → General → Storage.
2. Click the ⓘ beside iOS Files.
3. Select the backups you no longer need and click Delete.

With the device connected, you can also select it in the Finder sidebar and click Manage Backups.

What RefreshYourMac does with it

Rated Backup recommended. There is no bulk clean: you pick items one at a time, or move them to another drive with Move to…, which frees the same space and loses nothing.

Anything you do remove goes to the Trash, where it stays until you empty it.

The download edition measures it; the Mac App Store edition does not include it. In the app it is under Apps & App Data.

Other things it measures

• Google Chrome Cache
• Message Attachments
• Application Support
• System & App Logs
• Everything RefreshYourMac measures