What Happens When I Delete iCloud Backup [2024]

We’ve all been there – staring at a low iCloud storage message and considering deleting backups to free up space. But before you do, it’s essential to understand the consequences and potential loss of important files. So the answer to the question, “What happens when you delete iCloud backup?” is simple. You will essentially be saying goodbye to all the data backed up to iCloud, such as photos, videos, contacts, and documents.

But wait a minute; it’s not all bad news. There are still ways to restore your data from iCloud or make a backup on a computer. And that’s what we’ll be discussing in this blog post. So let’s start our journey from basics.

What Happens When I Delete iCloud Backup

When you delete your iCloud backup, you are permanently removing all of the data stored in that backup from iCloud servers. This includes contacts, photos, messages, and other important information you may have stored in your iCloud account. Once you delete your iCloud backup, there is no way to get that data back. Therefore, it’s essential to make sure that you have copies of any critical information somewhere else before you delete your iCloud backup.

Now that you understand the implications of What happens if you delete a backup, you may still be ready to proceed with the deletion. If so, let’s go ahead and walk you through the process. Here is how you can delete your iCloud backup.

Bonus Tip: Here are some other tips about iCloud backup.

• How to Access iCloud Backup [iPhone/PC/Mac] >
• How to Fix iCloud Backup Taking Forever Issue >

How to Delete iCloud Backup

You can delete backups either through an iOS device or through a computer. Let us walk you through the entire process step by step.

1. Deleting iCloud Backups Through an iOS Device

Here are the steps you need to follow.

Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iOS device. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.

Step 2. Select iCloud. Then tap on Manage Storage.

Step 3. Tap on the “backups” option on the screen.

Step 4. Tap on the type of backup that you want to delete.

Step 5. Confirm that you want to delete the backup.

Now let’s move on to our next method and see how to delete iCloud backups through a computer.

2. Deleting iCloud Backups Through a Computer

Most computers worldwide run two types of operating systems. They are Windows and MacOS. Considering this factor, we will explain how to delete iCloud backup using the Windows or MacOS computer separately in simple steps. Let’s get started.

Via Windows:

1. Download iCloud for Windows > Install & launch the app.
2. Open iCloud for Windows. Click on Storage.
   

   Click on Storage

3. Click on Manage. Select the backup you want to delete.
4. Click on Delete. Confirm that you want to delete the backup.

Isn’t it simple? Now let’s see the other method.

Via MacOS:

1. Open System Preferences. Select iCloud from the menu.
2. Click on Manage. Choose the backup you’d like to delete.
   

   Click on Manage

3. Click on Delete. Confirm, and it’s done.

Here’s a friendly reminder. If you’re using iCloud on multiple devices, you must delete the backup from each device individually. And, if you’re thinking about turning off iCloud Backup, just keep in mind that it’ll stop creating new backups, and any existing backups will be deleted.

What happens if I delete a backup? This means you will lose all the data stored in that backup; this is important to keep in mind. So to prevent any mishap, in the next part, we will show you an easy way to back up data to computer instead of iCloud.

Back up Data to Computer Instead of iCloud

As it is not easy to check what you have stored in iCloud, we highly recommend you protect the data by backing it up directly to your computer with a professional data management tool. AnyTrans – iPhone Data Manager is one such tool that has amazing capabilities in iOS data management, transfer, and backup.

It offers multiple backup options, including full, incremental, and wireless, making it easy to ensure that your data is always safe and secure. With just a few clicks, AnyTrans makes it easy to back up your device data and gives you peace of mind knowing that your data is protected, so you don’t have to worry about losing it again in the future. You can find more about its key features below.

• Back up all – It supports almost all data types, including contacts, call logs, text messages, photos, videos, notes, calendars, WhatsApp data, App data, and more.
• Allow preview and selection – You can view all the data freely, and then choose to back up all or part of the files according to your needs.
• Super fast and easy – Back up with simple clicks, no tech required. And the whole backup process only takes you a few minutes or even a few seconds.
• 100% security guarantee – All the data will not be transmitted to the Internet. You can also encrypt your backups. Make sure your data is accessible only to you.

Free download AnyTrans and follow the steps below to backup data to the computer instead of iCloud with the help of it:

Step 1. Launch AnyTrans on your computer > Connect your iOS device with your Computer. Then select the Backup Manager option on the left panel.

Step 2. You will see three options. Click Back Up Now in the Backup Section.

Step 3. If you want to encrypt your data, please turn on Backup Encryption. If not, just click the Back Up Now button.

Step 4. Wait for the backup process to complete. Once it is finished, you can click the View button to check.

Once the backup is complete, you can rest easy knowing that your data is safely stored on your computer and can be quickly restored. Say goodbye to the fear of data loss and try AnyTrans today to keep your iPhone data safe and secure.

Recover Data from iCloud Backup before Deleting

Before deleting iCloud backup, you can also extract data from iCloud backup for emergencies. And PhoneRescue for iOS is such a powerful tool that can help you recover data from iCloud backup quickly. PhoneRescue is a lifesaver for anyone who lost precious data on their devices. And compared to iCloud’s blind recovery, PhoneRescue allows you to freely view and choose contents you want to recover, so that you can ensure that you really get back important data instead of junk files. Read on to learn more about PhoneRescue!

In addition, PhoneRescue can also help you recover your lost data even without backup, or retrieve files from your iTunes backups. And if you meet some iOS system issues, you can turn to PhoneRescue for help as well.

Now get the latest version of PhoneRescue for free and follow the guide below to recover iCloud backup.

Step 1. Open PhoneRescue on your computer. Then choose Recover from iCloud mode in the Data Recovery list.

Step 2. Enter iCloud account credentials. Select iCloud Backup to proceed.

Step 3. Select and download the iCloud backup that you want to recover from. Then, choose the type of data you want to recover.

Step 4. Preview the data from the iCloud backup. And you can select what you want to recover. After that, click on To PC or To Device button to get them back.

The Bottom Line

Deleting an iCloud backup may seem like a good idea to free up storage space. But it comes with the risk of permanently losing data that is only stored in that backup. To avoid this, it is crucial to have other copies of your data and to back up your device regularly.

In this case, tools like PhoneRescue and AnyTrans can be beneficial as they not only allow you to recover deleted data from iCloud backup but also help you to create a backup of your device’s data on your computer. Let us know in the comments if you successfully recovered your iCloud Backup using the abovementioned steps.