When you are using any Apple device, storage is a recurrent issue with almost every device. So, when you are browsing through your MacBook trying to figure out why some iOS files have taken up a few gigabytes of space, you aren’t the only person experiencing this issue.
If you are confused about them and whether or not it’s safe to delete these files, we’ll discuss all of that in detail in this guide for you.
Why do I have iOS files on Mac?
In most cases, we have our iPhone and an iPad backup is done to our iCloud. However, in some rare cases, you will notice that the backup is done on the Mac. This is predominant in users who use the beta version of the iOS, etc.
So, if your iPhone or iPad data is backed into your Mac instead of iCloud, that’s one of the biggest reasons why you might be having those iOS files saved on your Mac.
Should I remove the iOS files from my Mac?
Now that you know where the iOS files came from, the next logical question is thinking about whether or not you should delete those files. Is it safe? Will I end up deleting something important?
But, to answer your question, you shouldn’t have to face any kind of security issues when you delete those iOS files.
However, if your iPhone is still running on a public beta version, which imposes risks to the data, we’d recommend waiting and keeping the backup before you end up deleting them from your system.
Besides that, if you have backup data on your iCloud and have a standard version of the iOS running on your iPhone, you can delete the iOS files from the Mac.
How to Delete iOS Files on your Mac?
The easiest and safest way to delete the unwanted iOS files on your Mac is by using the Manage Storage functionality.
Here’s what you can do:
- Open the Apple Menu
- Navigate to “About this Mac” and then click on Storage
- Under Storage, click on Manage Storage
- You have to check for the iOS files available in the sidebar
- On the main window, you will find a list of iOS backups. You can choose to delete all the backup folders or you can select the individual folders you want to delete
- Once you have selected, click on Delete and then click on Confirm
- If you are deleting the backup folders individually, you can select each folder and then delete them individually.
What are some Other Ways to Free storage on your Mac?
Besides deleting the iOS files on your Mac to free up some storage, some of the other additional methods to clear out the occupied storage is:
- Deleting the junk files from your Mac
- Move or delete the larger and older files that you no longer use
- Shift the files to iCloud and use the optimized Mac Storage feature
The iOS files on your MacBook aren’t something you have to be worried about. With a few simple tricks, you should be able to get rid of them and free up the space it has been taking up.