Why Is My iPhone Backup So Big? How to Shrink It
Last updated July 22, 2026
Your iPhone backup is so big mostly because of photos, videos, and years of text message attachments. When iCloud Photos and Messages in iCloud are turned off, all of that data piles straight into the backup.
App data adds to it too, since some apps store gigabytes on your phone.
The fastest fix is to look inside the backup and turn off the apps you do not need. The steps below show you exactly where to tap.
What Makes an iPhone Backup So Big
A few things do most of the damage. Here is what usually fills the backup and what to do about each one.
| Culprit | Why it fills the backup | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and videos | Camera roll is huge, especially 4K video | Turn on iCloud Photos |
| Message attachments | Years of photos and videos sent in texts | Turn on Messages in iCloud, delete big attachments |
| App data | Downloaded shows, podcasts, and games store data locally | Turn off backup for apps you do not need |
| Old backups | Backups from old phones still sit in iCloud | Delete backups you no longer use |
Your very first backup on a new phone is also large, because it takes a full picture of everything at once. Later backups only save what changed, so they are smaller.
See What Is Eating Your Backup
Start by looking inside the backup so you know what to trim.
- Open the Settings app (the gray gear icon).
- Tap your name at the very top of the screen.
- Tap iCloud, then Manage Account Storage (older phones say Manage Storage).
- Tap Backups, then tap the one labeled This iPhone.
- Tap Show All Apps to see the full list, biggest first.
Now you can see which apps take the most room. The top of that list is where your savings are.
Turn Off Backup for Apps You Do Not Need
Many apps do not need to be in your backup at all. Streaming apps, social apps, and anything that already keeps your data on its own servers can be turned off safely.
- On that same Show All Apps screen, find an app you do not need to back up.
- Tap the switch next to it to turn it off.
- Tap Turn Off to confirm.
This stops the app from backing up and also removes that app’s old backup data from iCloud. Your next backup will be smaller right away.
Leave backup on for apps whose data only lives on your phone, like a notes app or a game with no online account.
Move Photos Out of the Backup With iCloud Photos
Photos and videos are almost always the biggest part of a backup. Turning on iCloud Photos moves them out of the backup and into iCloud on their own.
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap iCloud, then Photos.
- Turn on Sync this iPhone.
This shrinks the backup, but the photos still use iCloud storage. It stops the photos from being counted twice, which is the real win. If your iPhone storage is tight, this also frees room on the phone. Curious who can see them once they are in the cloud? See our note on who can view your iCloud photos.
Turn On Messages in iCloud
Text threads full of photos and videos can be gigabytes on their own. Messages in iCloud syncs them to iCloud instead of stuffing them in the backup.
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap iCloud, then Show All, then Messages.
- Turn on Sync this iPhone.
Your conversations stay safe, and the backup gets lighter.
Delete Old Backups You No Longer Use
Backups from phones you no longer own can sit in iCloud for years, quietly eating space.
- Go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Manage Account Storage.
- Tap Backups.
- Tap any old device you no longer use and choose Turn Off & Delete from iCloud.
Only delete a backup for a phone you are truly done with. If you might restore it, leave it alone. If you share an account with family, our guide on backing up two iPhones explains how separate backups work.
Clear Big Message Attachments
Even with Messages in iCloud on, you can free space by deleting the largest attachments you no longer want.
- Open Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage.
- Tap Messages.
- Under Review Large Attachments, tap Edit, then delete the big videos and photos you do not need.
These old clips are often the single biggest hidden drain. For more ways to move data into iCloud storage, we have a full guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning on iCloud Photos make my backup smaller?
Yes. iCloud Photos moves your photos and videos out of the device backup, so the backup shrinks. The photos still use iCloud storage, but they are no longer counted inside the backup too.
Is it safe to turn off backup for an app?
Usually yes, especially for apps that store your data online, like streaming and social apps. Keep backup on for apps whose data only lives on your phone, so you do not lose it.
Why is my first iPhone backup so much bigger?
The first backup saves a complete copy of everything on the phone. After that, each backup only records what changed, so later backups are much smaller.
Where do I see what is using my iCloud backup?
Go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Manage Account Storage, then Backups, then This iPhone. Tap Show All Apps to see the biggest space users, listed from largest to smallest.