Finding an iPhone backup on your Mac starts with knowing whether it was saved locally or in iCloud. You can open the local backup folder without connecting your iPhone. For a specific backup or one stored in iCloud, the controls below take you to the right place.
Open the iPhone backup folder in Finder
Open Finder. Choose Go > Go to Folder from the menu bar. Paste ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ into the field.
Press Return to open your Mac user account’s local backup directory. Finder backups and existing iTunes backups use this location, including on macOS 27 Golden Gate and macOS Tahoe 26.
Tip: With Finder active, press Shift-Command-G to open the same folder-navigation field directly. You can also navigate through your user Library if the backup directory exists.
In Finder, hold Option while opening Go, then choose Library. Use the Library belonging to your Mac user account. From there, open Application Support, then MobileSync, then Backup to reach the same local backup directory.
If the folder is missing or empty
The path points only to your current Mac user account. The ~ character means your home folder, so an empty or missing directory does not rule out a backup in another Mac account, on another computer, or in a third-party app’s location.
For iCloud backups, open Apple menu > System Settings > your name > iCloud > Manage > Backups on your Mac to inspect the device list. Sign in to the Apple Account used for the backup if prompted.
This screen shows cloud backup records. Selecting a device and clicking Delete or the Remove button deletes its cloud backup and stops automatic iCloud backup for that device. On your iPhone, open Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup to check which devices have iCloud Backup enabled.
Identify a specific backup with Manage Backups
Finder’s backup manager identifies individual backups and reveals their folders. Connect your iPhone to the Mac with a USB cable. Open Finder.
Select your iPhone in the sidebar. Complete any trust prompts. Click General, then click Manage Backups.
Inspect the backups’ dates and times to identify the one you need. A lock beside the device name identifies an encrypted backup. Right-click the desired backup, then choose Show in Finder to open its location. The same menu also offers Delete and Archive.
Click OK in the backup manager when finished. Another way to inspect available local backups is through Restore Backup with your connected iPhone selected in Finder. Select Restore Backup to review the available backups and their dates. This is a restore selector, not a file browser, so stop before confirming Restore if you only want to identify a backup.
Check local backups in Storage settings
Open Apple menu > System Settings. Select General, then click Storage. Find the iOS files category. The categories shown depend on the files present on your Mac.
Click its Info button. Inspect the listed backups and firmware. Tip: Select an item and click Delete only when you intend to remove it.
For backups managed by iMazing
If you used iMazing to manage your backups, its folder-reveal control also locates backups stored outside Apple’s default directory. In iMazing, select the device or backup.
Open Tools. Under Backup, choose Show in Finder to open the containing backup folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find backups made with Apple Configurator?
Open Apple Configurator > Settings > Backups. Enter a backup name in the search field. Press Return to search, or click a column heading to sort the backups.
What should I do if my connected iPhone is missing from Finder?
Choose Finder > Settings. Enable CDs, DVDs and iOS Devices. Select your connected iPhone in the sidebar to reach its backup controls.
Can I browse or download an iPhone backup from iCloud.com?
iCloud.com/storage shows storage consumption by app and feature. Apple provides no documented method there for browsing or downloading an iPhone backup.
Why do older instructions tell me to use iTunes?
Those instructions apply to macOS Mojave 10.14 and earlier. Finder handles this backup workflow on macOS Catalina 10.15 and later.