Can I delete iPhone software update files on my Mac?

Q: Where are the.ipsw files?

ls -lh ~/Library/iTunes/*Software\ Updates/ The folder is still called iTunes, even though Finder does the updating since macOS Catalina. If the folders don't exist, there are none. An.ipsw you downloaded yourself is usually in Downloads.

Q: How do I delete them?

In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder, type ~/Library/iTunes, open the Software Updates folders and move the.ipsw files to the Trash. Or in System Settings › General › Storage, click the info button next to iOS Files. It lists device backups and software updates together: delete only the software updates if you want to keep the backups.

Updated November 3, 2026

Each time you update or restore an iPhone or iPad from your Mac, Finder downloads that device's system software, an .ipsw file of several gigabytes, and keeps it afterwards.

The short answer: yes. The files are in ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates (and iPad Software Updates). Finder downloads them again the next time it updates or restores a device. They are not backups: your iPhone's data is in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup, which is a different thing.

Where are the .ipsw files?

ls -lh ~/Library/iTunes/*Software\ Updates/

The folder is still called iTunes, even though Finder does the updating since macOS Catalina. If the folders don't exist, there are none. An .ipsw you downloaded yourself is usually in Downloads.

How do I delete them?

In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder, type ~/Library/iTunes, open the Software Updates folders and move the .ipsw files to the Trash.
Or in System Settings › General › Storage, click the info button next to iOS Files. It lists device backups and software updates together: delete only the software updates if you want to keep the backups.

Is it safe to delete .ipsw files?

Yes. The only cost is time: the next update or restore of that device downloads the file again. Keep it only if you're about to restore a device without a fast internet connection.

Are iPhone backups the same thing?

No. A backup holds the data of a device: messages, photos, settings. Delete one only if you have another backup of that device, for example in iCloud. You can manage them in Finder: select the iPhone in the sidebar and click Manage Backups.