To delete a backup from Google Drive, go to drive.google.com on a computer, click Storage in the left menu, and open the Backups tab (or go straight to drive.google.com/drive/backups). Right-click the backup you want to remove, or click its three dots, and choose Delete backup, then confirm. Device backups are removed permanently, so only delete backups for phones you no longer need to restore. On Android, you can also manage backups in the Google One app or in Settings > Google > Backup.
This guide covers deleting phone backups, WhatsApp and other app backups, what happens after you delete, and how to free up storage safely.
What counts as a Google Drive backup
- Device backups – Android phone backups (apps, call history, settings, SMS, and more).
- App data backups – hidden data some apps, like WhatsApp, store in your Drive.
- Computer backups – folders backed up from a PC or Mac with Google Drive for desktop appear as Computers in Drive, not under Backups.
Delete a device backup on a computer
- Go to drive.google.com and sign in.
- Click Storage in the left menu.
- Open the Backups tab at the top (or click Backups in the top-right corner of the Storage page).
- Right-click the backup, or click its three dots, and choose Delete backup.
- Click Delete to confirm.
Delete a backup on Android
- Open the Google One app (or Settings > Google > Backup).
- Go to Storage or Backup and find the device backup.
- Tap it and choose Delete backup, or turn off backup for the current device.
Menu names vary by Android version and phone maker. Deleting the backup for your current phone doesn’t stop future backups unless you also turn backup off.
Delete WhatsApp and other app backups
- WhatsApp – in WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup and turn off Google Drive backups. Older WhatsApp backups can be removed from Drive under Settings (gear) > Settings > Manage apps > WhatsApp > Options > Delete hidden app data. Note that WhatsApp backups on Android now count toward Google storage.
- Other apps – on the same Manage apps page, click Options next to an app and choose Delete hidden app data.
What happens after you delete a backup
- The backup is gone permanently; it doesn’t go to Trash.
- You can’t restore that device’s data from Google later.
- Storage space is freed, though it can take a little while to update.
- Unused backups also expire automatically: Google deletes a device backup if the device hasn’t been used for 57 days, per Google’s help page.
Other ways to free up Google storage
- Visit one.google.com/storage/management to find large files, emails, and photos.
- Empty Trash in Drive and Gmail.
- Delete large attachments in Gmail by searching has:attachment larger:10M.
More ways to save space: how to manage Google storage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recover a deleted backup?
No. Deleted backups can’t be recovered.
Why can’t I see the Backups tab?
You may not have any device backups, or you’re using the mobile app; open Drive in a desktop browser.
Does deleting a backup delete my photos?
No. Google Photos is separate from device backups.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.