{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-are-iphone-software-update-files-on-my-mac","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-iphone-software-update-files-on-my-mac","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"iphone-backups","title":"iPhone and iPad backups and updates"},"question":"What are iPhone software update files on my Mac, and can I delete them?","alt_questions":["ipsw files mac","iphone software updates folder mac","delete ios update files mac","ipad software update taking space","ipsw storage location"],"short_answer":"They're .ipsw software files your Mac downloaded to update or restore a device. They're safe to delete; Finder downloads a fresh copy if needed.","answer_markdown":"When you update or restore an iPhone or iPad through Finder, your Mac downloads the device's software (an .ipsw file) and may keep it afterwards. These files are several gigabytes each and are only needed again for another restore of that same software.\n\nYou can delete them; Storage settings' **iOS Files** section lists them alongside backups. Finder will download a fresh copy if it ever needs one.","answer_html":"<p>When you update or restore an iPhone or iPad through Finder, your Mac downloads the device&#39;s software (an .ipsw file) and may keep it afterwards. These files are several gigabytes each and are only needed again for another restore of that same software.</p>\n<p>You can delete them; Storage settings&#39; <strong>iOS Files</strong> section lists them alongside backups. Finder will download a fresh copy if it ever needs one.</p>","answer_text":"When you update or restore an iPhone or iPad through Finder, your Mac downloads the device's software (an .ipsw file) and may keep it afterwards. These files are several gigabytes each and are only needed again for another restore of that same software.\n\nYou can delete them; Storage settings' iOS Files section lists them alongside backups. Finder will download a fresh copy if it ever needs one.","tags":["ipsw","iphone","updates"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-is-the-ios-files-category-in-storage-settings","question":"What is iOS Files in Storage settings?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-the-ios-files-category-in-storage-settings"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-delete-old-iphone-backups-on-a-mac","question":"How do I delete old iPhone backups from my Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-delete-old-iphone-backups-on-a-mac"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What are iPhone software update files on my Mac, and can I delete them? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"They're .ipsw software files your Mac downloaded to update or restore a device. They're safe to delete; Finder downloads a fresh copy if needed.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"What are iPhone software update files on my Mac, and can I delete them?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-iphone-software-update-files-on-my-mac"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-iphone-software-update-files-on-my-mac","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What are iPhone software update files on my Mac, and can I delete them?","alternateName":["ipsw files mac","iphone software updates folder mac","delete ios update files mac","ipad software update taking space","ipsw storage location"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"When you update or restore an iPhone or iPad through Finder, your Mac downloads the device's software (an .ipsw file) and may keep it afterwards. These files are several gigabytes each and are only needed again for another restore of that same software.\n\nYou can delete them; Storage settings' iOS Files section lists them alongside backups. Finder will download a fresh copy if it ever needs one.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-iphone-software-update-files-on-my-mac"}}]},"fragment":"<div class=\"wrap fl-wrap\"><div class=\"fl-layout\"><aside class=\"fl-side\" aria-label=\"FAQ topics\"><details open><summary>All topics</summary><ul class=\"fl-tree\"><li><a href=\"/faq/getting-started/\">Getting started</a> <span>70</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/freeing-space/\">Freeing up space</a> <span>182</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/moving-folders/\">Moving folders</a> <span>144</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/apps/\">Apps</a> <span>146</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/external-drives/\">External drives</a> <span>169</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/finder-location/\">Finding things in Finder</a> <span>70</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/cloud-accounts/\">Cloud accounts</a> <span>158</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/icloud/\">iCloud &amp; iCloud Photos</a> <span>168</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/data-transfers/\">Data Transfers</a> <span>119</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/backups/\">Backups &amp; restore points</a> <span>126</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/delta-drive/\">Delta Drive, Delta Trust &amp; My Drive</a> <span>125</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/bridge-devices/\">Bridge &amp; your devices</a> <span>111</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/duplicates/\">Duplicate files</a> <span>74</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/junk-yard/\">Junk Yard</a> <span>113</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/tuhi-assistant/\">Tuhi, your storage assistant</a> <span>105</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/settings/\">Settings &amp; keep-time</a> <span>88</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/performance-battery/\">Performance &amp; battery</a> <span>62</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/privacy-safety/\">Privacy &amp; safety</a> <span>85</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/licensing-payments/\">Licensing &amp; payments</a> <span>131</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/troubleshooting/\">Troubleshooting &amp; messages</a> <span>180</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/comparisons/\">Comparisons &amp; alternatives</a> <span>75</span></li><li class=\"fl-open\"><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/\" aria-current=\"true\">Mac storage basics</a> <span>315</span><ul><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#storage-overview\">Checking your storage</a> <span>18</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#system-data\">System Data and the storage categories</a> <span>11</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#purgeable-snapshots\">Purgeable space and local snapshots</a> <span>9</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#caches-temp-logs\">Caches, logs and temporary files</a> <span>19</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#finding-big-files\">Finding big files, Downloads and the Trash</a> <span>26</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#photos-music-video\">Photos, music and video</a> <span>27</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#mail-messages\">Mail, Messages and chat apps</a> <span>14</span></li><li class=\"fl-on\"><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#iphone-backups\">iPhone and iPad backups and updates</a> <span>12</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#developer-space\">Developer tools</a> <span>22</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#apps-macos\">Apps and macOS itself</a> <span>20</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#disks-formats\">Disks, APFS and formats</a> <span>24</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#external-storage\">External storage and adding space</a> <span>13</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#memory-performance\">Memory, swap and speed</a> <span>9</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#full-disk\">When the disk is full</a> <span>8</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#erase-security\">Erasing, encryption and selling a Mac</a> <span>6</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#time-machine\">Time Machine basics</a> <span>18</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#finder-tools\">Finder tools for finding space</a> <span>10</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#library-folders\">Library folders explained</a> <span>6</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#browsers-everyday-apps\">Browsers and everyday apps</a> <span>10</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#creative-media\">Creative and media apps</a> <span>7</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#games-virtual-machines\">Games and virtual machines</a> <span>5</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#dev-languages\">Programming languages and toolchains</a> <span>12</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#updates-installers\">macOS updates and installers</a> <span>5</span></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#accounts-system-extras\">User accounts, voices and system extras</a> <span>4</span></li></ul></li></ul></details></aside><div class=\"fl-main\"><nav class=\"fl-crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><ol><li><a href=\"/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"/faq/\">FAQ</a></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/\">Mac storage basics</a></li><li aria-current=\"page\">What are iPhone software update files on my Mac, and can I delete them?</li></ol></nav>\n<form class=\"fl-search\" action=\"/faq/search\" method=\"get\" role=\"search\" data-fl-search>\n<label class=\"fl-visually-hidden\" for=\"fl-q\">Search the FAQ</label>\n<input id=\"fl-q\" type=\"search\" name=\"q\" value=\"\" placeholder=\"Search 2,816 questions…\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\">\n<button type=\"submit\">Search</button>\n<div class=\"fl-suggest\" role=\"listbox\" hidden></div>\n</form>\n<article class=\"fl-entry\">\n<p class=\"eyebrow fl-eyebrow\"><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/\">Mac storage basics</a> · <a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/#iphone-backups\">iPhone and iPad backups and updates</a></p>\n<h1>What are iPhone software update files on my Mac, and can I delete them?</h1>\n<p class=\"fl-short\"><strong>Short answer:</strong> They&#39;re .ipsw software files your Mac downloaded to update or restore a device. They&#39;re safe to delete; Finder downloads a fresh copy if needed.</p>\n<div class=\"fl-answer\"><p>When you update or restore an iPhone or iPad through Finder, your Mac downloads the device&#39;s software (an .ipsw file) and may keep it afterwards. These files are several gigabytes each and are only needed again for another restore of that same software.</p>\n<p>You can delete them; Storage settings&#39; <strong>iOS Files</strong> section lists them alongside backups. Finder will download a fresh copy if it ever needs one.</p></div>\n\n<p class=\"fl-meta\">Last reviewed <time datetime=\"2026-10-01\">October 1, 2026</time></p>\n\n<section class=\"fl-related\"><h2>Related questions</h2><ul><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-the-ios-files-category-in-storage-settings\">What is iOS Files in Storage settings?</a></li><li><a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-delete-old-iphone-backups-on-a-mac\">How do I delete old iPhone backups from my Mac?</a></li></ul></section>\n<p class=\"fl-formats\">Also available as <a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-iphone-software-update-files-on-my-mac.md\">Markdown</a> and <a href=\"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-iphone-software-update-files-on-my-mac.json\">JSON</a>.</p>\n</article></div></div></div>"}