Why can’t I remove the oldest backups to get more room for the latest backups

It's not always the iOS update's fault!  Many things can cause phone problems.  If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.

Remember, the right question often leads to the solution! Please look in the right direction.

iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.

Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.

Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.

See what each update does: About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...

When you take a backup of your device using iCloud or iTunes, the previous backup is overwritten with the new one each time. This means that the new backup replaces the existing backup, and you do not have multiple backups stored for the same device on iCloud or iTunes.

To understand this, let's take a closer look at iCloud and iTunes backups:

1. iCloud Backup: When you enable iCloud Backup on your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch), it automatically backs up your device's data to your iCloud storage. This includes your device settings, app data, photos, videos, messages, and more. Each time you initiate a backup, it replaces the previous backup stored on iCloud with the new one. This ensures that you have the most recent backup available in case you need to restore your device.
2. iTunes Backup: If you choose to back up your device using iTunes on your computer, a similar process occurs. Each time you perform an iTunes backup, it overwrites the previous backup with the latest data from your device. This ensures that the backup reflects the current state of your device's data and settings. You have an option here in iTunes to archive the old backup thus creating multiple backups for the same device. (See the GIF below at the end of this post to understand how multiple backups are created and stored.)

In both cases, whether you use iCloud or iTunes, the backup process replaces the previous backup entirely. This means that you cannot access multiple backups for the same device on iCloud or iTunes. The backup you have is a snapshot of your device's data at the time of the backup. If you need to restore your device from a backup, you will be restoring it to the state it was in when that specific backup was taken.

It's worth noting that you can manually initiate backups at any time to ensure you have the most up-to-date backup available. However, it's essential to understand that each new backup will overwrite the previous one, and you will not have multiple backups stored for a single device on iCloud or iTunes.

How to create Multiple Backups for the same device.

1. On iTunes Click on Manage Backups
2. Right Click on a Backup and Click Archive
3. Click Backup Now.
4. You will see a fresh backup will get created See the GIF below