Where iPhone stores your health information
Your iPhone keeps health data in the Health app — a built-in process that collects information from the device itself, from other apps you install, and from connected devices like smartwatches or fitness trackers. This data includes steps, heart rate, workouts, sleep, medications, medical records, and anything else you or another app has entered.
Unlike photos or messages, health data doesn't sit in one folder you can see. Instead, it lives inside the Health app's database. When you delete data from the Health app, you're removing it from that database permanently — it won't go to Trash or show up in iCloud backups made after the deletion.
If you back up your iPhone to iCloud, your health data is included in that backup. Deleting data from your phone doesn't automatically delete it from an older backup, so if you restore from an old backup, the deleted data will return.
Key Takeaways
- You delete health data one entry or one data type at a time from within the Health app — there is no "delete all" button.
- Deleting data from your iPhone does not delete it from iCloud backups made before the deletion, so restoring an old backup will bring the data back.
- Data from connected apps and devices (like Apple Watch or Fitbit) will reappear if those apps or devices sync again unless you disconnect them.
- Medical records stored in the Health app can be deleted individually, but you should verify they are also removed from your healthcare provider's system if privacy is your concern.
How to delete individual health entries
Open the Health app and tap the Browse tab at the bottom. Find the category of data you want to delete — for example, Steps, Heart Rate, or Workouts. Tap the category name to open it.
You will see a list of entries sorted by date, with the most recent at the top. Tap the entry you want to remove. A detail screen will open showing that single entry's information. Tap Edit in the top right corner, then tap Delete Entry at the bottom of the screen. Confirm by tapping Delete again.
Repeat this process for each entry you want to remove. If you have months of data, this method takes time — there is no way to select multiple entries at once or delete an entire date range in one action.
How to delete entire data categories
If you want to remove all data of one type — for example, all step counts or all sleep records — open the Health app and go to Browse. Tap the category you want to clear. Scroll to the top and tap Show All Data, then tap Edit in the top right corner.
You can now select multiple entries by tapping each one. Once you have selected the entries you want to delete, tap Delete at the bottom right. Confirm the deletion.
This method is faster than deleting one entry at a time, but you still cannot delete an entire category with a single tap. You must select each entry or group of entries manually.
Removing data from connected apps and devices
If your iPhone syncs health data from Apple Watch, Fitbit, Strava, or another app, deleting that data from the Health app does not stop the app from sending it again. The next time your watch syncs or the app refreshes, the deleted data will reappear.
To prevent this, you need to disconnect the app or device. Open the Health app, tap Browse, scroll to the bottom, and tap Data Access & Devices. Find the app or device you want to disconnect and tap it. Toggle off the permission to read and write health data, or tap Remove App if that option appears.
Once disconnected, the app or device will no longer send data to your Health app. Any data it previously sent will remain in your Health app unless you delete it manually using the steps above.
Handling medical records and sensitive data
The Health app can store medical records — documents like lab results, prescriptions, and immunization records — that you add manually or that sync from your healthcare provider's system. Deleting these from your iPhone does not delete them from your provider's records or from their system.
If you are concerned about privacy, contact your healthcare provider directly to request that they remove the records from their end as well. Some providers allow you to delete records through their patient portal; others require a written request. Deleting from your phone is a local action only.
If your provider's system automatically syncs records to your Health app, those records will reappear the next time your phone syncs with the provider's system unless you disconnect that sync.
What happens to deleted data in iCloud backups
When you delete health data from your iPhone, it is removed from your phone when ready. However, if you have iCloud backups turned on, older backups still contain that data. If you restore your iPhone from a backup made before the deletion, the deleted data will return.
To prevent this, you can turn off Health data in your iCloud backup settings. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, tap Manage Storage, tap Backups, tap your device name, and scroll down to find Health. Toggle it off. Your next backup will not include health data.
Alternatively, you can delete old backups entirely. In the same Manage Storage menu, tap Backups, tap your device name, and tap Delete Backup at the bottom. This removes the entire backup, not just health data, so you will lose other backed-up information as well.
Clearing health data when selling or giving away your iPhone
If you are selling your iPhone or giving it to someone else, deleting individual health entries is not enough — the new owner could restore from your iCloud backup and see all your health data. Instead, erase the entire phone.
Go to Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. This removes everything from the phone, including all health data, and prepares it for the next owner. You will need your Apple ID password to confirm.
Before you erase, make sure you have backed up anything you want to keep — photos, contacts, or other data — to iCloud or another location. Once you erase, that data is gone from the phone and cannot be recovered unless you restore from a backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete health data without deleting my iCloud backup?
Yes. Deleting data from your iPhone removes it from the phone but not from older iCloud backups. If you want to prevent the data from being restored later, turn off Health in your iCloud backup settings so future backups do not include it. Existing backups will still contain the old data unless you delete those backups entirely.
If I disconnect my Apple Watch, will my step count disappear?
No. Disconnecting your watch stops it from sending new data to your Health app, but data already in the app stays there. You must delete that data manually if you want it gone. Reconnecting the watch later will not bring back deleted data.
Will my doctor know if I delete medical records from my Health app?
Your doctor's system will not know you deleted records from your phone — deleting is a local action on your device only. However, if your provider's system syncs records to your Health app automatically, those records will reappear the next time your phone syncs unless you disconnect that sync in your Health app settings.
Can I recover health data after I delete it?
Data deleted from your Health app cannot be recovered from your phone. If you have an iCloud backup made before the deletion, you can restore from that backup to get the data back, but this will also restore everything else on your phone to that earlier point in time.
What's the fastest way to clear all my health data?
There is no single "delete all" option in the Health app. The fastest method is to go through each data category, tap Show All Data, select multiple entries at once, and delete them in batches. If you want to clear everything including future syncs from apps and devices, disconnect those apps and devices first, then delete the data manually.