How to remove a file from an old iPad backup, still showing up in Finder

Question

Level 1

56 points

How to remove a file from an old iPad backup, still showing up in Finder

I purchased a new iPad Air to replace an older (vintage) iPad. I deleted all my personal information and took all that is necessary when an iPad (or other device) will be recycled. Of course I checked the iPad and as far as I could see, the iPad showed no personal files, photos, movies or what so ever. So I recycled it. After a while-maybe a couple of weeks later- I connected my iPad Air with my computer. To my surprise Finder showed a movie (perhaps from an older backup?) I once stored on the iPad to show to colleagues on a reunion. I absolutely don't want this file to be found on my iPad Air or Mac mini. This has nothing to do with secrecy or compromising material but some colleagues have passed away and it is more a matter of privacy of and respect for those people. Now my problem: Finder shows this:

I tried to remove the file but that doesn't work. Than I tried to restore the file from the (supposed) backup to my iPad Air and then to delete from there.

Finder shows me this:

Finder can't find the file, but in my view it must be "somewhere" otherwise how can Finder show it? I have looked at the iPad Air from left to right and top to bottom but no file with the name exists anywhere, so it must be hidden somewhere in the Macmini.

Any suggestions how I can proceed further? I don't have the original file anymore.

Please give me some hints, and as always: thanks a lot for your time and help.

Hans

Mac mini, macOS 15.5

Posted on Aug 2, 2025 4:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 3, 2025 3:16 AM in response to hanyvo

Clearly your iPad doesn't have a Finder App - this being a Mac application.

Presumably your query refers to the device backup that you have created on your Mac. To the best of my knowledge, the backup file itself is not editable - and as such, individual files within the backup cannot be deleted from it.

The backup is effectively a snapshot in time, containing all the files that existed on the iPad when the backup was created.

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 2, 2025 10:49 AM in response to hanyvo

When preparing your old iPad, did you follow this process?

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Regardless, a local data stored of the iPad is protected by the iPad's encrypted file system. Entering the correct passcode unlocks the iPad's security chip - within which the only copy of the encryption keys, required to access the encrypted data, are stored. If you followed the process linked above, the encryption keys will have been securely erased - and no data can be recovered from the iPad by anyone.

If you didn't follow the documented process, any residual data is still protected by the encrypted file system. Without the correct passcode, any and all residual locally stored data will remain beyond reach. Be aware that the iPad will only permit a limited number of attempts to enter the correct passcode - after which the iPad is automatically disabled. Once disabled, the iPad will remain unusable and all locally stored data is permanently unrecoverable.

Reply

Answer 3

hanyvo Author

Level 1

56 points

Aug 2, 2025 3:16 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thanks for your reaction LotusPilot, and as I mentioned before - maybe not so clearly- I followed all the precautions given in the link you gave. At that time I thought that was sufficient so I recycled the iPad and it is gone now. But how can it be that Finder shows the name of the file when I connect my iPad Air with my computer. The iPad Air never "saw" the old iPad because this iPad was recycled already by then. Or maybe Finder is showing only the info (ie metadata) of the file, but what is the location of this info?

Hans

Reply

Answer 4

hanyvo Author

Level 1

56 points

Aug 3, 2025 12:46 AM in response to David M Brewer

Sorry, did I suggest that iPad has Finder? I thought it to be obvious that I used Finder via my Mac mini. When the iPad Air is connected to the Mac mini with a cable then it is shown in the sidebar of Finder (Mac mini). Clicking on it shows more of the iPad Air.

After clicking on it and then the movies tab:

Hans

Reply

Answer 5

hanyvo Author

Level 1

56 points

Aug 3, 2025 8:55 AM in response to LotusPilot

This is weird: I never made a backup of the iPad Air, and never the less THIS file - which was on the old iPad - is shown as if it exists on the iPad Air. When the snapshot contains all the files (of the old iPad) they must be somewhere otherwise, how is Finder to know the name and size of this file. When individual files cannot be deleted, maybe the backup file as a whole can be deleted and after that create a new backup without this file? Is that a feasible scenario?

Or is a reset of the iPad Air better?

Hans

Reply

Answer 6

Aug 2, 2025 4:41 PM in response to hanyvo

Just one correction to your question. The iPad doesn’t have a Finder.

Reply