In this tutorial, we will go over how to clear up iCloud storage, and we will see what happens when iCloud is full. Finally, we will also briefly tell you how to manage iCloud storage and keep it free to ensure a good experience. Show
What is iCloud storage?iCloud is Apple’s online service responsible for wirelessly syncing your data across your various Apple devices and the web. It also offers storage options for your photos, videos, files, device backups, third-party app data, and more. You get 5 GB of free iCloud space when you create an Apple ID. In most cases, this isn’t enough, and due to Apple’s practices (like enabling iCloud Photos and Mac Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud Drive by default), you will fill it up in a few days or weeks. Once your iCloud storage is full, you have the option to buy more. But not everyone wants that. In that case, you can free up iCloud space to keep syncing and storing new content. Why is iCloud storage full?The main reasons your iCloud storage may be filled up are:
How to check your iCloud storageWhen your iCloud space is about to fill up, you’ll be constantly reminded via popups saying Not Enough Storage, iCloud Storage Full, Upgrade Storage, etc. You can find out how much free space you have on iCloud by going to the Settings app > your name from the top > iCloud. Here you’ll see a bar graph. To better under what is taking up your iCloud space, tap Manage Storage. As you can see in these screenshots, I’m on the free 5 GB plan. Most of my iCloud is occupied by WhatsApp backup, iPhone backup, iCloud email, iCloud Drive, Voice Memos, Notes, Messages, Books, and third-party apps like Over. Related: How to see the amount of iCloud storage each family member is using What will happen if you don’t manage iCloud storage?If you do not free your iCloud space, it’ll lead to the following issues:
What will continue to work normally even after iCloud storage is full?Several features, despite being a part of iCloud, do not count against your iCloud Storage and will continue to work normally even when your iCloud space is full. These are:
And as always, the rest of the iPhone features like sending and receiving iMessage, FaceTime, normal calls, texts, app downloads, and everything else will stay as it is. How to delete iCloud storage and free online spaceHere are some of the most effective ways to clean up iCloud storage. Feel free to skip those recommendations that are essential to you and not worth disabling. 1. Turn off iCloud PhotosiCloud Photos is the number one reason why your iCloud space is full. And to be fair, this isn’t your fault. Irrespective of how many iPhones, iPads, and Macs you own, Apple gives you a mere 5 GB free iCloud storage with your Apple ID. But when you set up your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it automatically enables iCloud Photos. Normal folks don’t have much idea about it and don’t think about turning it off. They use the iPhone camera to shoot pictures, and all these are backed up, quickly filling up the iCloud storage. To free iCloud space, open the Photos app and delete unnecessary pictures. This will also delete them from iCloud. Make sure you remove them from the Recently Deleted section too. Next, transfer valuable photos and videos to a computer, external hard disk, Google Drive, Google Photos, etc. Must see: How to access photos on iCloud using iPhone, iPad, Mac, and a web browser Once you have removed unnecessary images and secured the meaningful ones, follow these steps one by one on all your Apple devices to turn off iCloud Photos: On iPhone and iPad:
On Mac:
Since your photos are no longer backed up automatically to iCloud, make sure you use something like Google Drive or transfer them often to your computer. 2. Delete files from iCloud DriveHere’s how to clear iCloud Drive to free up your iCloud storage: On iPhone and iPad:
On Mac:
3. Set Safari downloads to local storageHere’s how to prevent Safari from downloading content to iCloud Drive and occupying iCloud storage:
4. Manage your devices iCloud backupsBackups are another huge occupier of your iCloud space. To manage this properly, you have the following options: 1) Turn off iCloud Backups: I don’t recommend this as it’s essential to back up your data. But, if you decide to turn it off, make sure you back up your iPhone or iPad to a Mac or PC or an external drive. 2) Choose only essential apps to backup to iCloud: I strongly recommend selective app backup as I do this on my iPhone to manage 5 GB iCloud plan. It backs up only data from essential apps and ignores unnecessary ones like Facebook, Instagram, etc. 3) Delete old device backups: You must do this as there is no substantial point in keeping backup files of devices you no longer have, use, or care about. 5. Delete unwanted attachments from iCloud MailHave emails in your iCloud email with old receipts, PDFs, presentations, and such that you no longer need? Open the Mail app and delete such emails. If an email has a paper clip icon, that means there is an attachment. Delete such emails. Regular text-only emails are tiny in size, and deleting them won’t free much iCloud space. 6. Stop third-party apps from backing up to iCloudSeveral apps like WhatsApp, photo editing ones, notes, expense reports, etc., store their data or backup files in iCloud. This is a handy feature that I recommend using. But if there are apps that you no longer use, you can delete their data from your iCloud. Here’s how: On iPhone or iPad:
On Mac:
You can also prevent unnecessary apps from storing data to your iCloud Drive from the previous screen (Settings > your name > iCloud > scroll to the bottom to see third-party apps and turn them off.) 7. Delete Notes, Messages, iMovie projects, etc.After seeing which apps and services occupy the most space, you can turn them off or delete unwanted files from them. If you have several unnecessary notes with media, message conversations, or iMovie projects, consider deleting them to free iCloud space. Another solution is to add your Google or other account and store notes in them. 8. Disable Desktop and Documents on MacJust like iCloud Photos, when you set up your new or erased Mac and enable iCloud Drive, Desktop & Documents Folders is checked by default. This means that every file you have on your Mac’s desktop and documents folder will be uploaded to iCloud Drive for safekeeping. If you’re on the 5 GB plan, this will fill it up almost instantly. So, here’s how to disable it:
Reclaim your iCloud space!After following all or some of the recommendations above, you should have freed up significant iCloud space. I mean, it’s easy:
If you do not wish to delete photos, files, and backups from iCloud and still want no popups and a seamless experience, the only solution is to pay for iCloud+. Plans start at $0.99 for 50 GB and can go all the way up to 2 TB (even 4 TB with Apple One and Family Sharing). FAQsWhy is iPhone storage full when I have iCloud?Even when you have iCloud or a high-tier paid iCloud+ plan, your offline storage can be full if you have tons of apps, media, video downloads in TV+/Netflix/Prime Vide, photos, etc., saved locally on your iPhone. Delete them to free local space. How to free up space on iPhone using iCloud?Once you subscribe to iCloud+, go to Settings > Photos and enable iCloud Photos. Next, check Optimize iPhone Storage to have only smaller versions of photos and videos on the device while the full-quality version is saved in iCloud. Photos taking up space on iPhone even with iCloud. What to do?Even after you enable iCloud Photos and enable Optimize iPhone Storage, it will replace the full-size images and videos with smaller versions when your iPhone is low on storage. And smaller versions too occupy space. So, if you have images and clips on your iPhone, they will take up some space (unless you delete them). How to manage iCloud storage on Mac?Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud to manage your iCloud storage on Mac. You can also click Manage for more options. iCloud Drive taking up space on Mac! How to fix it?If iCloud Drive takes up a lot of space on Mac, you can turn it off from System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and uncheck iCloud Drive. If you don’t want to disable it altogether, click Options next to iCloud Drive and uncheck most options keeping only the crucial ones. Is there a way to get unlimited iCloud storage?There isn’t a way to get unlimited iCloud storage. For personal plans, the maximum you can go is 2 TB. And with Apple One and Family Sharing, you can get up to 4 TB. How to backup iPhone when iCloud is full?Thanks to temporary iCloud backups in iOS 15 and later, you can backup your iPhone fully for free, even when you have no iCloud storage left! This is just a temporary backup to allow you to update your iPhone operating system. How to increase iCloud storage for free?There is no way to increase iCloud storage for free. But if you don’t wish to pay, ask someone in your family to add you to their Family Sharing. After that, they pay for iCloud+, and you basically get to use it for free. Read next:
How do you free up space on iCloud?Delete files and folders from the iCloud website. Open iCloud.com in a browser.. Log in with your Apple ID.. Click "iCloud Drive.". To delete a folder, select it and then click the Delete icon.. To delete files, double-click a folder.. Hold down CTRL while clicking each file.. Select the Delete icon.. Can I delete things from my iCloud storage?You can delete files you no longer want to store in iCloud Drive. Important: When you delete a file from iCloud Drive on iCloud.com, it's also deleted from all your devices that have iCloud Drive turned on.
How do I clean up storage on my iPhone?Clean up junk files on your iPhone by opening Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Open individual apps to delete downloads and data files. You can also uninstall and reinstall apps to clear your iPhone's junk files and update your apps at the same time.
How do I delete photos from iCloud without deleting them?How to turn off iCloud Photo Library without deleting photos on your iPhone. Within the Settings app, tap your name.. Tap iCloud.. Tap Photos.. Toggle iCloud Photos to the Off position.. Tap Download Photos & Videos.. |