As an iPhone or iPad user, you know that iCloud storage is a lifesaver when it comes to saving your device’s storage space and keeping all your files, photos, and data in one secure location. But what happens when you receive notifications that your iCloud storage is full?
Apple automatically gives 5 GB of free storage to every iCloud account, which doesn’t seem like enough at first, but if you play it smart, you can easily get by with just those 5 GB. The good news is that you don’t have to resort to deleting your precious memories or important documents. This article will help you reduce your iCloud storage so you can downgrade your iCloud storage plan and stop paying for iCloud. See our 7 tips on how to clear iCloud storage:
What is iCloud storage?
See what is taking space in iCloud
iCloud storage is a cloud-based storage service provided by Apple. It allows users to securely store and access their files, documents, photos, videos, and other data across their Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even Windows computers. With iCloud space, users can seamlessly sync their data between devices, ensuring that the most up-to-date version of their files is available across all their connected devices. There is no need to manually transfer files or rely on physical storage devices.
When you set up iCloud, you automatically get 5 GB of storage. To manage iCloud space, first you should see what data you have there and how much space it’s taking up. How to check iCloud storage? To do this, navigate to Settings> Apple ID> iCloud> Manage Storage. The data that typically take up a lot of iCloud storage space are:
- Photos
- Videos
- iCloud backups
- Email messages with attachments
- WhatsApp Backups
💡 Movies, apps, books, and music bought in iTunes will not count towards your iCloud storage. Photostream and the photos uploaded there don’t take any iCloud space because these images are stored locally on the device.
See what is causing you the most trouble and find a tip on how to clear iCloud storage!
How do I clear iCloud storage?
Download and delete photos
Why is my iCloud storage full? As a rule, clearing iCloud storage starts with photos, as they use up a lot of cloud space. You probably noticed that battling iCloud is not that easy. When trying to download photos from iCloud to your iPhone and then delete them, you may have these questions in mind:
❓ Why won’t my photos download from iCloud to my iPhone?
❓ Why are my photos not showing up in my gallery on my iPhone?
⚡ Please, don’t panic! Thankfully, there is a workable solution! To reduce the iCloud storage you use on photos, you can exclude them from iCloud backups and download your photos and videos to your PC. This way, your precious memories will always be at hand. You will then be able to delete all the photos and videos from your iCloud.
After you’ve done that, follow the steps:
-
- Exclude photos from iCloud Backup
To do this, go to Settings> Apple ID> iCloud> Manage Storage> Photos> Disable and Delete. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to restore your pictures from the iCloud backup later.
- Exclude photos from iCloud Backup
- Back up all iCloud photos to the PC
- Delete pictures from iCloud
How to delete things from iCloud
Extract and delete old iCloud backups
Another efficient way to manage iCloud storage is to delete old iCloud backups. To find information about your iCloud backups, go to Settings> Apple ID> iCloud> Manage Storage> Backup.
If your iCloud backups are starting to take too much space – simply extract the important data from them, delete the backups you no longer need and use an alternative backup solution!
- Extract the data from iCloud backups
- Delete old iCloud backups
Delete all your old iCloud backups, i.e. backups of the devices that you no longer have. To do this, Select the backup> Delete Backup> Disable & Delete. This is how to clean up iCloud storage in a few clicks.If you have iCloud backup enabled, every app you install will automatically be backed up. To change this, go to Settings> Apple ID> iCloud> Manage Storage> Backups and tap the icon of your device. Here you can manage iCloud storage: see which apps are included in your iCloud backup and how much space they take. Please note that if you restore this iCloud backup, the app data of the apps you excluded from the backup will no longer be there.3. Exclude apps from the backup
4. Secure iPhone files locally on the PC
How to reduce iCloud storage
Delete files from iCloud Drive
You can also delete the files you have stored in iCloud Drive to get more iCloud storage. Go to Settings> Apple ID> iCloud> Manage Storage> iCloud Drive. You will see all the files stored in iCloud Drive. Swipe left and tap on the trash icon to delete the file.
How to free up iCloud storage
Clean your mailbox
If you use your iCloud address for your email, emails will also be backed up to your free 5GB of storage. You can delete unnecessary emails with large attachments to quickly get rid of several gigabytes and clear iCloud storage.
- Open the Mail app.
- Swipe left over an email and tap the trash button.
- Go to the Trash folder. Tap Edit, and then click Delete All.
How to manage iCloud storage
FAQ
Why is my iCloud storage full?
Your iCloud storage may be full because you have reached the maximum capacity allotted to your account, often due to a large amount of data such as photos, videos, and backups that are stored in your iCloud.
How can I manage my iCloud storage?
You can manage your iCloud storage by going to your device’s settings, selecting your name, tapping on “iCloud,” then “Manage Storage.” From there, you can see what is taking up the most space and delete items to free up storage. You will find more information on how to remove the data you don’t need in this article.
What are some tips to free up space in my iCloud?
Some tips to free up space in your iCloud include deleting old backups, removing unnecessary photos and videos, offloading unused apps, and managing your iCloud Drive by clearing out unneeded files.
Can I check my iCloud storage usage on my iPhone?
Yes, you can check your iCloud storage usage on your iPhone by going to “Settings,” tapping your name, then selecting “iCloud” and “Manage Storage.” Here, you can see a breakdown of your storage usage.
How do I clear up iCloud storage on my Mac?
You can clear up iCloud storage on your Mac by opening “System Preferences,” selecting “Apple ID,” clicking on “iCloud,” and then “Manage.” From there, you can delete items to free up space.
Is there a way to get more iCloud storage?
Yes, you can get more iCloud storage by purchasing a storage plan directly from Apple. This will allow you to increase your available storage space.
What are the easy ways to free up iCloud storage space?
Easy ways to free up iCloud storage space include >enabling iCloud Photo Library optimization, turning off unnecessary app backups, and utilizing iCloud’s built-in features to optimize storage usage.
Are there cloud storage services I can use instead of iCloud?
Yes, there are various cloud storage services available, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, which offer alternative storage options if you want to free up space in your iCloud or use a different platform for your data storage needs.
How can I clear iCloud storage and free up space without losing important data?
You can clear iCloud storage and free up space without losing important data by carefully reviewing the items you want to delete, ensuring that you have backups of any critical information, and being selective about what you remove from your iCloud account.
Free iCloud storage
Conclusion
In conclusion, managing your iCloud storage is an essential part of owning an iPhone or iPad. It’s easy to get carried away with taking photos, downloading apps, and saving files, but eventually, your iCloud storage will fill up.
The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to clear up space and optimize your storage. With the tips above, you can easily get by with the free 5GB of iCloud storage. By finding an alternative way to store your photos, videos, and backups and backing up data locally, you can manage iCloud storage more efficiently and stop worrying about iCloud storage being full. Clearing iCloud storage has never been that easy!
© 2024, EMATHJA. All rights reserved.