[Guide] How To Manage ICloud Storage & Free Up Space On Apple Devices
Are you constantly running out of space on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Managing your iCloud storage is crucial in the digital age, and understanding how to do so effectively can save you from unwanted storage limitations and potential data loss.
iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service, offers a convenient way to back up your photos, videos, documents, and other important data. However, the free 5GB of storage can quickly fill up, leading to frustrating warnings and the need to find alternative solutions. Whether you're a seasoned Apple user or just starting out, mastering iCloud storage management is an essential skill.
Before we dive into the specifics, here is a brief overview of the key aspects:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Apple Inc. |
| Founded | April 1, 1976 (in Cupertino, California) |
| Founder(s) | Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne |
| Headquarters | Cupertino, California, United States |
| Industry | Technology |
| Products and Services | Consumer Electronics (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch), Software (iOS, macOS, iCloud), Services (Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade) |
| Key Executives | Tim Cook (CEO) |
| Key Innovations | Personal computer, Graphical user interface, Smartphone (iPhone), Tablet (iPad) |
| Website | Apple.com |
If you are not using iCloud Photos, it's essential to know that your photos library is included as part of your iCloud backup. To see how much storage your photos are using in the iCloud backup, you can navigate to the settings app, tap your name, then tap iCloud. Select "Storage" or "Manage Account Storage," and tap "Backups." Then, tap on the name of the device you are using and look at "Photo Library."
Managing iCloud storage on your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device is a straightforward process. The bar graph at the top of the storage screen gives you a visual representation of your overall storage usage. By tapping "Storage" or "Manage Account Storage," you can find more detailed information.
Below the graph, you will find a list of apps and features that are utilizing your iCloud storage, with the apps and features that are consuming the most space being listed at the top. This allows you to quickly identify the main culprits taking up space. Tapping on any app or feature provides even more in-depth information about its storage usage.
For those looking to change their iCloud storage plan, the process is easy. Click iCloud, then click "Manage" near the top. From there, click "Change Storage Plan." If you see your subscriptions, go to your iCloud+ or Apple One subscription and click "See All Plans." Select a plan with more storage and follow the onscreen instructions. Alternatively, you can select iCloud and then tap on "Manage Account Storage."
If you want to remove data, you can tap on the app you want to delete and then select "Delete from iCloud" to remove the data. This method is identical whether you're using system settings on your iPhone or iPad, or on a Mac. You can open System Settings and tap on your name, then select iCloud from the menu and click Manage under Account Storage. From there, click on the app you want to remove and select "Delete from iCloud" to remove the data.
Apple provides 5GB of free iCloud storage to every Apple device owner. However, to obtain more storage, you need to opt for a paid subscription. If you're running low on iCloud storage, you have two primary options: You can either upgrade your iCloud data plan to purchase more storage or free up existing iCloud storage space.
If you want to free up storage space, you can start by managing data through your devices or on your computer. On a Windows computer, open iCloud for Windows, scroll down to the bar graph, then click "Manage." Here, you can click "Add Storage" or "Change Storage Plan". Select a storage amount, and follow the onscreen instructions, or select "Downgrade Options", enter your Apple account password, select a storage amount, and confirm.
Managing your iCloud storage more effectively can free up space. With each macOS and iOS improvement, Apple continues to make managing iCloud storage easier and more straightforward. You can manage the storage of iCloud Drive from the iCloud settings on your iPhone.
To reduce the amount of data stored in iCloud, consider deleting old or unwanted media. Or you can use iCloud Photos to store them in the cloud, freeing up space on your phone. Deleting data from iCloud will also remove the data from your connected devices, especially if the data includes photos synced to iCloud Photos.
To manage your iCloud storage effectively, there are several methods. You can manage your iCloud storage from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even from a web browser using the iCloud website. Launch the settings app from the springboard of your device. You can check what takes up most of your iCloud space. Click the "Manage" or "Manage Storage" button on the iCloud settings screen.
Logging in to iCloud.com allows you to view your iCloud storage usage, check your family's usage (if you have Family Sharing), and learn how to upgrade your plan. You can consider deleting old or unwanted media or use iCloud Photos to store them in the cloud, freeing up space on your phone. Remember that Apple offers iCloud storage plans that let you store your data (photos, videos, documents, etc.) in the cloud, freeing up space on your phone.
Managing iCloud storage can be tricky with a family account. If you have a family account and the payment is under your Apple ID, but you want to share the 2TB iCloud storage with all your family members, but it's in your daughter's Apple ID, you can see the family's individual iCloud storage usage through the settings: Settings > Apple ID > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Family Usage.
You will see the amount of your shared space each family member is using. This can be seen also on a Mac, and probably in iCloud for Windows. The amount of space used by each member will not be the same because everyone uses iCloud differently and for their own needs.
Another practical tip is to examine the disparity in iCloud Drive storage utilization on your device. By going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > iCloud Drive, you can check and compare the storage. The impact on your local storage experience is often negligible before and after toggling the iCloud Drive sync functionality.
Whether you're looking to manage storage on your child's device, consider that the child may be sharing the family iCloud storage plan. You can check this on the child's device. You can also share iCloud+ with your family which can show you how to check this.
If you are not using iCloud Photos, the photos library is a part of your iCloud backup. The same way anyone can manage storage. To check how much storage it's using in iCloud backup: go to Settings > [your name], then tap iCloud. Tap "Manage Account Storage" or tap "Manage Storage," then tap "Backups." Then tap the name of the device you're using, and look at photos.
You can open the iCloud Drive app on your device to view, open, and organize all your documents stored in iCloud. If the iCloud Drive app isnt on your home screen, you can get it from the App Store. Use iCloud Drive on your computer or iOS device to take care of your documents and files.
Sometimes you might receive a notice that you need to increase your iCloud storage because you are running out. If this occurs, you can go to your iCloud settings and review the data stored there. For example, you might find that your iCloud Mail has a minimal amount of emails (if you dont use the account), while iCloud Photos may only have a few photos. (This situation often arises when you dont use iCloud Photos to back up your photos). In some cases, there might be no videos, no books, and nothing in iCloud Drive.
The easiest way to manage your iCloud storage is using your iPhone or iPad. To do this, sign in with your Apple ID by tapping your name. Select Storage from the top. Navigate to Manage Storage in iCloud to see your used storage space and check which apps store data in your cloud. You can also check the family usage: Settings > Apple ID > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Family Usage.
If you are a Mac user, you can manage your iCloud storage through the system preferences: Navigate to system settings -> apple id -> icloud, and select manage. iCloud storage preferences are built into macOS, and you wont need to download any additional applications. Launch iCloud (Command + Space and type in iCloud) if you wish to manage your photos storage, click the options button next to photos. You can customize which apps use iCloud and manage storage. You can also manage iCloud storage by upgrading plans if you are running low.
With iCloud+, Apple offers storage tiers starting from 50GB up to 2TB. The storage screen opens, and you see the total storage you have (5GB if you haven't purchased additional storage) and the available storage. The "Manage Storage" screen opens, which shows you what is stored on iCloud. You see four sections that indicate how your storage is occupied: Photos, backups, documents and data, and mail.
