6 Ways to Clear iCloud Storage That Is Full on iPhone and iPad

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.

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Method 1: Turn Off iCloud Photos

Turning off iCloud Photos will turn off all subsequent backups to iCloud. You can also delete whatever photos are stored on iCloud.

Step 1:Open theSettingsapp on your iPhone or iPad > tap yourprofile>iCloud>Photos.

Step 2:Turn off the toggle foriCloud Photos.

Important:If your iOS device was low on storage, it may have replaced locally stored images with low-res versions instead. To get back the original versions, select the Download and Keep Originals setting before turning iCloud Photos off. If you are confused, read our guide todisable and delete photos from iCloud backups.

Note:Your photos or videos will not be backed up to your iCloud account anymore.

To delete the already backed-up photos to free up iCloud storage, follow the below steps.

Step 3:Return to the previous screen > tapManage Storage>Photos > Disable and Delete.

Method 2: Turn Off Apps That Use iCloud

Most native and third-party apps and services on iPhone and iPad use iCloud to sync data, actions, and settings between devices.

Step 1:OpenSettings> tap on yourprofile> go toiCloud> turn off the toggle for the app. The app will cease using iCloud to sync or back up any data.

Step 2:To delete existing app data from iCloud, tapManage Storage>app. Delete thedatafrom the following screen.

Method 3: Choose What Gets Backed Up

When performing system backups to iCloud, your iPhone or iPad uploads the documents and data related to almost every app installed. While that is great, if you want to do a complete system restore in the future, you can disable backup for non-essential apps.

Step 1:Open theSettingsapp > tap on yourProfile> go toiCloud>Manage Storage>Backups.

Step 2:Select youriPhone or iPadfrom underneath Backups. On the following screen,turn offthe toggle for any app you don’t want iCloud to take a backup of alongside a system backup.

Step 3:TapTurn Offto confirm. This will delete any backed-up data already present in iCloud and stop future backups for the app.

Repeat the same for the other apps you want to disable. Remember that if you have multiple iOS devices, you must use the device related to the backup itself to perform the modifications above.

Method 4: Delete Old Backups

Do you have any iOS devices that you no longer use? If so, this usually means there’s a backup occupying iCloud storage space unnecessarily.

Step 1:Open theSettingsapp > tap on yourProfile> go toiCloud>Manage Storage>Backups.

Step 2:Select thedevicewhose backup you want to delete. On the following screen, tapDelete Backup.

Step 3:TapTurn Offto confirm.

Method 5: Delete Files From iCloud Drive

Delete files fromiCloud Drive(the file storage arm of iCloud) to free up space.

Step 1:Open theFilesapp and tapiCloud Drive.

Step 2:You will see all the files and folders located within iCloud Drive (except for system backups and synced app data). Dive into the various folders to see if there are any unwanted items that you can remove. The Search bar also lets you filter out items quickly.

You can not only delete files stored within iCloud Drive but also move them to alternate cloud storage or even save them locally.

Method 6: Alternate Storage for iWork Apps

iWork apps, which consist of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, use iCloud to store and sync files between devices. However, you can change the location to any other cloud storage installed on your iPhone or iPad. Alternatively, you can also save your documents locally.

However, there’s a catch. Switching to an alternate service will disable certain functionalities, notably the ability to collaborate with others, so do this only if you don’t mind losing out on key features.

Step 1:Open theSettings app> scroll down and selectPages, Numbers, or Keynote. On the subsequent screen, tapDocument Storage.

Step 2:Select another cloud storage service or chooseOn My iPhoneto save your documents locally.

Last Resort: Upgrade Your iCloud Storage Plan

While this might seem like an obvious move, it is by far the most efficient fix for the issue. You can only clear your iCloud storage to some extent. Therefore, if you can afford to pay the premium, we highly recommend buying and expanding your iCloud storage.

Here’s how different iCloud plans are priced.

Also Read:How to transfer iCloud contacts to Android

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Last updated on 27 August, 2024

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