iCloud, Apple’s cloud storage service, offers conveniences, but the free 5GB storage that iCloud offers can fill up quickly; Therefore, managing your iCloud storage is essential to keep your Apple devices running smoothly. While you can upgrade to iCloud+ at any time for more storage, it’s always smart to know how to manage your existing iCloud storage. From deleting unnecessary files to managing your iCloud backups, are some effective methods to free up your iCloud storage. Read on to learn how to clear iCloud storage on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
1. Review and Delete Unwanted iCloud Data
If you use iCloud Drive to store documents, identify and delete redundant or obsolete data from iCloud and delete unwanted files and documents that are no longer essential to you. You can do this directly by going to iCloud.com or by browsing through the Files app on your iPhone. Also, consider moving larger files to other storage solutions if you can’t afford to lose them but want to delete them from iCloud storage.
That being said, here’s how you can delete unwanted files from iCloud through the Files app:
- Open the Files app on your iPhone and tap the Browse button in the background.
- Here, choose iCloud drive of Locations.
- Now, select files and folders want to remove from iCloud, then tap the delete button in the background.
2. Delete unnecessary photos and videos from iCloud
Most of us use our iPhones to capture stunning photos and videos to cherish those moments later. And by default, iCloud backs up all your photos and videos to the cloud. As a result, photos and videos end up using up a lot of your iCloud storage. Therefore, deleting those large photos and videos that you no longer need or already have a backup of in Google Photos is the ideal solution to free up space on your iCloud.
To find out how, see how to delete photos from iCloud.
3. Manage iCloud backups
Once iCloud backup is activated on your device, all essential data on your iPhone or iPad is automatically backed up and you can restore your iPhone from backup at any time, but over time, these backups They can accumulate and consume a lot of space in iCloud.
Therefore, we suggest that you review and delete older backups or those that you will never need. To do that, you don’t have to trust the iCloud website, as you can do the same through your iPhone settings. That said, here’s how you can delete old iCloud backups on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and Tap the Apple ID option on top.
- Here, tap the iCloud optionso Tap Manage Account Storage button.
- Now, Tap the Backups option and a list of your Apple devices that are backed up to iCloud will appear.
- Here, select the Apple device you want to delete backups from and then tap Turn off and Delete from iCloud on the next screen.
Note: Once you delete an iCloud backup, iCloud backup on your iPhone or iPad will also be disabled. You can manually turn it back on through iCloud settings.
4. Optimize message and email storage
The attachments and media you receive in your emails and messages contribute a lot to your iCloud storage usage. Therefore, we recommend that you review your email attachments and message media and delete those that are no longer needed to clear iCloud storage. This can free up a significant amount of space on your iCloud storage, especially if you receive a high volume of media-heavy messages or emails.
5. Review application data
Some apps on your iPhone or Mac use iCloud to store data, which can significantly contribute to iCloud storage usage. Evaluate those apps individually and determine if you need to keep your data in iCloud. Adjust app settings or delete unnecessary data associated with these apps to clear iCloud storage. That is how:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and Tap the Apple ID option on top.
- Here, locate ytap iCloud optionso Tap Manage Account Storage button.
- Now, Tap the Backups optionand a list of your Apple devices that are backed up to iCloud will appear.
- Select the Apple device you currently use here and a list of all the apps that take up the most space in iCloud will appear.
- Now, disable applications want to delete from iCloud storage, tap Turn off button.
- Here, tap Turn off and Delete from iCloud button.
6. Empty the Trash in the Photos & Notes app
Both the Photos app and Notes app have a Recently Deleted folder where deleted items remain before being permanently deleted from iCloud. Visit these folders regularly and empty them to recover or clear iCloud storage. This step is often overlooked by many, but it can result in substantial iCloud space savings, especially if you frequently delete photos and videos.
7. Delete voice memos
When you record a voice memo on an iCloud-enabled Apple device, it is uploaded directly to your iCloud account. These voice memos in iCloud accumulate storage, and the accumulated storage depends on the duration and quality of the recorded voice memos. Therefore, you can delete old or unwanted voice memos to clear iCloud storage. This is how you can delete voice memos on iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Voice Memo app on your iPhone and select voice memos you want to delete.
- Once done, tap the delete button on the right button to confirm.
Deleted recordings will be moved to the Recently Deleted folder and will remain there for the next 30 days. So, to clear iCloud storage, you also need to delete the recordings from the recently deleted folder. That is how:
- Tap the “ at the top left and Tap the Recently Deleted option.
- Now, select the recording you want to delete and Tap the Delete button at the bottom right.
- Here, tap the Delete forever button in the confirmation message that appears.
8. Review Recommended Tips
Apple has added a smart feature to all of its iPhones to help you optimize iCloud storage by suggesting certain recommendations. Once you’re inside iCloud storage on your iPhone, you can see the Recommendations section below the color-coded storage bar, which Apple says can help you manage how apps on your devices use available iCloud storage . Accepting or rejecting these recommendations is entirely up to you. Here’s how you can see iCloud recommendations on your iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and Tap the Apple ID option on top.
- Here locate and tap the iCloud optionso tap Recommended for you to access iCloud recommendations.
And that is; This is how you can clear iCloud storage. Remember, regular maintenance and conscious management of your iCloud storage will not only optimize your device’s performance but also ensure ample space for new memories and data.
