Have you run out of iCloud Storage and are not in a position to upgrade to continue backing up your files? Then worry no more; we have gathered reliable methods to help you clear iCloud Storage and free up space. Read to find out more if you are curious.
iCloud is vital to cloud Storage yet an easy-to-use service. The apple company offers it to help customers store their files and sync with other devices. Irrespective of whether you own an iPhone, you too can create an iCloud account and store data for free. However, you should note that this free service only comes with limited storage of 5GB.
The Storage fills up if you have large backup files. Therefore, when you realize that your space is running low, it is time to start making another step to upgrade or learn how to clear the iCloud Storage and have free space. And if you go by clearing the iCloud Storage, then keep reading our article to discover various methods. We will give you the best tips to help you get free space when iCloud Storage runs low. Here we go.
Find Out What's Taking Up iCloud Space
Before upgrading or deleting everything from your iCloud account when it is full, it is always recommended to try and find out what is taking up the space. If you have a phone with you, this is something straightforward.
Step 1: Get your device and open the Settings app.
Step 2: Navigate through the menu, select iCloud from the menu
Step 3: And click on Manage Storage. From there, you can locate the files taking up most of the Storage from the bar chart displayed at the top of your screen. For most iPhone users, the photos, music, and videos take up significant Storage.
Step 4: Keep scrolling and locate the list of apps installed on your device, and check the size they have taken. You will have a rough idea of what is taking up most of the iCloud Storage. You will realize that backup takes up most of the space. You can get rid of such files; in that order, we are going into details on how to go about it.
How to Clear iCloud Storage on iPhone
Clean Up the Photos App
you must understand that when you turn on iCloud backup, any file is stored in the iCloud, be it video or photo. And the same case applies to a situation where you took unwanted photos or screenshots. But still, you can use the top-rated app to clean up the iCloud Storage. That is Gemini Photos.
It can scan your Storage and quickly delete the files you no longer need. And before you proceed, make sure you confirm if the iCloud backup is turned on.
Step 1: Go to the Settings and click on your name
Step 2: From the menu, select iCloud, and head to the photos.
After that, you can start cleaning the photo library with Gemini photos. Follow the below procedure:
Step 1: Make sure you download and install the Gemini photos app from your app store
Step 2: Then launch the application, permit it to access your Storage, and let it scan the photo library.
Step 3: Then the application will group all the duplicate and similar photos based on the date together. so to start with, click on the month and a select group
Step 4: From the collection, select the images you want to delete
Step 5: Then proceed to click move to trash.
Step 6: Immediately you are done with similar pictures, click identical to your library.
Step 7: So, you can proceed to clean the categories such as duplicate, blurry, and screenshot.
Clean Up Old Files in iCloud Drive
if the above option does not give you enough free s6torage, you can also clean up some old iCloud files. This is because iCloud tends to backup all your files by default cloud. However, you can delete any file which you no longer need and save your space. It is possible to do this using your iPhone or the iCloud website. therefore, if you want to delete unwanted or clean up old files from the iCloud, follow these steps:
Step 1: Get your iPhone or an iOS gadget and launch the File app
Step 2: After that, click on browse a button found at the bottom of your screen.
Step 3: Then navigate to the locations section and choose iCloud Drive.
Step 4: If you want to delete the entire folder, click select from the top right of your screen
Step 5: Then select the folder and proceed by clicking the delete button.
Step 6: But if you wish to delete files, open the folder where the files are located
Step 7: Then using the select option, choose the files you want to delete, and click delete after that.
Reduce the Size of App Backups
one of the exemplary methods of getting free space when you run out of iCloud Storage is reducing the size of backups on your Drive. Here is how you need to go about this:-
Step 1: Launch the Setting application on the device you are using as long as it is iOS.
Step 2: Then click on your account name found at the top of your screen.
Step 3: Choose iCloud from the popup menu.
Step 4: Then proceed by selecting ‘ Manage Storage‘ from the next screen.
Step 5: After that, click Backups
Step 6: And note that all apple products' backup files in the iCloud appear here. then choose the name of the gadget you are suing
Step 7: In selecting data to backup place, you should locate the list of 5 apps that always takes up the most prominent spaces on iCloud.
Step 8: Then make sure you turn off the backup option on these apps. Swipe the icon to the left.
Step 9: If you still want to access more options to disable the apps, click on Show All Apps
Step 10: And keep on repeating the above process for the other apps from a particular device.
Clear Up Text Messages and Large Attachments
if you are fond of messaging, you might have received a large attachment that is taking up your iCloud Storage. You must delete all the messages and large attachments in search of free Storage.
Step 1: Click on the messages icon and launch the application on your iPhone.
Step 2: Then navigate through to find the message thread with large attachments you need to get rid of.
Step 3: At the top of the screen, choose the name of the person.
Step 4: Then proceed by clicking info.
Step 5: You will see the photo in a grid on the details page. Keep scrolling and click see all photos, a link below the pictures.
Step 6: Then click on select from the top of your screen.
Step 7: It is time to select the photos which you want to delete.
Step 8: Once done selecting, click delete.
Step 9: Also, head to the iMessage application and launch it
Step 10: To choose the thread you wish to delete.
Step 11: Swipe the thread to the left
Step 12: And from the popup menu, click delete.
Clear Up Email Attachments
And if you are still looking for the next method to clear up your iCloud Storage, check the email attachments. You can decide to delete all the emails in your Gmail or go for the specific sender and get rid of the whole thread. But if you do not wish to delete the mails from web-based emails like Gmail, you should turn off iCloud backup on that target application. But when it is a must to delete, then delete one message after the other as shown in the below steps:
Step 1: Launch the mail application
Step 2: Then, swipe left on the mail you need to delete across the email.
Step 3: If you see a Trash icon, click on it.
Step 4: But if you are not in a position to see the trash icon, click more
Step 5: Then click on the trash messages to delete the mail.
After that, you can decide how long you want to keep the mail in the trash. and if your primary target is to delete iCloud Storage and have space, then follow the below procedure:-
Step 1: Head to the mailbox section and click trash which is under your email account where you deleted.
Step 2: Then tap on the edit icon.
Step 3: Click select all
Step 4: Then click delete if you want to empty the trash forever.
Clear Up Unused App Data
Apple products support third-party applications you can download from the app store. The application is shared if you sync your iCloud to different devices. You might realize you have an application but rarely use it. Thus, you can consider deleting it to have more iCloud Storage. follow the below steps:
Step 1: Click on the Settings icon on your phone to launch it.
Step 2: Then click on your name from the menu,
Step 3: Select iCloud, and from the popup menu, tap on Manage Storage.
Step 4: Keep scrolling downwards till you find an unused application, and click on it
Step 5: Once you have opened it; click on delete data to clear it up and save your iCloud Storage.
Clear Up Voice Memos
Since many applications and memories are taking up your iCloud Storage, voice memos might be among the app. thus, if you want to clear the voice memo, here is the procedure:-
Step 1: Launch the Voice Memo application from your device
Step 2: Then select a voice memo, swipe it to the left, and proceed.
Step 3: Click the delete button.
Step 4: Then choose recently deleted
Step 5: And click on the recording which you have just deleted.
Step 6: And if you want to delete and save your iCloud Storage permanently, click delete again, which will then erase in the next 3o days.
Take Out the Trash
The last option in restoring your iCloud storage space is taking out the trash. one can be spending a lot of time sifting the data while cleaning the phone and easily forget to empty the trash. Most of the deleted files might still be in the trash folder using iCloud Storage. So, this is the time you need to empty the trash. and here is the process you must follow to check if there exist files:-
Step 1: If you have deleted file apps on your phone and need to confirm if they are still in the trash, then launch the application
Step 2: Then click on browse.
Step 3: Head to the recently deleted section
Step 4: If there are apps you have previously deleted, select them
Step 5: Once done, click Delete All, and you are done.
However, when you are using the iCloud account through the main app on the iPhone gadget, then follow the below guide:
Step 1: Launch the iCloud mail application
Step 2: And once there, click on the Trash
Step 3: Proceed by clicking on the edit button
Step 4: And finalzie by tapping Delete All
How to Get More iCloud Storage
yes, you might have deleted everything you wished to remove from the iCloud or iPhone but are still not satisfied with the available free space. There is always a solution, and you should not worry anymore. In the earlier reviews, we mentioned that besides relying on free Storage, you could easily upgrade to have more iCloud Storage. However, you must pay for the service.
It is possible that you can buy to get more iCloud storage space using your iPhone and the apple ID. here is how you should go about it:-
Step 1: Launch the Settings application.
Step 2: Then click on your name from the menu and tap on iCloud.
Step 3: Go to Manage Storage and click on Change Storage Plan.
Step 4: After that, choose the plan you want based on the space you need.
Step 5: Then finish by following the on-screen prompts to purchase the space.
As we are talking, apple offers three storage plans. And if you are using a family apple account, you can also share the Storage with the members. some of the plans are 50GB going for $0.99 monthly, 200GB costs $2.99 monthly, and 2TB, which costs $9.99 monthly.
Conclusion
iCloud Storage can quickly fill up with all files from the ecosystem of your apple product. However, you can free up your iCloud Storage by spending time cleaning it; it does not only save time but also helps you stay on top of the clutter. You can clear up your iCloud account storage and free space with the above guides and procedures. If the above tips do not help, you can always upgrade and get more iCloud storage space.
