5 Proven Tips to Free Up iCloud Storage Space Quickly

You’re making a video of your child’s first steps, but for the life of you, it won’t start because when, if not now, the iCloud Storage is full…

Apple offers free iCloud storage space of up to 5GB, which may be enough for a while, but after that, you need to upgrade your sub in exchange for more storage capacity. However, before you spend any money, you can try some easy tips to free up iCloud storage space quickly. In this article, I will provide you with five proven tips to help you clear iCloud storage space and keep your data organized.

Tip 1: Delete Old Backups

One of the easiest ways to clear iCloud storage – and by doing so, free up some space -, is to delete old backups. Backups are essential to keep your data safe, but old backups can occupy a significant amount of your iCloud storage space. To delete old backups, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on your name at the top of the screen.
3. Select iCloud > Manage Storage> Backups.
4. Tap on the backup you want to delete.
5. Tap on Delete Backup and confirm.

Tip 2: Remove Unused Apps

Unused apps can take up a lot of space on your iCloud Storage. To remove unused apps, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on General > iPhone/iPad Storage.
3. Scroll down to see the list of apps.
4. Tap on the app you want to delete.
5. Tap on Delete App and confirm.

Tip 3: Optimize iCloud Photo Library

Photos and videos can consume a significant amount of your iCloud storage space. To optimize your iCloud Photo Library, follow these steps:

1. Enable iCloud Photo Library optimization: This option allows you to store full-resolution photos and videos on your iCloud account while keeping smaller versions on your device.
   1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Photos and select “Optimize iPhone/iPad Storage.”
   2. On your Mac, go to Photos > Preferences > iCloud and select “Optimize Mac Storage.”
2. Keep your library organized: Regularly go through your photos and delete any duplicates or unwanted images. This can help reduce the size of your library and improve its performance.
3. Use iCloud Photo Sharing: Instead of sharing large files through messaging apps or email, use iCloud Photo Sharing to share photos and videos with friends and family. This feature allows you to share albums with others and can help reduce the size of your library.
4. Disable My Photo Stream: My Photo Stream is a feature that automatically uploads your recent photos to iCloud and syncs them across your devices. While this feature can be convenient, it can also take up a lot of storage space. To disable My Photo Stream, go to Settings > Photos and turn off “Upload to My Photo Stream.”
5. Use a third-party app: If you have a large photo library that is causing performance issues, consider using a third-party app like Gemini Photos or CleanMyMac X to help you clean up and organize your library.

This will store the full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud and keep optimized versions on your device, saving you a lot of space.

How to Find Pictures Folder on Mac

Tip 4: Use iCloud Drive Efficiently

iCloud Drive is a great way to store your documents and files, but it can also take up a lot of your iCloud storage space. To use iCloud Drive efficiently, follow these steps:

1. Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on Browse > iCloud Drive.
3. Tap on Select at the top right corner of the screen.
4. Select the files and folders you want to delete.
5. Tap on Delete at the bottom of the screen and confirm.

Tip 5: Disable iCloud Sync for Unnecessary Data

Finally, you can save a lot of space by disabling iCloud sync for unnecessary data. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on your name at the top of the screen.
3. Select iCloud.
4. Toggle off the switch for the data you do not want to sync to iCloud.

This will prevent unnecessary data from using up your iCloud storage space.

Conclusion

By following these five easy tips, you can quickly free up iCloud storage space without spending any money. These tips will also help you keep your data organized and ensure that you do not run out of iCloud storage space in the future. Remember to regularly check your iCloud storage space and follow these tips to keep your data safe and your iCloud storage space free.