How to manage iCloud storage (Free up space fast), by CleanMyMac by MacPaw on YouTube. 4 min 9 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 9 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
On iPhone open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Manage Account and Storage. On a Mac use System Settings, click your name, then iCloud.
Read the bar chart at the top. It splits your space into Photos, Backups, iCloud Drive, Mail and other apps, so you know where to start.
Open Photos and delete large videos, burst shots and screenshots you no longer need. Deleting here removes them from every device signed in to your account.
Go to Photos, Albums, then Recently Deleted, and remove those items for good. Space is only freed after this step.
Tap Backups in the storage list, pick an old device such as a replaced iPhone, then choose Delete and Turn Off. Keep the backup for your current phone.
Open the Files app, tap iCloud Drive, and sort by size or date. Delete big files or move them to On My iPhone, then empty Recently Deleted in Files.
Do not switch off iCloud sync as a quick fix. Turning off Photos or iCloud Drive can remove items from your device and make the cleanup harder.
Check the storage bar again. If you are still near the limit, compare the paid iCloud+ plans in Settings, iCloud, Upgrade, and pick one that fits.
Keep it clean by turning off iCloud for apps you do not need, clearing large Mail attachments, and deleting old backups each time you change phones.
Tips and common mistakes
Empty Recently Deleted in Photos and Files, or the space will not come back for 30 days.
Photos in shared albums use the owner's storage, not yours, so deleting them frees nothing.
Turn off Messages in iCloud only if you have a local backup, since it can remove your chat history.
Questions
Does deleting a photo on my iPhone delete it from iCloud?
Yes. iCloud Photos syncs deletions, so the photo disappears from every device using the same Apple ID. Download anything you want to keep to a computer first.
How much free iCloud storage do I get?
Every Apple ID starts with 5 GB, which covers photos, backups and files together. That is why the free tier fills up quickly on a phone with lots of videos.
Can I get my storage back after upgrading to iCloud+?
Yes. You can downgrade your plan later in Settings, iCloud, Manage Account, but you must delete files first so your data fits inside the smaller allowance.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
