iCloud storage full? What to delete and what to keep
Every Apple Account gets 5 GB of free iCloud storage, and it fills up fast. Old device backups are usually the easiest space to win back.
See what is using your iCloud storage
- 1
Open Settings and tap your name.
- 2
Tap iCloud.
- 3
Tap Storage or Manage Account Storage.
The wording varies slightly between iOS versions. You will see a bar and a list of what uses the most space.
What to delete first
The fix
Win back space in this order
- 1
Delete backups of old devices.
Tap Backups in the storage screen. If you see an iPhone or iPad you no longer use, tap it and choose Delete & Turn Off Backup. This is often several gigabytes.
- 2
Stop backing up apps that do not need it.
Open your current iPhone's backup and turn off apps whose data is already stored elsewhere. WhatsApp, for example, has its own separate backup.
- 3
Clear large files in iCloud Drive.
Open the Files app, tap Browse › iCloud Drive, and sort by size to find old downloads and duplicates.
- 4
Remove long videos from Photos.
Open Photos, filter to Videos, and delete clips you do not need. Then empty Recently Deleted.
- 5
Delete old email attachments.
If you use an iCloud email address, emails with large attachments count toward your storage too.
Should you pay for more storage?
If you use iCloud Photos and back up your iPhone, 5 GB is rarely enough. The smallest iCloud+ plan (50 GB) costs little each month and covers one iPhone for most people. Families can share a 200 GB or larger plan through Family Sharing. Upgrade in Settings › [your name] › iCloud › Upgrade to iCloud+. Prices vary by country and are shown before you confirm.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when iCloud storage is full?
Your iPhone stops backing up, new photos stop uploading to iCloud Photos, and iCloud Drive files and some app data stop syncing. Nothing already stored is deleted.
Does deleting photos from iCloud delete them from my iPhone?
Yes, if iCloud Photos is turned on. It keeps your library identical on every device, so a photo deleted in one place is deleted everywhere. Copy anything you want to keep to a computer first.
What to try next
Related guides
AirPods not working on calls
People can’t hear you on AirPods, or calls sound bad? Pick AirPods as the call audio, reset the Microphone setting, clean the mics and try 5 more fixes.
App Store not working
App Store not working or saying Cannot Connect to App Store? Check Apple’s status, your connection, date and time, VPN and Screen Time with these 9 fixes.