iCloud storage full? What to delete and what to keep

What happens when iCloud storage is full

Every Apple Account gets 5 GB of iCloud storage free. When you go over it, nothing you already stored is deleted, but several things quietly stop working:

• iCloud Backup stops. Your iPhone is no longer backed up, so a lost or broken phone could mean lost data.
• New photos stop uploading to iCloud Photos, so they are not on your other devices or protected.
• iCloud Drive and app data stop syncing between your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
• iCloud Mail stops sending and receiving if you use an @icloud.com address.

That is why the warning is worth fixing quickly, either by freeing space or by adding more. Most people can do it in about ten minutes.

See what is using your iCloud storage

What to delete first

Shrink Messages in iCloud

If Messages is one of the biggest items, photos and videos in old chats are usually the cause. Go to Settings › General › iPhone Storage › Messages and tap Review Large Attachments. Swipe left on anything you do not need, or tap Edit to delete several at once. With Messages in iCloud turned on, deleting them on your iPhone frees the same space in iCloud. You can also set messages to delete after one year in Settings › Apps › Messages › Keep Messages, depending on your iOS version.

Keep your photos safe before deleting

Photos are usually the largest item, and deleting them from iCloud Photos removes them from every device. Before you clear anything, save a copy somewhere else:

• Copy them to a computer. See how to move iPhone photos to Windows, or use the Photos app on a Mac.
• Copy them to an external drive with the Files app, if your iPhone has USB-C.
• Upload them to another cloud service such as Google Photos or Amazon Photos. Amazon Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage with Amazon Photos, which makes it a good second home for a large library.

Check that the copy opens, plays and is complete before deleting anything from iCloud.

Manage iCloud storage from a Mac, PC or the web

• Mac: open System Settings, click your name, then iCloud, and click Manage next to the storage bar. You can delete backups and app data from there.
• Windows: open the iCloud for Windows app and click Storage to see and delete data by app.
• Web: sign in at icloud.com to delete photos, Drive files and mail from any browser. It is easier for bulk deletions than a phone screen.

Mistakes to avoid

• Deleting your current iPhone backup to make room. Delete old devices’ backups instead.
• Turning off iCloud Photos and choosing to remove photos from the iPhone without having another copy.
• Assuming a new iPhone moved your photos. With iCloud Photos on, they live in iCloud, not only on the phone.
• Paying for a bigger plan while an old iPad backup from years ago is using gigabytes.
• Ignoring the warning. Weeks without a backup is when phones tend to get lost or broken.

iCloud storage still full after deleting?

• Recently Deleted: photos and videos stay in Photos › Albums › Recently Deleted for up to 30 days and still use space. Open it and tap Delete All. Do the same in the Files app under Browse › Recently Deleted.
• Time to update: the storage bar can take a few hours to catch up.
• Another device: an iPad or Mac on the same Apple Account may still be backing up or syncing large files.
• Family members: if you share iCloud+ through Family Sharing, everyone’s data counts toward the same total. The storage screen shows how much each person uses.
• Optimize iPhone Storage does not help here: it saves space on the phone by keeping full photos in iCloud, not the other way around.

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.

• 50 GB: one person with a single iPhone backup and a modest photo library.
• 200 GB: a large photo library, or a couple sharing through Family Sharing.
• 2 TB and above: families with years of photos and videos, or people who store work files in iCloud Drive.

If you also pay for Apple Music, Apple TV+ or Apple Arcade, compare an Apple One bundle. Each tier includes iCloud+ storage, and the bundle can cost less than paying for the services separately. Every iCloud+ plan also includes extras such as Hide My Email and iCloud Private Relay.

Sharing storage with your family

With Family Sharing, one person pays for a 200 GB or larger plan and up to five family members use it, each with private data. It is usually cheaper than several separate 50 GB plans. The organizer turns it on in Settings › [your name] › Family Sharing › iCloud+, and each member’s storage screen then shows the shared plan. Everyone’s photos and backups count toward the same total, so check the breakdown now and then to see who is filling it.

Kids often have the biggest backups because of games and videos. Turning off backup for a few large games on their iPhone or iPad can free a lot of shared space without touching anyone’s photos.

Staying under 5 GB for free

It is possible if you keep photos elsewhere. Turn off iCloud Photos after saving your library to Google Photos, Amazon Photos or a computer, keep iCloud Backup on, and turn off backup for large apps you do not need. A backup without photos is often small enough to fit in the free 5 GB. The tradeoff is managing two services, and remembering to check that new photos really are uploading to the other service. See backing up an iPhone for other backup options, including a free backup to a computer.