Unlock More Space on Your iCloud – 5 Clever Tips

Is your iCloud storage bursting at the seams? If your digital life revolves around Apple’s ecosystem, it’s easy to see how quickly your remote storage can run out. Fortunately, we’ve got some savvy strategies to help you free up valuable space on your iCloud. Let’s dive into it.

1. Rethink Your Storage Plan
   Let’s begin with the most straightforward solution: consider upgrading your iCloud storage plan. Apple’s default offering grants you a mere 5GB, which can get filled up in no time. When your iCloud gets near its limit, your automatic backups cease to function, causing unnecessary headaches. To upgrade your plan on your iPhone or iPad, go to ‘Settings,’ tap your name, choose ‘Manage Storage,’ and then ‘Change Storage Plan.’ On your Mac, visit ‘System Preferences,’ click on ‘Apple ID,’ and select ‘Manage.’ The benefits are immediate, but it might take a few moments for the changes to propagate across your Apple devices.
2. Bid Farewell to Outdated Backups
   If you’ve ever owned multiple Apple devices, chances are your iCloud is cluttered with old backups from devices you no longer use. These outdated backups take up valuable space. To delete them, open your ‘Settings’ on your iPhone or iPad, select your account, then ‘Manage Storage,’ and ‘Backups.’ Click on the old backups and tap ‘Delete,’ followed by ‘Turn Off & Delete.’ This action may take a few minutes, depending on the backup’s size.
3. Streamline Your iCloud Backup
   Not all apps are created equal when it comes to iCloud backups. Some store hefty chunks of data that could be safely deleted. You can customise what you back up by going to ‘Settings’ on your mobile device, clicking on your profile, selecting ‘iCloud,’ ‘Manage Storage,’ ‘Backups,’ and choosing the device you want to tweak. Simply toggle off any apps you no longer want to back up. Additionally, consider periodically reviewing your iCloud backup to identify and remove large app files that are consuming an excessive amount of storage. This maintenance task will help ensure that your iCloud remains efficient and clutter-free.
4. Delete Unused Media Files
   Pictures and videos are storage hogs, whether in iCloud or any other cloud service. If you’re using iCloud Photos, it’s time to go on a decluttering spree. Bear in mind that when you delete media in the Photos app, they aren’t immediately purged. Instead, they go to the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days. To hasten their removal, empty this folder. iCloud ensures that changes are synced across all your devices, so you won’t lose your precious memories.
5. Tidy Up Your Messages and Emails
   Messages, especially those laden with media files, can eat into your iCloud storage. Consider manually deleting unnecessary attachments, or changing your settings to automatically remove old messages. If you’re using iCloud for your email, don’t forget to tackle the attachments. Start with your sent mail and delete the ones you no longer need. This can be done via the Mail app on your Mac or mobile device.

Bonus Tip: Streamline iCloud Drive Finally, if you’re still searching for space, give iCloud Drive a once-over. Remove any files you no longer require by selecting the ‘Files’ app on mobile or accessing iCloud Drive on your Mac. Right-click files and folders to delete them. Just remember, once you hit delete, they’re gone.

Your iCloud should now have some breathing room. Following these tips will help you optimise your iCloud storage and keep it from filling up prematurely. With the right balance, you can enjoy the convenience of iCloud without the storage woes.