How to free up iCloud storage without losing your data

You get a notification: “iCloud® storage is almost full.” Again. And now, you’re stuck wondering if you should delete your vacation photos or upgrade your plan. The good news is you don’t have to do either.

At Asurion, we help millions of people troubleshoot, protect, and get the most out of their tech every day. Whether you’re managing cloud storage or setting up a new device, our experts make it simple.

Freeing up iCloud space doesn’t mean deleting everything. You can clear out what you don’t need, back up what matters, and keep your iCloud account running smoothly with a few smart moves.

Here’s how to free up iCloud storage without losing valuable data. 

Clear out unnecessary files and backups

Before you start deleting files from iCloud, it helps to know what’s taking up space. iCloud stores all kinds of data from your Apple® devices, including backups, photos, files, messages, and even email. 

1. Review your iCloud storage usage

To see a breakdown of what’s using your storage:

• On your iPhone® or iPad®, go to Settings and tap your name, then choose iCloud > Manage Account Storage.
• On a Mac, open System Settings, click your Apple ID, then choose iCloud > Manage.
• Or sign in at iCloud.com and go to Account Settings.

2. Delete old device backups

If you recently upgraded to a new iPhone or iPad, your iCloud account may still be storing backups from the old device, which can take up several gigabytes of space.

To delete them:

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups.
2. Tap the name of the old device.
3. Tap Delete Backup and confirm.

This won’t affect your phone, so it’s a safe way to free up space.

3. Manage iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos stores every photo and video across all your Apple devices. If you’ve had it turned on for a while, it could be taking up a huge portion of your storage.

To save space without losing your memories, you can:

• Download your photos and videos to your computer or an external drive.
• Use a third-party cloud service to store older content.
• Regularly delete blurry shots, duplicates, or screenshots you no longer need.

If you’ve backed up your media somewhere else, you can go to Settings > Photos and turn off iCloud Photos.

4. Remove large files from iCloud Drive

iCloud Drive is where your files live if you use the Files app. It’s easy to forget what’s stored there, but old documents, PDFs, or videos can pile up.

1. Open the Files app and go to Browse > iCloud Drive.
2. Tap Select, choose the files you no longer need, then tap Delete.
3. Don’t forget to empty the Recently Deleted folder to free up space.

5. Delete unwanted iCloud Mail

If you use an @icloud.com email address, your iCloud Mail® counts against your storage. Emails with large attachments can build up over time.

1. Open the Mail app and search for emails with attachments.
2. Delete messages you don’t need.
3. Go to your Trash folder and clear it out.

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Turn off iCloud sync for things you don’t need

Not everything on your phone needs to be backed up or synced across devices. Turning off iCloud for certain apps can help you save space and stay organized.

1. Disable iCloud backups for unused apps

Some apps store data in iCloud even if you never use them. To stop that:

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Show All.
2. Scroll through the list and turn off iCloud access for apps you don't need to sync.

This won’t delete the app or your data. It just tells iCloud to stop saving updates from that app.

2. Stop syncing Messages or Mail

You can turn that off if you don’t need your text messages or email to sync across all devices.

• For Messages, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Messages and toggle it off.
• For Mail, do the same for iCloud Mail.

3. Use alternative storage for photos and videos

Photos and videos take up the most space for most people. If iCloud is running low, try using another service like:

• Google Photos®, which offers free, limited storage
• Dropbox®, OneDrive®, or a physical external hard drive

FAQs

How do I free up iCloud storage without deleting photos?

The best way is to download them to a different device or back them up using another cloud service. Once they are saved elsewhere, you can remove them from iCloud.

Does deleting from iCloud delete from my iPhone, too?

If sync is on, yes. Deleting something from iCloud also removes it from your iPhone. If sync is off, you can delete iCloud content without affecting your device.

What happens if I delete a backup from iCloud?

Only that backup is deleted. Your phone keeps working as normal, but if you ever need to restore from that backup, it won’t be available.

Can I just buy more iCloud storage instead?

Yes, Apple offers paid plans for a monthly subscription. However, you may not need to upgrade if you can clear iCloud space.