How to Clear iCloud Storage [8 Ways]

To clear iCloud storage on your iPhone, navigate to the Files app, go to Browse, select iCloud Drive, and delete unwanted files and folders. Free up iCloud storage by disabling iCloud backup for unused devices and deleting their backups. Remove voice memos, photos, and videos permanently by clearing the Recently Deleted section in the respective apps.

Apple’s iCloud provides convenience, but the free 5GB storage can fill up fast. Efficiently managing your iCloud storage is crucial for smooth device performance. Learn how to clear iCloud storage on iPhone, iPad, and Mac by deleting unnecessary files and managing backups.

1. Review and Delete Unwanted iCloud Data

To clear iCloud storage from redundant data, delete unnecessary files and documents. Access iCloud.com or use the Files app on your iPhone. Follow these steps:

• Open the Files app, tap Browse at the bottom.
• Choose iCloud Drive from Locations.
• Select files/folders to delete, tap Delete at the bottom.

2. Delete Unnecessary Photos and Videos from iCloud

Many individuals utilize their iPhones to capture stunning photos and videos, preserving those memories for later enjoyment. By default, iCloud automatically stores all your photos and videos in the cloud, consuming a significant portion of your iCloud storage. To free up space on your iCloud, the optimal solution is to delete large photos and videos that are no longer necessary or have already been backed up in your Google Photos.

Also check out How to Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone

3. Manage iCloud Backups

Once you enable iCloud backup on your device, it automatically backs up all crucial data from your iPhone or iPad, allowing you to restore your iPhone from the backup whenever needed. However, over time, these backups can accumulate, occupying a significant portion of iCloud space.

To address this, we recommend reviewing and deleting older or unnecessary backups. You don’t need to rely on the iCloud website for this; you can manage it directly through your iPhone’s settings. Here’s a quick guide on deleting older iCloud backups on your iPhone:

• Open the Settings app, tap on your Apple ID at the top.
• Select iCloud, then tap on Manage Account Storage.

• Tap on Backups, and you’ll see a list of Apple devices backed up to iCloud.
• Choose the specific device for which you want to delete backups.
• Tap Turn Off and Delete From iCloud on the subsequent screen.

Note: Deleting a backup from iCloud will also disable iCloud backup on your iPhone or iPad. You can manually re-enable it through the iCloud settings.

4. Optimize Email and Messages Storage

Attachments and media received in emails and messages significantly impact your iCloud storage. We recommend reviewing and deleting unnecessary email attachments and message media to free up iCloud storage space. This action can make a substantial difference, particularly if you often receive a high volume of media-rich messages or emails.

5. Review App Data

Some apps on your iPhone or Mac utilize iCloud for data storage, contributing significantly to your iCloud storage usage. Evaluate each app individually to determine if their data needs to be stored in iCloud. Adjust the app settings or delete unnecessary data associated with these apps to clear iCloud storage. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Open the Settings app, tap on your Apple ID at the top.
• Locate and tap iCloud, then tap Manage Account Storage.

• Tap on Backups, and you’ll see a list of Apple devices backed up to iCloud.
• Select your current Apple device, and a list of apps using the most iCloud space will appear.

• Toggle off the apps you want to remove from iCloud storage, then tap Turn Off.
• Tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud.

6. Empty Trash in Photos and Notes App

Both the Photos and Notes apps contain a Recently Deleted folder where deleted items temporarily stay before being permanently removed from iCloud. Regularly check and empty these folders to reclaim and clear iCloud storage. This simple step is often overlooked but can result in significant space savings, especially if you frequently delete photos and videos.

7. Delete Voice Memos

When you record a voice memo on an iCloud-enabled Apple device, it is automatically uploaded to your iCloud account. These voice memos accumulate storage based on their duration and quality. To clear iCloud storage, delete unwanted or older voice memos. Here’s a simple guide for deleting voice memos on iPhone or iPad:

• Open the Voice Memo app, select the voice memos you want to delete.
• Tap the Delete button at the bottom right to confirm.

The deleted recordings move to the Recently Deleted folder, where they stay for the next 30 days. To clear iCloud storage completely, also delete the recordings from the Recently Deleted folder:

• Tap the “<” button at the top left, and select Recently Deleted.
• Choose the recording you want to delete and tap the Delete button at the bottom right.

• Tap Delete Forever on the confirmation prompt.

8. Review Recommended Suggestions

Apple has integrated a smart feature in all iPhones to assist in optimizing iCloud storage through specific recommendations. When in iCloud storage on your iPhone, find the Recommendations section under the color-coded storage bar. According to Apple, this feature helps manage how apps on your devices utilize available iCloud storage. You have the choice to accept or reject these recommendations. Here’s how to view iCloud recommendations on your iPhone or iPad:

• Open the Settings app, tap on your Apple ID at the top.
• Locate and tap iCloud, then tap the Recommended For You button to access iCloud recommendations.

And there you have it – this is how you can free up iCloud storage. Keep in mind that consistent maintenance and mindful management of your iCloud storage not only enhance device performance but also guarantee sufficient space for new memories and data.