I’m out of iCloud storage and can’t back up my phone anymore. I need advice on clearing space, like deleting old backups or managing what gets stored. What are the best ways to free up storage quickly?
Alright, let’s cut to the chase—your iCloud storage is bursting at the seams, and now your phone is refusing to back up. Been there. It’s annoying, but fixable. Quick fixes coming your way:
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Old Backups: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. Chances are, you’ve got old backups for devices you don’t even use anymore. Zap those. Why are you saving backup data from your 2015 iPhone 6 like it’s a museum piece?
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Photos and Videos: These are storage hogs. Use iCloud Photos? Turn off “Download and Keep Originals” and switch to “Optimize iPhone Storage.” Or better, transfer pics to another cloud service or even a physical drive. No offense, but do you really need all 245 blurry selfies and screenshots of tacos?
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Messages in iCloud: This one sneaks up on you. If you’ve got iMessage syncing enabled, attachments like GIFs, videos, and memes are chewing up space. Go to Settings > Messages > iCloud and turn it off if it’s not vital.
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App Data Control: Check which apps are hoarding space in iCloud. Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Apps Using iCloud. If some random app is hogging precious space, switch it off or uninstall it altogether.
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Third-party Help: Download an extra cleanup app. Something like the Clever Cleaner App could make this whole process easier. Automate the cleanup. Because honestly, who has time to micromanage storage when you should be binge-watching TikToks instead?
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Buy More Storage: If freeing space sounds like too much adulting for you, throw money at the problem. iCloud+ plans aren’t that expensive, and it spares you the headache next time.
There you go—a crash course in decluttering your iCloud in record time. No excuses now.
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You’re stuck in iCloud chaos, huh? Happens to the best of us. Okay, let’s tackle this without just echoing @reveurdenuit—though they did have some solid points. Here’s my spin on freeing up space for that backup you’re desperate to complete.
First off, if you’re not already ruthless with your data, start now. Your phone is a graveyard of unnecessary clutter. Old backups? Fine, delete them, but what about that other junk you might not even notice clogging up your space?
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Stop Backing Up Irrelevant Apps: Go into iCloud settings and manually turn off backup for apps you don’t care about. I mean, do you really need that Candy Crush progress or ten-year-old PDFs from an app you opened once?
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Emails and Attachments: No one ever mentions this. If your email syncs with iCloud, attachments and large files are slowly sucking up space. Go through your inbox and trash those 15MB memes your coworker sent three Christmases ago.
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Shared Albums: They’re sweet and all, but if Aunt Carol’s shared vacation photos are taking up part of your iCloud quota, you can leave those albums. Check Settings > Photos and look for shared content hogging space. She won’t know you bailed.
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Notes and Voice Memos: Check the Notes app; it’s probably syncing audio clippings and scanned PDFs you didn’t even know were being stored. Deleting junk Notes can free up surprising amounts of space.
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Clear Safari Website Data: If your Safari bookmarks, reading lists, and offline content are syncing with iCloud, they also count against storage. Scroll to Settings > Safari > Clear History & Website Data—bam, gone.
And okay, I know @reveurdenuit mentioned buying more storage, but here’s my two cents: that’s basically renting when you could own. Shift heavy stuff like photos and videos to external cloud services (Google Photos, Dropbox, the usual suspects) or go old-school and save them onto an external drive like you’re in 2012.
If all of that feels too manual or overwhelming, consider a cleanup tool. Something like the Clever Cleaner for iPhone can help streamline the whole process. It takes the brainwork out of finding what’s bloating your storage and killing it off for you.
Lastly, just remember—your iCloud storage isn’t a bottomless pit. Freedom is in letting go of old memes and random screenshots you’ll never look at again. Tough love, I know, but someone had to say it.
Think of it this way: your iCloud is like a tiny New York apartment—space is precious. Everyone’s throwing out their old backups and Photos bloat, which is basic advice, but let’s get a little more creative here.
Alternative Cloud Services
Stop making iCloud do the heavy lifting. Switch key data like images, videos, or files to cheaper, larger services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon Photos. Some even offer free storage to start with—why not exploit that while keeping your iCloud for critical Apple-specific tasks? iCloud’s biggest con is its high upgrade costs per GB compared to competitors.
Offload Low-Effort Files to Local Storage
Skip cloud backups for stuff you’ll never pull up on-the-go. Old docs, legacy photo albums, or ancient iPhone game saves? Shift them to an external SSD or your computer. Yes, it’s so “2008,” but it works. No cloud drama, no hidden charges creeping in.
Audit Family Sharing
Here’s a sneaky one: if you’re part of Family Sharing, someone might be using more than their fair share of the storage pie. Check under Settings to spot your storage-hogging siblings.
Delete App Cache via Clever Moves
Now for the apps that play pretend—still claiming they need all your storage but hiding caches, dupes, or unnecessary junk. This is when tools like Clever Cleaner App for iPhone shine. Pros? The AI-backed cleanup sweeps through duplicate items, caches, and bloated files you’d miss. Cons? Additional costs for premium features, but it’s worth it over sifting manually with a magnifying glass.
Competitor Comparisons
Yes, @mikeappsreviewer and @reveurdenuit both recommended some great hacks, but manually micromanaging takes time (who’s got that?). A cleanup tool like the one above is automated and saves effort. Other similar apps exist but often lack intuitive design or pack annoying ads—trust me, I’ve rage-quit several.
Last tip—iCloud’s been playing hard to get with “cheap.” If time really is money for you, bumping up to higher storage tiers might be the pragmatic choice if your digital clutter comes back like weeds every few months. But hey, if you’re not into long-term spending? Trim the fat with a mix of these tips, lean on platforms like Clever Cleaner sparingly, and maybe Marie Kondo that phone once every quarter.