Table of Contents
Introduction
iCloud provides users with 5GB of free storage space to back up photos, documents, and other data across devices. However, this space can quickly fill up with backups, photos, videos, and cached data. When your iCloud storage is full, you may be unable to back up your iPhone or access files stored in iCloud Drive.
Clearing cached data and deleting unnecessary files from iCloud is key to freeing up space. This article explains different methods to clear cache and optimize storage on both iPhone and Mac devices synced to your iCloud account.
Check iCloud Storage Usage
The first step is understanding what content is taking up space in your iCloud. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. On Mac, go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage.
The storage overview shows a breakdown of which apps and data categories are using space. Photos and backups typically use the most storage.
Delete Cached Data and Browsing History
Cached data from Safari and other apps can take up significant iCloud space. To clear it:
On iPhone
- Open Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
- Choose time range to clear
- Go back and clear history and data for other browsers like Chrome if needed
On Mac
- Open Safari > Clear History
- Set time range to “all history”
- Clear history and data in other browsers like Chrome and Firefox
This removes cached site data and frees up space. It will log you out of sites, so be prepared to sign in again.
Reduce Photo Library Size
The iCloud Photos app syncs your entire photo library between devices. To reduce the storage this uses:
On iPhone:
- Go to Photos > Albums > Screenshots
- Review and delete unneeded screenshots
- Go to Recently Deleted to permanently erase
On Mac:
- Open Photos app
- Click Photos > Preferences > iCloud
- Uncheck “iCloud Photos” option
- This pauses syncing and halts growth of storage used
- Delete unwanted photos and videos from your library
Offload Large Email Attachments
Emails with attachments stored in iCloud Mail can consume storage quickly.
- On iPhone, go to Mail, tap Edit, select emails with large attachments, and delete
- On Mac, open Mail app, choose large emails, delete them or detach attachments before deleting
This removes the downloaded attachments from iCloud.
Delete Files from iCloud Drive
iCloud Drive allows you to store documents and app data in the cloud. Removing files you no longer need can free up substantial space.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > iCloud Drive
- Swipe left on files and tap Delete
On Mac:
- Open Finder and go to iCloud drive
- Sort files by size and delete large unused files
- Empty the trash to permanently erase
Delete Old Device Backups
iCloud can automatically back up your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. These backups quickly consume storage, so deleting old ones helps.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups
- Delete backups of old devices you no longer own
On Mac:
- Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage
- Under Backups, delete unnecessary backups
This removes the entire backup including device settings and app data.
Upgrade iCloud Storage Plan
If you still need additional space after trying the above steps, consider upgrading your iCloud storage plan for a monthly fee.
On iPhone or Mac:
- Go to Settings/System Preferences > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage
- Tap/Click Change Storage Plan or Upgrade to iCloud+
- Select a larger storage size from the monthly plans
Upgrading allows you to continue backing up and syncing data without storage limits.
Conclusion
Maintaining free storage in iCloud requires regularly clearing cached files, deleting unneeded photos and documents, and removing outdated backups. This article outlined key steps to free up space on both iPhone and Mac devices. As a last resort, upgrading your iCloud storage plan buys you more room for backups and synced data. Using these tips, you can effectively manage iCloud storage and prevent getting errors when space runs out.
