Hi there! I'm a tech consultant with over a decade of experience helping people navigate the digital world. One common question I get is how to clean up iCloud storage. It's a great question because many people hit their storage limit without realizing how they got there or what to do about it. So, let's dive into how you can reclaim your iCloud space and keep it organized.

## Cleaning Out Your iCloud: A Step-by-Step Guide

Before we start deleting things, it's important to understand what takes up space in iCloud. Primarily, it's:

* Photos and Videos: These are often the biggest culprits, especially if you're not using iCloud Photos' optimized storage option.
* Backups: Your iPhone, iPad, and even Mac can back up to iCloud, which can quickly consume space.
* Documents and Data: This category includes files you store in iCloud Drive, as well as data from apps that use iCloud.

### 1. Review and Optimize iCloud Storage

A. Check Your Storage Usage:

* On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. You'll see a visual breakdown of your storage use.
* On your Mac: Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
* On iCloud.com: Sign in to iCloud.com and click on Account Settings.

B. Optimize Photos: Enabling iCloud Photos with the "Optimize iPhone Storage" option stores smaller, space-saving versions of photos and videos on your device while keeping originals in iCloud.

* iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos > Choose "Optimize iPhone Storage."
* On your Mac: Open the Photos app > Photos > Preferences > iCloud > Select "Optimize Mac Storage."

### 2. Manage iCloud Backups

* Review Device Backups: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. See which devices are backed up and the size of each backup.
* Delete Unnecessary Backups: If you have old devices you no longer use, delete their backups.
* Choose What to Back Up: Within each device backup, you can choose which apps you want to include. Deselect apps you don't use frequently or that don't contain essential data.

### 3. Tackle iCloud Drive

* Go to iCloud Drive: Access iCloud Drive from your iPhone/iPad Files app, Mac Finder, or iCloud.com.
* Delete Large Files: Identify large files you no longer need and move them to the Trash/Bin. Remember to empty the Trash/Bin to permanently delete and free up space.
* Organize with Folders: Create folders to categorize your files. This makes it easier to find what you need and what you can delete.

### 4. Control App Data

* Manage App Data: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud to see a list of apps using iCloud.
* Disable iCloud for Unused Apps: Toggle off iCloud for apps you don't use regularly or those that don't store critical data in the cloud.
* Delete App Data: Some apps allow you to delete data directly. Check the app's settings for options.

### 5. Email Management (If using iCloud Mail)

* Empty Your Trash and Junk Folders: Regularly delete unwanted emails from these folders.
* Delete Large Email Attachments: Sort emails by size and delete those with large attachments you no longer need.
* Reduce Email Storage: If your iCloud Mail is full, consider reducing the storage duration (e.g., keep messages for the last year instead of "forever").

### Important Notes:

* Permanently Deleting: When you delete something from iCloud, it goes to a "Recently Deleted" folder. Empty this folder to free up space immediately.
* Free Up Space Elsewhere: If you're still low on space after cleaning, consider upgrading your iCloud storage plan or finding other storage solutions for your data.

By following these steps, you can effectively clean out your iCloud, freeing up valuable storage space and keeping your data organized.
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How to delete iCloud backups on your iPhone or iPadLaunch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.Tap on your Apple ID right at the top. ... Tap on iCloud.Tap Manage Storage under iCloud.Tap Backup.Tap the device whose backup you want to delete.Tap Delete Backup at the bottom.Tap Turn Off & Delete.read more >>