1. Evaluate and Delete Unnecessary Files
The first step in freeing up space on iCloud is to evaluate your files and delete any unnecessary ones. Go through your photos, videos, documents, and other data stored in iCloud and ask yourself whether you still need them. Remove duplicates, blurry images, or files that are no longer relevant. To delete files, simply click on them and press the delete button. Remember, deleting files from iCloud will also remove them from your synced devices.
2. Optimize iCloud Photo Library
If you have a large number of photos and videos stored in iCloud, enabling the optimized version of iCloud Photo Library can help save space. This feature replaces the full-resolution files with device-optimized versions, reducing their size without compromising much on the viewing quality. To enable this, go to Settings on your device, tap on your name, select iCloud, then Photos, and finally choose “Optimize iPhone Storage” or “Optimize iPad Storage”.
3. Offload Unused Apps
Apps can take up a significant amount of storage space on iCloud. Identifying and removing apps that you no longer use or haven’t touched in a while can free up valuable space. Simply go to Settings, tap on your name, select iCloud, then Manage Storage, and finally review the list of apps. Tap on an app to see its size and last time of usage. To offload an app, tap on it and select “Offload App”. Rest assured, your app data will still be preserved, and you can reinstall the app later if needed.
4. Increase iCloud Storage Plan
If you’ve tried all the previous tips and find that you still need more space, upgrading your iCloud storage plan is an excellent option. Apple offers various storage plans at different price points, ranging from 50GB to 2TB. To increase your storage plan, go to Settings, tap on your name, select iCloud, then Manage Storage and finally choose “Change Storage Plan”. Select the plan that suits your needs, and you’ll have extra space at your disposal.
5. Manage Mail and iCloud Drive Storage
Mail attachments and files stored in iCloud Drive can consume a significant portion of your iCloud storage. It’s worth going through your email account and deleting any old or unnecessary attachments. Additionally, managing files in iCloud Drive by organizing them into folders and deleting unnecessary documents can help create extra space. Remember that deleting files from iCloud Drive will remove them from all synced devices.
- Delete unnecessary mail attachments.
- Organize files in iCloud Drive into folders.
- Delete unnecessary documents from iCloud Drive.
With these tips, you can now unlock extra storage space on iCloud and make the most out of your subscription. Remember to regularly evaluate your files and delete anything that is no longer needed to maintain optimal storage capacity. Happy storage maximizing!