To solve this, you can substantially decrease the size of your iCloud backups and look for some alternative solutions to reduce the load on your iCloud space. This guide will help you do both.
How to Reduce the Size of iCloud Backups
Using this method, you can stop some non-essential apps from being part of the iCloud backup, which significantly decreases the backup’s size.
Non-essential apps can be those about whose data you don’t care about or ones that already store everything in their servers. Examples include YouTube, news apps, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and such. Even if you stop these apps from backing up, your data is saved in their servers. You can log in using the same username and password to get everything.
Here’s how to reduce the size of the iCloud backup file by excluding some apps:
Open Settings and tap your name from the top. Go to iCloud > Manage Storage. 3 Images Close Tap Backups. Choose the backup which says This iPhone or This iPad. Tap Show All Apps and turn off the switches for all unnecessary apps to stop them from being part of your iCloud backup. 3 Images Close
How to Create a New iPhone or iPad Backup With Reduced Size
After following the above steps, the next backup your iPhone or iPad makes will have a decreased file size. Your device automatically backs up when it’s locked and connected to power and Wi-Fi. But, if you like, you can manually make a backup of your iPhone or iPad now by following these steps:
Open Settings and tap your name. Tap iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.
In addition to reducing the iCloud backup size, here are a few more suggestions to help you manage your 5GB of free iCloud storage properly.
Use an iCloud Photos Alternative to Free Up iCloud Space
iCloud Photos quickly fills the 5GB free limit. In fact, iCloud Photos is enabled by default when you set up a new iPhone. And most people’s free limit is reached quickly due to this.
To address this, you can use one of the alternatives mentioned below. Once photos are backed up to these alternatives, go to Settings > Photos and turn off iCloud Photos.
1. Google Photos
Even after Google Photos stopped offering unlimited uploads for free, it remains the best alternative to iCloud Photos as you get 15GB free with every Google account instead of 5GB. And the pricing for both platforms is comparable. Therefore, it’s an excellent move to use Google Photos instead of iCloud on your iPhone.
Download: Google Photos (Free, subscription available)
Use a Computer to Back Up Photos and iPhone Backups
Imagine a situation where you have lots of notes, app backups, app data, and such occupying most of your iCloud space. You don’t want to pay for iCloud storage but still want to keep your photos, videos, and iPhone backups safe. In this situation, you can move your iPhone photos and videos to your computer and save them locally.
You can also use your Mac or PC to back up your iPhone instead of using iCloud.
However, please note that this isn’t cloud storage. In case of computer hardware damage, failure, or theft, you’ll lose these photos and backup files. But if you aren’t using iCloud or one of the alternatives, this is one risk you’ll have to take.
Finally, it’s also less convenient than paying for iCloud storage because you’ll have to transfer photos or create iPhone backups on the computer manually. With iCloud, these things happen automatically once you enable them.
iCloud Space Reclaimed Successfully
By now, you know how to significantly reduce the iCloud backup file size by excluding non-essential apps and using iCloud Photo alternatives. This should give you plenty of free iCloud space for everyday tasks like storing notes, messages, third-party app backups, and more.
But still, if someday in the future you fill up this reclaimed space, the steps to upgrade to iCloud+ are quick and affordable.
