You can empty iCloud storage on your iPhone, iPad and by logging into the iCloud website on your Mac. You can clear data from iCloud in several ways to free up space and avoid having to pay for more additional storage.
Apple offers you 5GB of iCloud storage with the purchase of one of its devices and this can end quickly. Most often, your iCloud storage is for backing up photos, files, voice memos, apps, and text messages.
iCloud how it works
Unless you pay for an iCloud subscription, Apple gives you 5GB of storage with the purchase of any device. It's not a lot of space, and you can quickly find that you don't have enough space for your photos, iCloud Drive files, and other data from your phone or tablet.
You can upgrade your iCloud subscription, but it's cheaper to free up space in your iCloud account. You can delete files, photos, app backups, voice memos and more from iCloud Drive directly to your Apple device or via the iCloud website.
Typically, these things and all associated data are backed up to iCloud by default. This can be both a blessing and a curse, especially if the things you want to back up take up a lot of storage space.
But you can save a significant amount of space by disabling automatic backups, especially when it comes to your larger apps.
You can also delete text messages and any videos or images attached to them. While deleting individual messages won't free up much space, you can remove entire conversations and associated media, which can help significantly. Here's how to clear iCloud and free up more space.
How to clear iCloud
How to free up iCloud space
1. How to delete photos from iCloud
By default, iCloud backs up all your photos and videos to the cloud. Over time, many images are added. You can save space by deleting all the images you no longer want.
You can do this from your iPhone, iPad, or the iCloud website. As long as Google Photos is enabled, any images you delete in one location are automatically deleted everywhere. Here's how to delete photos from iCloud.
2. How to delete files from iCloud
1. Open iCloud.com in a browser.
2. Log in with your Apple ID.
3. Click on “iCloud Drive”.
4. To delete a folder, select it and then click the Delete icon.
5. To delete a file on iCloud, double-click a folder.
6. Hold down CTRL while clicking on each file.
7. Select the Delete icon.
3. How to delete data from iCloud
1. On your iPhone or iPad, launch the Files app.
2. Tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen.
3. In the Locations section, select “iCloud Drive”.
4. To delete an entire folder, tap “Select” at the top right of the screen.
5. Next, choose the folder and tap the Delete icon.
6. To delete the files, open the folder in which they are contained.
7. Use "Select" to choose the files and delete them.
4. How to delete iCloud backup
1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your account name at the top of the screen.
3. Select “iCloud”.
4. Choose “Manage Storage” on the next screen.
5. Tap "Backup".
6. A list of Apple devices backed up to iCloud will be displayed. Select the name of the device you are currently using.
7. In the Choose what data to back up section, you should now see a list of the five apps that take up the most space on iCloud.
8. Disable the backup function for any of these apps by sliding the button to the left.
9. To view more options and disable more apps by tapping “Show all apps”.
10. Repeat this process for any other Apple devices from that respective device.
