Each owner of the iPhone phone or Mac computer is familiar with service of synchronization of data iCloud. Undoubtedly, it is irreplaceable option for storages of reserve data and files of phone and computer. At the same time the service offers the users the free place in storage. However by default this data plan is too small that often leads to a problem of contamination of storage excess files.
iCloud - a great way to synchronize your applications and to save files necessary to you available on any device. But the free account by default has only 5 GB of free disk space that is hardly enough even for backup. That is why at some point you probably faced warnings "The iCloud storage is almost filled" or "Not enough storages" also asked a question what to do.
Both warnings mean the same: you exhausted the available place or reached a limit of your paid plan. Can seem that at the moment you have only one option - to update the plan, but it not absolutely so. Let's try to understand how to clean storage aycloud.
How to clean iCloud storage
If you synchronize data both on iPhone, and on Mac with iCloud, the storage will quickly be filled if you do not learn to use it more reasonably. Let's consider step by step how to release iCloud storage and regularly to clean it in the future.
Step 1. Delete unnecessary photos from phone
If on your iPhone the library of photos iCloud is included, all your selfies are automatically synchronized with a cloud. Generally each separate photo does not take a lot of place. But if you take three-four pictures every time, do not receive yet that which is pleasant to you, or you photograph each note, diagrams, schedules and to that other, then all this accumulates in storage.
One of ways to clear away this lot of garbage - to walk on library and to clean unnecessary photos manually. Other, faster way is to load Gemini photos. This application for iPhone optimizes process, finding similar photos, pictures of poor quality and screenshots then you need to click "Delete".
At the included library of photos iCloud of the photo which you delete on the iPhone will also be deleted from a cloud so you easily free up iCloud space. The application can be loaded free of charge so you definitely should test it on the iPhone.
Step 2. Find old files on iCloud Drive
Since macOS Sierra, the system automatically saves old files - for example, the watched movies - in iCloud. It helps you to save memory on Mac. But the problem is that these files nevertheless take a lot of place, only now they are in your iCloud. To see contents of storage and to understand what can be deleted, make the following:
- Turn into the record on iCloud.com
- Select iCloud Drive
- View your files and select those which are not necessary to you
- Delete them
It is ready. If you use macOS High Sierra, iCloud Drive is available as the folder in Finder so you can do the same steps on your Mac.
Step 3. Delete unnecessary e-mail iCloud
If you use e-mail iCloud (that which comes to an end on @icloud.com), all e-mails received by you are stored as you already guessed, in iCloud. And though e-mails do not weigh very much, attachments can give you some inconvenience. The PDF files, photos and other files which people sent you within several months can make up to several gigabytes therefore browse old correspondence and carry out small cleaning.
Step 4. Delete old backup copies
Regular automatic backup of iPhone is a great way to save data safe and sound in case something happens to phone. But the only backup copy which is required in this case, - the latest therefore there are no reasons to store the backups saved several months ago.
Here is how it is possible to get access to all backup copies of your device and to delete outdated versions:
- On your Mac turn into System settings - iCloud
- Click "Management" and then "Backup"
- Select the reserve file which you want to delete, and click "Delete".
Final stage. Clean all baskets
It is easy to forget that while files remain in the Basket (or in the Recently Remote folder if we speak about photos), they still take the place, be this cloud or local storage. So after you finished with steps 1-3, do not forget to clean garbage.
As to do it on iPhone:
- Open photos
- Pass to an album which you deleted recently
- Select "Delete everything"
In the Mail application on Mac:
- Start mail
- Click a mailbox in the top menu
- Select "Delete remote elements" from a drop-down menu
- Select iCloud e-mail address
In the Mail application on the iPhone:
- Open the application
- Click "Basket"
- Click "Change", and then "Delete everything".
Similar steps will clean your iCloud storage, at least, at the moment. Execute these steps each 1-2 weeks to make sure that yours aycloud does not get littered any more.
How to prevent overflow of iCloud
It is possible to tell with confidence that two main reasons for which the storage aycloud constantly requires cleanings are photos which are synchronized from your iPhone, and big files from the Documents and Desktop folders on Mac. Use of Gemini Photos should support your library of photos in good condition, but you also should not allow excessive increase in number of documents and files of a desktop.
To make room and to quickly delete big files, try the CleanMyMac X utility. Among many other useful tools in it there is a Big and Old Files module which just and is necessary for this work. Make the following:
- Download CleanMyMac X
- Select "Big and Old files" in the left panel
- Click "Scan"
When scanning is complete (usually it takes several seconds), click "Viewing files".
All files which the application considers big and old are accurately grouped in the size. You need to note only those which are not necessary to you any more and to click "Delete".
By default Mac has much more memory, than 5 GB therefore many users prefer not to be synchronized and store files locally. Here is how to turn off synchronization of the Desktop and Documents folders and also some applications of Mac:
- Pass to system settings
- Click iCloud
- Disconnect all folders and applications which you do not want to synchronize
And here is how it is possible to prevent synchronization of data of your iPhone (including photos) with iCloud:
- Turn into settings
- Click iCloud (or your name, and then iCloud if you use IOS 10.3 or more the late version)
- View the list of applications which are synchronized, and turn off synchronization.
Now your data on your Mac and iPhone will be locally stored.
How to buy more iCloud storageIt is an obvious output if you are not too limited in the budget and not against to spend money for storage every month.
As to update iCloud storage? It is easy to receive more place, and you can make it from any device, including your iPhone. On the computer come into Settings – iCloud – Management - to Buy more memory. On iPhone it almost the same, only from the iCloud application you gather "Management of storage", and then "Change the plan of storage".
The following logical question - how much is iCloud storage? Well, it depends, first of all, on your location and on that how many memory you would like to receive. There are plans for 50 GB, 200 GB and even 1 or 2 TB. Exact cost is specified directly in the menu at its opening, near the plan.
Important note: keep in mind that you receive an extra space only once, but you should pay monthly to use it. The admission of payment or its lowering can lead to data loss, failures of backup and some other problems. Therefore when you subscribe to the paid plan, surely update the payment method.
You can solve what option of release of the place in iCloud suits you best of all - to clean storage or just to update the paid plan to more advanced. The most important that from now on you will be able to keep order on your phone and the computer.