Categories
How to get more iPhone storage with iCloud
4 minute read
iPhone device storage ranges from 64 GB to 1 TB for the latest models. This is a finite amount of storage space built into your device, so you can’t add more to it if you run out of space. But worry not, you can easily boost your storage by using iCloud.
What is the iCloud?
iCloud is an Apple service that allows customers to store content (like photos, documents and contacts) remotely so they can free up space on their devices. iCloud syncs across all Apple devices signed into the account, so if you make a change on one device, it automatically changes across all of them.
When you sign up with iCloud, you automatically get 5 GB of free storage space and an email address to use.
How to see what is stored in iCloud
Depending on your device, checking your iCloud storage is different. You can also go straight to iCloud.com and check your storage after logging in.
On iPhone:
Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud
The bar along the top will tell you how much of your iCloud storage you’ve used, and what you’ve used it for. If you tap Manage Storage Settings, you’ll be able to see a list of all your apps using iCloud storage, and how much they’re using. It will also give you the option of deleting the data of each app from iCloud.
On Mac:
Go to the Apple Menu > System Settings > Apple ID> iCloud.
The same display as the mobile version will appear, using a bar to show you how much storage space you’ve already used, and for what. You can click Manage for more details about each app. It will also give you the option to delete the information from iCloud, the same as when you look at the iCloud storage on your phone.
What to do when iCloud storage is full
If you’ve received a notification saying your iCloud storage is full, there are a few things you can do to free up some space before you commit to buying more.
- Check what’s taking up space
Once you find out what’s taking up storage space, it’ll be a lot easier to figure out what you can get rid of.
- Delete old messages
If you’ve been using your iPhone for a few years, there’s a chance you’ve got lots of old message chains you never look at saved to your iCloud. You could have up to a gigabyte of messages saved to iCloud, or even more if you send a lot of pictures and emojis.
To delete these old conversations, just go to your list of chats in the Messages app and delete all the old ones. These will be deleted across all your devices.
- Manage your photo library
Photos tend to be what takes up most space on iCloud. Delete any duplicates or any photos you don’t need any more. You can also download all your photos and videos to your computer or a hard drive, meaning you’ll be able to delete them all from iCloud and free up lots of space.
What happens if I cancel my iCloud storage plan?
If you cancel your iCloud plan, Apple gives you 30 days to download all your data before it’s erased permanently. However, if you decide you don’t want to cancel, you can reverse the cancellation and all your data will still be there.
How to get more storage on iPhone with iCloud
If you’ve received a notification saying you’re running out of iCloud space, it’s very easy to buy more. Just go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Change Storage Plan. You’ll be able to choose how much storage you want to buy based on your needs.
Storage options:
- 50 GB: £0.99
- 200 GB: £2.99
- 2 TB: £8.99
- 6 TB: £26.99
- 12 TB: £54.99
Choosing what you store on iCloud is easy as well. All you need to do is toggle the switches next to your apps to decide which ones you want to sync to iCloud.
How to get more storage on iPhone for free
If you want more storage for free, instead of buying extra storage space on iCloud, you can use Google Drive. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll either need to log in or create a Google account, if you don’t have one already.
Once you’re in the app, just go to Settings > Backup and then select everything you’d like to back up to Google Drive. This might take a while depending on how much you have to back up, so be prepared to wait.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Compatible with all devices | You’ll need an internet connection unless your files are offline |
| Free storage up to 15 GB | File size limits |
| Instant access | Downloading and uploading speed varies |
| Supports up to 30 different file types | Is potentially less secure than storing data on a physical handset |
Get a refurbished iPhone from giffgaff
If you want an iPhone with more storage space than your current phone, try one of our refurbished iPhones.
