Managing iCloud Storage More Efficiently
Most cloud storage services offer a certain amount of free space. Managing iCloud Storage can be rather difficult. On the surface, 5GB that Apple offers for free seems pretty decent, right? Well, user stance changes once they realize that these 5 gigabytes are per account rather than the device.
If you own multiple Apple devices, including a MacBook, iPhone, and iPad, you might run out of available iCloud storage sooner than you expect.
Sure, there is an option to pick a different cloud storage provider in addition to already having iCloud, but managing files on different services can be pretty difficult.
As for signing up for a monthly plan that gives extra storage, that is not a possibility for everyone because not all can afford to pay a fee every month for iCloud storage.
Thankfully, there are ways to manage your iCloud account more efficiently, even if you are stuck with those 5 gigabytes of storage.
Method #1 – Avoid Backing Up Data Too Often
Let’s start with an obvious one—backing up data. Whether you are on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you should get in the habit of backing up device files regularly. And since using Time Machine and other backup tools is time-consuming, people are looking for simpler options. And cloud storage is one of these options.
It is also worth mentioning that non-digital data backups require a storage device, such as an external HDD or a USB flash drive. Another reason to use clouds and focus on managing iCloud storage.
So when there are only 5 gigabytes of iCloud storage, backing up the system or individual applications will lead to a lack of storage in no time. If there are important files you want to copy for safekeeping, iCloud is probably not an option unless the number of files is not that large.
Method #2 – Minimize Your Photo Library
It is no secret that taking photos with an iPhone or iPad is popular. Moreover, the picture quality continues to improve with new and improved mobile devices. And as the quality improves, the photo quality increases as well.
Syncing photos with iCloud and transferring them there after you take the photos is a common practice. Over time, the number of photos can grow and take a significant amount of iCloud storage, which makes managing iCloud storage difficult. You also have to consider duplicate photos you might take accidentally.
Method #3 – Delete Old Messages
One would not expect that texts take a lot of space, right? Well, you might be surprised, especially if you are an avid texter who exchanges messages with friends and family often.
It is not just the text itself that requires storage. Attachments, such as photos one includes in a message, are also part of it. Keep it in mind the next time you are about to exchange messages with someone on your iPhone.
Method #4 – Manage Mail Attachments
The Mail app is another example of how a seemingly insignificant application you use on your devices might cause more problems than expected.
If you connect iCloud with Mail, the emails you receive might take a lot of iCloud space—another hindrance for managing iCloud storage properly. But it is not just emails themselves. Attachments are the biggest source of the issue in this case. Be it work emails, spam, exchanges with friends, and newsletters you are subscribed to are just a few examples.
Method #5 – Delete Unnecessary iCloud Junk
If you have been using iCloud for a while, you should take a closer look into your account. Scan through different folders, and you are bound to discover files that are no longer of use to you.
For instance, if you have been keeping information about websites that you want to visit later and wrote the list in a text document, you can simply bookmark pages on your computer’s internet browser instead.
There might be video game save files you forgot about. If you have already finished a video game, keeping these save files makes little sense. If you remove them, it will do good for managing iCloud storage.
Go through the iCloud account thoroughly and remove any files that you deem unnecessary. And when you finish removing the junk, you should notice an increase in the overall free storage.
Method #6 – Transfer Some Files Back to Apple Devices
The last bit of advice is about taking a different approach. Instead of keeping up some files on iCloud, you should transfer certain data to your Apple devices.
It is true that looking at the tips to clean Mac’s or iPhone’s storage, you will find that one of the recommendations is to transfer data to iCloud rather than vice-versa. However, if there is an issue with iCloud storage, you can do the opposite, which should help with managing iCloud storage efficiently.
Most recent MacBooks, iPhones, or iPads have decent storage themselves, so sacrificing a bit of that to not have as much clutter on your iCloud account should not be that much of an issue.
- Seven Computer Efficiency Tips for Less Experienced Users - October 4, 2021
- Managing iCloud Storage More Efficiently - August 18, 2021
- How to Change Session Timeout for Availability Group Replica - July 22, 2021
