{"id":4660,"date":"2024-02-16T07:53:56","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T07:53:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/?p=4660"},"modified":"2025-03-31T19:18:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T19:18:26","slug":"how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Storage Do You Need to Backup iPhone?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#how_to_check_the_backup_size_on_iphone\" title=\"How to Check the Backup Size on iPhone\">How to Check the Backup Size on iPhone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#how_much_storage_is_needed_to_back_up_your_iphone\" title=\"How Much Storage Is Needed to Back Up Your iPhone?\">How Much Storage Is Needed to Back Up Your iPhone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#how_to_make_space_for_iphone_backup\" title=\"How to Make Space for iPhone Backup\">How to Make Space for iPhone Backup<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#1_toggle_off_apps_in_icloud_backup\" title=\"1. Toggle Off Apps in iCloud Backup\">1. Toggle Off Apps in iCloud Backup<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#2_clean_up_photos_and_videos\" title=\"2. Clean Up Photos and Videos\">2. Clean Up Photos and Videos<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#3_delete_or_manage_old_device_backups\" title=\"3. Delete or Manage Old Device Backups\">3. Delete or Manage Old Device Backups<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#4_clean_up_icloud_drive_and_icloud_mail\" title=\"4. Clean Up iCloud Drive and iCloud Mail\">4. Clean Up iCloud Drive and iCloud Mail<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#5_clean_up_messages_to_reduce_backup_size\" title=\"5. Clean Up Messages to Reduce Backup Size\">5. Clean Up Messages to Reduce Backup Size<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#6_upgrade_your_icloud_storage_plan\" title=\"6. Upgrade Your iCloud Storage Plan\">6. Upgrade Your iCloud Storage Plan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#alternative_backup_options\" title=\"Alternative Backup Options\">Alternative Backup Options<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#finder_backup\" title=\"Finder Backup\">Finder Backup<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#third-party_software\" title=\"Third-Party Software\">Third-Party Software<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#short_and_sweet_version\" title=\"Short and Sweet Version\">Short and Sweet Version<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#faq\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#can_i_use_external_storage_devices_for_iphone_backups\" title=\"Can I use external storage devices for iPhone backups?\">Can I use external storage devices for iPhone backups?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#are_there_alternative_cloud_services_to_icloud_for_iphone_backups\" title=\"Are there alternative cloud services to iCloud for iPhone backups?\">Are there alternative cloud services to iCloud for iPhone backups?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#what_should_i_consider_when_deciding_on_backup_storage_space\" title=\"What should I consider when deciding on backup storage space?\">What should I consider when deciding on backup storage space?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#can_i_back_up_multiple_iphones_with_one_icloud_account\" title=\"Can I back up multiple iPhones with one iCloud account?\">Can I back up multiple iPhones with one iCloud account?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#what_happens_to_my_backup_if_i_cancel_my_icloud_storage_plan\" title=\"What happens to my backup if I cancel my iCloud+ storage plan?\">What happens to my backup if I cancel my iCloud+ storage plan?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/#whats_the_difference_between_icloud_backup_and_icloud_photos\" title=\"What\u2019s the difference between iCloud Backup and iCloud Photos?\">What\u2019s the difference between iCloud Backup and iCloud Photos?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Want to know how much space you need to back up your iPhone? Yeah, it\u2019s a tricky one\u2014just look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/discussions.apple.com\/thread\/253510534?sortBy=rank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">countless posts<\/a> trying to crack the code. To clear things up, our team put together this text. You\u2019ll find everything you need to figure out how much free space your backup requires, how to free it up, and what backup alternatives exist if iCloud isn\u2019t cutting it. Let\u2019s get straight to it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--default\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Note<\/b>. If you don\u2019t have time to go through the full guide, we\u2019ve got you covered. Check out the <a href=\"#short\"><b>Short and Sweet Version<\/b><\/a> at the end for a quick summary of everything you need to know.<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_check_the_backup_size_on_iphone\"><\/span>How to Check the Backup Size on iPhone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>First things first, let\u2019s use Apple\u2019s own tools to see how much space your next backup might claim.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>On your iPhone, open <b>Settings<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li>Tap your name at the top, then <b>iCloud<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li>Then <b>Manage Account Storage<\/b> or <b>iCloud Backup<\/b> (on newer iOS versions).<\/li>\n<li>Choose your iPhone, and look for <b>Next Backup Size<\/b>.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10555\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-icloud-backup-col.jpeg\" alt=\"Next Backup Size\" width=\"556\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>That figure isn\u2019t set in stone\u2014it can grow if you add more apps or photos\u2014but it\u2019s a solid snapshot of your immediate needs.<\/p>\n<p>As you can see on our screenshot, it says, \u201cThis iPhone cannot be backed up because there is not enough iCloud storage available\u201d (wording can differ). If that\u2019s your situation as well, you have two choices, you can either turn off some items in your backup or pony up for a bigger plan. It\u2019s a simple step that spares you a bunch of hassle later.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_much_storage_is_needed_to_back_up_your_iphone\"><\/span>How Much Storage Is Needed to Back Up Your iPhone?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, how much space does an iPhone backup actually take? The answer isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all. It depends on what\u2019s on your device, what\u2019s already synced to iCloud, and whether you\u2019re backing up everything or just the essentials.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re using Apple\u2019s free 5GB of iCloud storage, a full backup likely won\u2019t fit unless you have a very light setup\u2014think minimal apps, few messages, and hardly any photos. A typical iCloud backup can range anywhere from <b>1GB to over 100GB<\/b>; it all depends on the amount of data stored on your device.<\/p>\n<p><b>What affects backup size?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Photos &amp; videos<\/b> \u2013 If you don\u2019t use iCloud Photos, these get included in the backup.<\/li>\n<li><b>Messages &amp; attachments<\/b> \u2013 Those GIFs, videos, and memes in your text threads? They add up.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/clear-app-data-on-iphone\/\"><b>App data<\/b><\/a> \u2013 Some apps store a ton of data, even if you rarely use them.<\/li>\n<li><b>Device settings &amp; preferences<\/b> \u2013 Not a huge factor, but still part of the backup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>How many GB are needed for an iCloud Backup?<\/b> For a <em>very<\/em> rough estimate:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Light user (few apps, minimal photos &amp; messages)<\/b> \u2192 <b>2GB \u2013 5GB<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Average user (moderate app usage, some photos, iMessage history)<\/b> \u2192 <b>5GB \u2013 20GB<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Heavy user (lots of apps, full-resolution photos, years of messages)<\/b> \u2192 <b>20GB \u2013 100GB+<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your backup size exceeds available iCloud space, you\u2019ll need to either reduce the backup size or upgrade your storage plan\u2014which we\u2019ll break down next.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_make_space_for_iphone_backup\"><\/span>How to Make Space for iPhone Backup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple is more than happy to sell you an iCloud+ plan, but before handing over your money, let\u2019s go through ways to shrink your backup size. Chances are, you can free up enough space for an iPhone backup in iCloud without spending a dime. Of course, we\u2019ll touch on iCloud+ later, but most people prefer free ways to make their backup fit within their existing iCloud plan\u2014so let\u2019s start with those.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_toggle_off_apps_in_icloud_backup\"><\/span>1. Toggle Off Apps in iCloud Backup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not everything on your iPhone needs to be backed up. Some apps store everything on their own servers, so backing them up in iCloud is pointless, there\u2019s no reason for them to eat up your iCloud storage.<\/p>\n<p><b>To stop unnecessary apps from taking up space:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <b>Settings<\/b> and tap <b>[Your Name]<\/b> at the top.<\/li>\n<li>Select <b>iCloud<\/b>, then <b>Manage Account Storage<\/b> &gt; <b>Backups<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li>Tap your iPhone from the list.<\/li>\n<li>Scroll through the list of apps and toggle off the ones you don\u2019t need in your backup.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10556\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-icloud-backups-apps-col.jpeg\" alt=\"Turn Off\" width=\"556\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>A few large apps can instantly shrink your backup size by <b>several gigabytes<\/b>. Once you\u2019ve trimmed down your backup, check the estimated size again. If it now fits within your available iCloud storage, you\u2019re all set. If not, keep going\u2014we\u2019ve got more ways to free up space.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_clean_up_photos_and_videos\"><\/span>2. Clean Up Photos and Videos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If your backup is still too big, photos and videos are likely the biggest culprit. But let\u2019s clear up a common misunderstanding\u2014because many people aren\u2019t quite sure how photo backups work.<\/p>\n<p>You might have heard of\u2014or even used\u2014<b>iCloud Photos<\/b>. It\u2019s a separate feature from iCloud Backup, and whether it\u2019s <b>on or off<\/b> makes a difference in how your photos are stored.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10533\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-tp-icloud.jpeg\" alt=\"iCloud Photos\" width=\"555\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Apple splits photos into two distinct categories: iCloud Photos and iCloud Backup. If you turn iCloud Photos on, your pictures go straight to iCloud\u2019s sync service, so they do not occupy space in your daily backup. That setup reduces the size of your backup file. If iCloud Photos is off, every photo and video in your camera roll lands in your iCloud backup, which significantly increases backup size. <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108770\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple\u2019s official guidance confirms this distinction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So, your photos always occupy iCloud storage in one way or another. Yes, you can disable both iCloud Photos and the Photo Library in your iCloud Backup settings\u2014but that means your photos won\u2019t be stored anywhere in iCloud. If you lose your phone or your local storage fails, those pictures are gone for good. Kind of defeats the purpose, right?<\/p>\n<p>Instead, a smarter move is to <a href=\"\/clean-up-photos-on-iphone\/\">clean up your photo library<\/a> so it takes up less space. You could go through your Photos app manually, but let\u2019s be real\u2014who wants to scroll through thousands of pictures and videos just to find the ones worth deleting? Plus, iOS doesn\u2019t even let you sort by file size.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where iPhone cleaner apps come in. Most of these apps are paid, but we recently conducted our own research to find the <a href=\"\/iphone-cleaner-apps\/\">best free cleaners<\/a>, and we think we\u2019ve found a few solid choices. One that stood out\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/clever-cleaner-ai-cleanup-app\/id1666645584\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Clever Cleaner: AI Photo Cleaner<\/a> by CleverFiles. This <b>free app<\/b> does the heavy lifting for you. <b>It\u2019s completely unrestricted, unlimited, ad-free, and fast\u2014seriously fast<\/b>. Want to see how fast? We broke it all down in our full <a href=\"\/blog\/clever-cleaner-review\/\">Clever Cleaner review<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/clever-cleaner-app.png\" alt=\"Clever Cleaner\" width=\"985\" height=\"833\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10379\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Note<\/b>. Clever Cleaner comes packed with 4 features to help clean up your iPhone\u2019s photo library:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Similars<\/b> \u2013 The app\u2019s AI identifies and clears both identical and visually similar images. Unlike your iPhone\u2019s built-in <a href=\"\/blog\/delete-duplicate-photos-on-iphone\/\">duplicate detector<\/a>, which only catches exact matches, Clever Cleaner <a href=\"\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/\">finds similar images<\/a>\u2014like multiple shots of the same person or object from different angles.<\/li>\n<li><b>Screenshots<\/b> \u2013 Quickly detects and removes all screenshots in a single tap.<\/li>\n<li><b>Lives<\/b> \u2013 <a href=\"\/blog\/convert-live-photos-to-still\/\">Converts Live Photos into standard images<\/a> by stripping that short video clip, so you free up extra space without losing the main picture. Pretty unique feature.<\/li>\n<li><b>Heavies<\/b> \u2013 <a href=\"\/find-large-videos-on-iphone\/\">Sorts files from largest to smallest<\/a> (especially helpful with large videos) to quickly delete the biggest storage hogs first.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>All these combined will help you reduce your library without losing anything important. When we tested it, we were surprised to find around 17GB of unnecessary files in total we could clean up. You have to agree\u2014that\u2019s a lot.<\/p>\n<p><b>The process is super simple. Here\u2019s an example of how to clean your library of duplicates using Clever Cleaner:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/id1666645584\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download<\/a> Clever Cleaner, open it, and grant access to your Photos.<\/li>\n<li>Tap the <b>Similars<\/b> tab. The app will automatically group similar photos.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <b>Smart Cleanup<\/b> at the bottom. The app will suggest photos for deletion. The AI automatically selects the best photo to keep in each group.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10536\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/clever-cleaner-similars-col-i-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Similars in Clever Cleaner\" width=\"556\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Want to keep a specific group? Tap <b>Restore<\/b> to remove it from the deletion list.<\/li>\n<li>If you approve the AI\u2019s selections, use <b>Slide to delete<\/b> all marked photos.<\/li>\n<li>Prefer manual review? Tap on a group to compare photos yourself.<\/li>\n<li>You can choose a different <b>Best Shot<\/b> to keep.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <b>Move to Trash<\/b> if you want to delete the photos, or tap <b>Skip All<\/b> to keep them.<\/li>\n<li>When you&#8217;re done, just tap <b>Empty Trash<\/b> at the bottom and confirm deletion once more.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10537\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/clever-cleaner-similars-col-i-2.jpeg\" alt=\"Confirm the deletion\" width=\"555\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--success\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Note<\/b>. Clever Cleaner also shows up in our ranking of the <a href=\"\/best-ai-cleaners-for-iphone\/\">best iPhone AI cleaners<\/a>. If you&#8217;re looking for even more AI-powered cleanup options, that list is worth checking out. Unfortunately, none of them are as generous as Clever Cleaner. More developers should take a page out of this free app\u2019s playbook. According to its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/clever-cleaner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official Clever Cleaner cleanup app page<\/a>, the developers promise to <b>keep it free for all current users<\/b>, no matter what new features get added in the future. That means if you download it now, you\u2019ll lock in unlimited access\u2014something we don\u2019t see often in free apps.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_delete_or_manage_old_device_backups\"><\/span>3. Delete or Manage Old Device Backups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve owned multiple iPhones over the years, there\u2019s a good chance you have old backups sitting in iCloud, taking up space. Apple doesn\u2019t automatically delete them when you switch devices, so they can pile up. <b>Here\u2019s how to check for and delete them:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <b>Settings<\/b> and tap <b>[Your Name]<\/b> at the top.<\/li>\n<li>Go to <b>iCloud<\/b> &gt; <b>Manage Account Storage<\/b> &gt; <b>Backups<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll see a list of backups for all devices linked to your iCloud account.<\/li>\n<li>Tap on any old or unnecessary device and hit <b>Delete Backup<\/b>.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10557\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-icloud-backups-iphone.jpeg\" alt=\"Delete Backup\" width=\"555\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Keep in mind\u2014deleting a backup removes all data associated with that device, so make sure you don\u2019t need it before clearing it out. But if the backup belongs to an iPhone or iPad you <b>haven\u2019t used in years<\/b>, it\u2019s just wasting space.<\/p>\n<p>After deleting unnecessary backups, check your available storage again. If your current iPhone\u2019s backup still doesn\u2019t fit, there are a couple more steps you can take before upgrading your iCloud plan. Let\u2019s keep going.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_clean_up_icloud_drive_and_icloud_mail\"><\/span>4. Clean Up iCloud Drive and iCloud Mail<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your iPhone backup isn\u2019t the only thing competing for space in iCloud. Files stored in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icloud.com\/iclouddrive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iCloud Drive<\/a> and emails sitting in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icloud.com\/mail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iCloud Mail<\/a> also take up room. If your iCloud storage is full, clearing out unnecessary files and emails can free up enough space for your backup to fit\u2014without removing anything from your iPhone.<\/p>\n<h4>How to Clear iCloud Drive Storage<\/h4>\n<p>iCloud Drive holds files you\u2019ve saved from apps like Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and third-party cloud storage apps. If you\u2019ve ever manually saved a document, screenshot, or large download to iCloud Drive, <b>it\u2019s worth checking for old files you no longer need<\/b>:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <b>Files<\/b> app on your iPhone.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <b>Browse<\/b> &gt; <b>iCloud Drive<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li>Look through your folders and delete any large or unnecessary files.<\/li>\n<li>Empty the <b>Recently Deleted<\/b> folder to permanently remove them.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10560\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-files-app-icloud-drive.jpeg\" alt=\"iCloud Drive\" width=\"555\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4>How to Free Up Space in iCloud Mail<\/h4>\n<p>If you use <b>iCloud Mail<\/b> as your primary email, your inbox might be holding onto years of emails and attachments that eat into your storage. <b>To clean it up:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <b>Mail app<\/b> and go to your <b>iCloud inbox<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li>Sort by <b>attachments<\/b> or search for large files.<\/li>\n<li>Delete old emails you no longer need.<\/li>\n<li>Empty the <b>Trash folder<\/b> to permanently free up space.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10561\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-mail-icloud.jpeg\" alt=\"Mail app\" width=\"555\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>While clearing out files and emails won\u2019t directly shrink your iCloud <b>backup<\/b>, it can free up enough iCloud storage overall to allow the backup to go through.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_clean_up_messages_to_reduce_backup_size\"><\/span>5. Clean Up Messages to Reduce Backup Size<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>And don\u2019t forget about Messages\u2014many people, like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/iphone\/comments\/zq7xbh\/can_someone_help_me_determine_why_my_device\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Redditor here<\/a>, don\u2019t realize how much space their texts and attachments take up in iCloud Backup. Even if Messages in iCloud is turned <b>off<\/b>, your entire chat history\u2014including photos, videos, and GIFs\u2014gets backed up.<\/p>\n<p>If your iCloud backup size seems unexpectedly large, old large messages could be the hidden culprit. <b>Here\u2019s how to fix it:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <b>Messages<\/b> app and find conversations with lots of attachments.<\/li>\n<li>Tap the contact\u2019s name at the top of a conversation.<\/li>\n<li>Go to <b>Photos, Videos &amp; Documents<\/b>\u2014this shows all the media in that chat.<\/li>\n<li>Delete anything unnecessary, especially large video files.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10562\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-messages-tp.jpeg\" alt=\"Delete anything unnecessary\" width=\"556\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>To stop this from happening again, you can set Messages to auto-delete old conversations:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to <b>Settings<\/b> &gt; <b>Messages<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <b>Keep Messages<\/b> and change it from <b>Forever<\/b> to <b>1 Year<\/b> or <b>30 Days<\/b>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--default\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Note<\/b>. Some people also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/iphone\/comments\/zq7xbh\/can_someone_help_me_determine_why_my_device\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> that their settings showed Messages wasn\u2019t included in iCloud backup, yet message content was still being backed up. Toggling Messages in iCloud off and then back on finally forced iCloud to update properly and reduced backup size significantly. If you\u2019re still seeing a large backup size, you might want to try this trick.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_upgrade_your_icloud_storage_plan\"><\/span>6. Upgrade Your iCloud Storage Plan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve tried everything, but your iCloud backup still won\u2019t fit, it might be time to consider an <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108349\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iCloud+ upgrade<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As we mentioned earlier, Apple gives every user <b>5GB of free iCloud storage<\/b>, but let\u2019s be honest\u2014that\u2019s barely enough for most people. If your backup size is consistently too big, upgrading to a larger plan might be the simplest solution.<\/p>\n<p><b>How to upgrade your iCloud storage:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <b>Settings<\/b> and tap <b>[Your Name]<\/b> at the top.<\/li>\n<li>Select <b>iCloud<\/b> &gt; <b>Manage Account Storage<\/b> (or <b>iCloud Storage<\/b>).<\/li>\n<li>Tap <b>Get More Storage<\/b> or <b>Upgrade to iCloud+<\/b>.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-10559\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ios-icloud-upgrade.jpeg\" alt=\"Upgrade to iCloud+\" width=\"555\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Now, choose a plan:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>50GB ($0.99\/month)<\/b> \u2013 Enough for backups if you manage storage wisely.<\/li>\n<li><b>200GB ($2.99\/month)<\/b> \u2013 Best for families or those who store a lot of photos and videos.<\/li>\n<li><b>2TB ($9.99\/month)<\/b> \u2013 Ideal for multiple devices and heavy iCloud users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you upgrade, your backup will resume automatically. The extra space also gives you more breathing room for iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive, and any future storage needs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Tip<\/b>. Apple allows you to <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108318\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">downgrade your iCloud plan<\/a> anytime, so if you just need extra space temporarily, you can upgrade, and then switch back to a lower plan later. But, before you downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ plan, first download or remove content that exceeds your new storage amount. Otherwise, you could lose access to certain files.<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"alternative_backup_options\"><\/span>Alternative Backup Options<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If iCloud isn\u2019t working for you\u2014whether it\u2019s because of limited storage, slow backups, or just personal preference\u2014there are other ways to back up your iPhone. Apple provides a local backup option using a Mac or PC, and third-party software can give you even more control over what gets saved. Here\u2019s how to back up your iPhone without relying on iCloud.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"finder_backup\"><\/span>Finder Backup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Backing up via Finder stores your data on your computer, providing a local solution. This method can be particularly useful when dealing with large amounts of data, as it\u2019s only limited by your computer\u2019s storage capacity.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your Mac.<\/li>\n<li>On your Mac, open a new <b>Finder<\/b> window.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-4644 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/finder.jpg\" alt=\"Open finder\" width=\"907\" height=\"551\" \/><\/li>\n<li>In Finder, locate your iPhone listed under \u201cLocations\u201d and click on it.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-4643 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/iphone-in-finder.jpg\" alt=\"iPhone in Finder\" width=\"907\" height=\"551\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Under the \u201cGeneral\u201d tab, click \u201cBack Up Now\u201d to begin the backup process to your Mac.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--default\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Note.<\/b> If you&#8217;re on Windows (or a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier), use <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-gb\/guide\/itunes\/itns3280\/windows\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iTunes<\/a> instead of Finder. The steps are nearly identical\u2014connect your iPhone, open iTunes, select your device, and click <b>Back Up Now<\/b> under the <b>Backups<\/b> section.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"third-party_software\"><\/span>Third-Party Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If iCloud and local backups aren\u2019t flexible enough, <a href=\"\/blog\/best-iphone-backup-software\/\"><b>third-party backup software<\/b><\/a> offers more control. Unlike Apple\u2019s built-in options, these tools can be a great alternative, especially for users who need more control over their backups or who prefer not to use iCloud or iTunes. We recomend to start your search with these apps:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idrive.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>IDrive<\/b><\/a><b>:<\/b> IDrive offers a cloud-based backup solution ideal for users needing to manage large files without relying on physical storage. The service is compatible with iOS 13.0 or later and provides various storage plans to accommodate different user needs. While IDrive is appreciated for its functionality, some users have noted the need for improved customer service communication.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-4664\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/idrive-backup.jpg\" alt=\"IDrive\" width=\"563\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/imazing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>iMazing<\/b><\/a><b>:<\/b> iMazing provides a solution for backing up a wide range of file types from your iPhone to a computer. It stands out for features like automatic backup scheduling, backup encryption, and the ability to archive backups to prevent data loss. iMazing also supports customized data restoration and efficient data transfer between devices, making it a versatile tool for iPhone data management.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-4109\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/iMazing-iphone-backup.jpg\" alt=\"iMazing\" width=\"973\" height=\"640\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Both alternative backup options offer unique advantages for iPhone backup solutions beyond iCloud, catering to various user preferences and needs.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"short\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"short_and_sweet_version\"><\/span>Short and Sweet Version<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>How much iCloud storage do you need to back up your iPhone? It all depends on what\u2019s on your device, backups can range from a few GBs to over 100GB. Apple gives you 5GB for free, but that\u2019s usually not enough.<\/p>\n<p><b>\ud83e\udd0f How to check your backup size:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Go to <b>Settings<\/b> &gt; <b>[Your Name]<\/b> &gt; <b>iCloud<\/b> &gt; <b>iCloud Backups<\/b> &gt; <b>Your iPhone<\/b>. Check \u201cNext Backup Size.\u201d If it\u2019s bigger than your available storage, you\u2019ll need to free up space or upgrade iCloud.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u2705 Ways to free up space for your backup:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Disable unnecessary app backups<\/b> \u2013 Turn off apps that don\u2019t need to be in iCloud (<b>Settings<\/b> &gt; <b>iCloud<\/b> &gt; <b>Backups<\/b>).<\/li>\n<li><b>Clean up photos &amp; videos<\/b> \u2013 Delete unneeded media or use a <b>cleaning app<\/b> for automatic cleanup.<\/li>\n<li><b>Remove old device backups<\/b> \u2013 Delete backups from devices you no longer use.<\/li>\n<li><b>Clear out Messages<\/b> \u2013 Delete chats with large attachments or enable <b>Messages<\/b> in iCloud so they don\u2019t get backed up separately.<\/li>\n<li><b>Manage iCloud Drive &amp; Mail<\/b> \u2013 Delete unnecessary files and emails with large attachments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Alternative backup methods:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcbb <b>Mac (Finder)<\/b> \u2013 Connect your iPhone, open Finder, and hit <b>Back Up Now<\/b> (macOS Catalina or later).<br \/>\n\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f <b>PC (iTunes)<\/b> \u2013 Connect your iPhone, open iTunes, select your device, and click <b>Back Up Now<\/b>.<br \/>\n\ud83d\udd04 <b>Third-party tools<\/b> \u2013 Apps like <b>iMazing, IDrive, and Dr.Fone<\/b> let you save backups to <b>external drives or cloud services<\/b> and offer more flexibility than Apple\u2019s options.<\/p>\n<section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><div class=\"panel-group sc_accordion_faq\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\" aria-multiselectable=\"true\"><h2 class=\"sc_accordion_faq--title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq1\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_use_external_storage_devices_for_iphone_backups\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq1\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq1\">\r\n                Can I use external storage devices for iPhone backups?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq1\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                You can use external hard drives to store iPhone backups by connecting them to your computer and using iTunes (on macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later) to save your backups. While direct backup to external hard drives from the iPhone isn\u2019t supported by Apple, this method allows for larger storage capacity than the iPhone\u2019s internal storage. Also, in theory, you can temporarily transfer files\u2014like large videos or documents\u2014to an external storage device directly from your iPhone. This can help reduce your backup size<\/p>\n<p>Wireless external storage like NAS can also be used, but it typically requires additional setup and possibly third-party apps to facilitate the backup process. For a step-by-step guide on backing up your iPhone to an external drive using iTunes or Finder, <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-gb\/guide\/iphone\/iph3ecf67d29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple\u2019s official support website<\/a> offers instructions and support.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq2\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"are_there_alternative_cloud_services_to_icloud_for_iphone_backups\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq2\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq2\">\r\n                Are there alternative cloud services to iCloud for iPhone backups?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq2\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                Yes, but they work differently. Services like <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/my-drive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Drive<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dropbox<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoft-365\/onedrive\/online-cloud-storage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft OneDrive<\/a> let you store photos, videos, and documents, but they don\u2019t create full device backups like iCloud. Unlike Apple\u2019s native backup system, these options require manual uploads and don\u2019t restore apps, settings, or messages. However, they can be useful for offloading files and freeing up iCloud storage.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq3\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_should_i_consider_when_deciding_on_backup_storage_space\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq3\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq3\">\r\n                What should I consider when deciding on backup storage space?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq3\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                When determining how much storage you need for an iPhone backup, consider your device&#8217;s size, the amount of data you have, how often you back up, and future data growth. Remember that backup methods like iCloud and iTunes might compress and optimize data, affecting the total storage needed.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq4\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_back_up_multiple_iphones_with_one_icloud_account\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq4\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq4\">\r\n                Can I back up multiple iPhones with one iCloud account?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq4\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                Yes, you can back up multiple iPhones (or iPads) using the same iCloud account, but all backups share the same storage pool. If you\u2019re on the free 5GB iCloud plan, it won\u2019t take long before you run out of space.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq5\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_happens_to_my_backup_if_i_cancel_my_icloud_storage_plan\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq5\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq5\">\r\n                What happens to my backup if I cancel my iCloud+ storage plan?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq5\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq5\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                \n<p>If you cancel iCloud+ or downgrade to the free 5GB plan, Apple doesn\u2019t immediately delete your backup\u2014but you\u2019ll need to act fast.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Apple keeps your existing backups for 180 days after cancellation.<\/li>\n<li>If your iCloud storage now exceeds the free 5GB limit, new backups won\u2019t be created, and existing ones won\u2019t update.<\/li>\n<li>After 180 days, if you haven\u2019t resubscribed or freed up space, your backup will be permanently deleted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq6\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"whats_the_difference_between_icloud_backup_and_icloud_photos\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq6\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq6\">\r\n                What\u2019s the difference between iCloud Backup and iCloud Photos?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq6\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq6\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                iCloud Backup and iCloud Photos work differently because one is a backup, and the other is a sync. iCloud Backup creates a snapshot of your iPhone &#8211; app data, settings, and any photos not already synced to iCloud. It\u2019s used to restore everything if you get a new phone or reset your device. iCloud Photos, on the other hand, is a sync service\u2014it keeps your pictures and videos updated across all devices, but if you delete a photo from one device, it disappears from all. If iCloud Photos is ON, your pictures don\u2019t go into iCloud backup. If it\u2019s OFF, your entire photo library gets backed up.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to know how much space you need to back up your iPhone? Yeah, it\u2019s a tricky one\u2014just look at the countless posts trying to crack the code. To clear things up, our team put together this text. You\u2019ll find everything you need to figure out how much free space your backup requires, how to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":1674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[],"slider-tags":[],"class_list":["post-4660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ios"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Much Storage Do You Need to Backup iPhone And How to Get It<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn exactly how much storage you need to backup your iPhone and different ways to ensure you have enough of it so your data is safely stored.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Much Storage Do You Need to Backup iPhone And How to Get It\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn exactly how much storage you need to backup your iPhone and different ways to ensure you have enough of it so your data is safely stored.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-much-storage-do-you-need-to-backup-iphone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"InsanelyMac Blog - 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He has a strong eye for detail and extensive experience in ensuring content quality, especially in areas like data recovery, understanding macOS\/iOS, and storage solutions for Apple devices. 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