How to Fix iCloud Storage Full Warnings

If you own an iPhone, you are likely familiar with the relentless “iCloud Storage Is Full” notification. Apple only provides a meager 5GB of free cloud storage with every Apple ID, a limit that most people hit within their first month of taking photos.

When your iCloud is full, your phone can no longer back up your data, leaving you vulnerable if you lose or break your device. Before you pull out your credit card to buy a monthly iCloud+ subscription, here is how to fix iCloud storage full warnings by cleaning up your digital clutter.

1. Find Out What is Actually Hogging Your Space

You cannot fix the problem if you do not know what is causing it. Your first step is to check the iCloud storage breakdown.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your Name / Apple ID at the very top of the screen.
3. Tap iCloud.
4. Look at the colorful bar graph at the top. It will show you exactly how your 5GB is being used.

For 90% of users, the two biggest culprits are Photos and Backups. Let’s tackle them both.

2. Delete Old Device Backups

If you have owned multiple iPhones or iPads over the years, iCloud might still be holding onto massive backup files for devices you sold or traded in years ago.

1. From that same iCloud menu, tap Manage Account Storage.
2. Tap Backups.
3. You will see a list of every device currently backed up to your account. If you see an “Old iPhone” on the list that you no longer own, tap it.
4. Tap Delete & Turn Off Backup.

This single action can instantly free up gigabytes of wasted space.

3. Stop Backing Up Unnecessary Apps

By default, iCloud tries to back up the data for every single app you download. You do not need iCloud to back up your TikTok cache or your Netflix watch history, as those are already saved on those companies’ servers.

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
2. Under the “Apps Using iCloud” section, tap Show All.
3. Go down the list and toggle Off any app that does not hold critical, irreplaceable personal data.

4. Purge Large iMessage Attachments

Every time someone texts you a funny 4K video of their dog, it sits in your Messages app forever. If you have “Messages in iCloud” turned on, those old videos are draining your cloud storage.

1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
2. Find and tap on Messages.
3. Tap Review Large Attachments (or tap Videos).
4. You will see a list of the largest files taking up space. Tap Edit in the top right corner, select the massive videos you no longer need, and tap the Trash icon.

5. Deal with Your Photos

If your Photos app is taking up 4.5GB of your 5GB limit, you have a decision to make. You can either spend an hour deleting old screenshots and blurry photos, or you can turn off iCloud Photos entirely and back up your pictures manually to a computer using a USB cable.

To turn it off, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos and toggle off “Sync this iPhone.” Be warned: you are now fully responsible for making sure you don’t lose your pictures!