Apple Account and iCloud
iCloud storage
Most people call this the space your account has in iCloud.
Manage Storage shows what is using your iCloud allowance, which is almost always backups and photos, and lets you delete or upgrade.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 16 and later
- Settings
- Apple Account
- iCloud
- Manage Account Storage
What it does
The free tier is small enough that most people outgrow it quickly. Old backups from devices you no longer own are a common and easily removed waste of space.
What changes
When it is on
Not applicable. This is a management screen.
When it is off
Not applicable.
Should you turn it on?
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: The free tier until you upgrade.
Worth reading first
Questions people actually ask
- What is using my iCloud storage?
- Settings, then Apple Account, then iCloud, then Manage Account Storage. Backups and Photos are the usual answers.
If it is not working
- Delete backups for devices you no longer own. They are often the largest item.
- Photos is usually the second largest. Consider what actually needs to sync.
- A paid plan can be shared with family, which is cheaper than several accounts.