TL;DR: Free iCloud gives you 5GB. To clear space without paying, first check Settings > [your name] > iCloud to see what’s using it. Then delete old device backups, turn off backups for apps you don’t need, remove Messages attachments, clean up large videos and iCloud Drive files, and use iCloud Mail Cleanup. Emptying Recently Deleted in Photos won’t free iCloud space: Apple says those items don’t count. Back up to a Mac or PC instead of iCloud if you want to stay on the free tier. And ignore any “your storage is full” email with an upgrade link; check in Settings instead.
Last updated: October 6, 2026. Steps checked against Apple Support; scam details from Which? and Apple.
The “iCloud storage full” alert usually arrives at the worst moment. Before you pay for iCloud+, here’s how to free up iCloud storage without buying more, using Apple’s own tools and a few settings most people never touch.
What happens when iCloud storage is full?
Your backups, photo uploads and iCloud email stop working. Apple’s iCloud storage guide says that when you run out, “your device won’t back up to iCloud, new photos and videos won’t upload to iCloud Photos,” iCloud Drive stops syncing, and “you won’t be able to send or receive emails with your iCloud email address.” Every Apple Account gets 5GB free.
If you do decide to pay, Apple’s prices are:
| iCloud+ plan | US (per month) | UK (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| 50GB | $0.99 | £0.99 |
| 200GB | $2.99 | £2.99 |
| 2TB | $9.99 | £8.99 |
| 6TB | $29.99 | £26.99 |
| 12TB | $59.99 | £54.99 |
How to free up iCloud storage without buying more
Work through these in order. The first few usually free the most space.
1. See what’s using your iCloud storage
Open Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud. The bar at the top shows what’s using space: usually Photos, Backups, Messages and Drive. Tap Storage or Manage Account Storage for a breakdown by app. On a computer, sign in at iCloud.com.
2. Use “Recommended for You”
On iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 and later, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Recommended for You. Apple lists items you might not need, such as large files, photos and old backups, and walks you through removing them.
3. Delete old device backups
Old backups from phones you no longer use are a common space hog. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Storage > Backups, tap the old device, then tap Turn Off and Delete from iCloud. Apple notes that iCloud backups stay available “for 180 days after you disable or stop using iCloud Backup,” so a phone you traded in months ago may still be taking up space.
4. Stop backing up apps you don’t need
In the same Backups screen, tap your current device and turn off apps you don’t need backed up. Apple warns that turning off an app “removes all of its information from iCloud,” and some apps are always backed up.
5. Delete Messages attachments
If you use Messages in iCloud, every photo and video you’ve sent and received counts. Open a conversation, tap the contact’s name, then tap Photos (iOS 26 and later), then Edit > Select Photos, choose items and delete. Deleting whole conversations you don’t need also helps. To stop the problem coming back, set Keep Messages to 1 Year or 30 Days in Messages settings.
6. Clean up large videos and duplicate photos
With iCloud Photos on, deleting a photo on one device deletes it everywhere. Videos take far more space than photos, so start there. Before deleting anything, download copies of anything you want to keep (see step 10).
About Recently Deleted: Apple says “items in Recently Deleted don’t count towards your iCloud storage,” so emptying it won’t free any iCloud space. Deleted photos sit there for 30 days, and Apple adds that if you’re over your limit, deleted items are removed right away.
Using a Shared Library? Photos added to an iCloud Shared Photo Library count only toward the storage of the person who created it. Make sure you’re viewing your Personal Library when deleting to free your own space.
7. Clear out iCloud Drive
Open Files > Browse > iCloud Drive and delete large or old files, such as downloads, installers and old exports. Deleted files go to Recently Deleted for 30 days. Files in a folder someone else shared with you don’t count toward your storage.
8. Use iCloud Mail Cleanup
If you use an iCloud email address, old mail with attachments adds up. In the Mail app’s iCloud inbox, tap More > Cleanup Recommendations > iCloud Mail Cleanup, then choose categories like promotions or subscriptions. Apple says it keeps cleaning that type of mail automatically until you turn it off. Empty Trash afterward.
9. Remove smaller extras
Voice Memos, FaceTime data, Contact Posters and Apple Invites data all use iCloud storage. Apple’s guide covers each one. These are usually small, but on a nearly full 5GB plan they can matter.
10. Back up to a Mac or PC instead
A computer backup costs nothing and doesn’t use iCloud. On a Mac, connect your iPhone, open Finder, select it and click Back Up Now (Apple). On Windows, use the Apple Devices app. Then you can turn off iCloud Backup and delete the iCloud copy.
For photos, download originals from iCloud.com/photos or the Photos app on a Mac to your computer or an external drive, then delete them from iCloud. Keep two copies of anything irreplaceable.
Which fixes free the most space?
| Fix | Typical impact | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Delete old device backups | High | Low, if the device is gone |
| Messages attachments | Medium to high | Low |
| Large videos in Photos | High | Back up first |
| Turn off app backups | Medium | That app’s data leaves iCloud |
| iCloud Drive cleanup | Varies | Check Recently Deleted |
| Mail Cleanup | Low to medium | Low |
| Emptying Recently Deleted | None | Apple says it doesn’t count |
Impact depends on your account. We haven’t measured it ourselves.
Is the “iCloud storage full” email a scam?
Often, yes. In July 2026 Which? warned about fake iCloud emails claiming your storage is full or your payment failed. The emails threaten that “all your photos will be deleted” and offer “free storage space” or an 80% upgrade discount through a malicious link. Some say you’ll lose access in “48 hours.”
How to stay safe:
- Don’t click links in storage or payment emails. Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud yourself.
- Forward suspicious emails to reportphishing@apple.com, as Apple’s phishing guide recommends.
- If you entered card details, contact your bank right away and change your Apple Account password.
Apple notes that scammers create “a strong sense of urgency.” A real low-storage warning doesn’t need you to act within hours, and it will show the same thing in Settings. Keeping your iPhone updated helps too; see our iOS 26.7.1 security update guide.
Verdict
You can usually stay on the free 5GB, or a cheap plan, by deleting old backups, cleaning Messages attachments and large videos, and backing up to a computer. Skip emptying Recently Deleted, which doesn’t free iCloud space, and never pay through a link in a “storage full” email. If you have years of photos and videos and want them synced everywhere, 50GB for $0.99 a month (£0.99 in the UK) is the cheapest way out.
FAQ
How do I free up iCloud storage without buying more?
Delete old device backups, turn off backups for apps you don’t need, remove Messages attachments, clean up large videos and iCloud Drive files, use iCloud Mail Cleanup, and back up to a Mac or PC.
Does deleting Recently Deleted free up iCloud space?
No. Apple says items in Recently Deleted don’t count toward your iCloud storage.
What takes up the most iCloud storage?
Usually Photos, device backups and Messages attachments. Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud for your own breakdown.
Can I delete an old iPhone backup from iCloud?
Yes. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Storage > Backups, tap the old device and choose Turn Off and Delete from iCloud.
Is the “iCloud storage full” email real?
It may be a scam. Don’t click links in the email; check your storage in Settings and forward suspicious messages to reportphishing@apple.com.
How much free iCloud storage do you get?
Every Apple Account gets 5GB free. Paid iCloud+ plans start at $0.99 (£0.99) a month for 50GB.
Sources checked October 6, 2026.
