Running out of iCloud storage can be frustrating, especially when you need to back up important photos or documents. Checking your iCloud storage regularly helps you manage your space effectively and avoid those annoying “Storage Full” notifications. This guide walks you through different ways to check your iCloud storage space directly from your iPhone.

Quick Steps to Check iCloud Storage on iPhone

Before diving into the detailed methods, here's a quick overview of how to check your iCloud storage:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Tap on your name at the top
3. Select "iCloud"
4. View your storage information at the top of the screen

Detailed Method: Checking iCloud Storage Through iPhone Settings

The most direct way to check your iCloud storage is through your iPhone's Settings app. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Open Settings

Find and tap the Settings app on your iPhone home screen. It looks like a gray gear icon.

Step 2: Access Your Apple ID

At the top of the Settings menu, you'll see your name and profile picture. Tap on it to access your Apple ID settings.

Step 3: Go to iCloud Settings

In the Apple ID menu, tap on "iCloud." This will take you to your iCloud settings page.

Step 4: View Your Storage

At the top of the iCloud screen, you'll see a bar graph showing your storage usage. It displays:

• Total storage space available
• How much space is used
• How much space remains free
• Color-coded sections showing what's using your storage

Step 5: Check Storage Breakdown

For a more detailed breakdown, tap on "Manage Storage" or "Manage Account Storage." This shows exactly which apps and services are using your iCloud space.

Alternative Method: Checking Through iCloud Storage Settings

Another way to check your iCloud storage is through a slightly different path in Settings:

Step 1: Open Settings

Tap the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Go to General

Scroll down and tap "General."

Step 3: Access iPhone Storage

Tap “iPhone Storage” to see your device storage first.

Step 4: Return to Settings

Go back to the main Settings menu.

Step 5: Tap Your Apple ID

Tap your name at the top of the Settings menu.

Step 6: Select iCloud

Tap "iCloud" from the options.

Step 7: View Storage

Look at the storage bar at the top of the screen or tap “Manage Storage” for details.

Understanding Your iCloud Storage Usage

When you check your iCloud storage, you'll see a breakdown of what's using your space. Here's what typically takes up iCloud storage:

Photos and Videos

Usually the biggest storage consumer, especially if you have iCloud Photos enabled. Your entire photo library syncs across devices when this feature is on.

Backups

iPhone backups can take up significant space, especially if you back up multiple devices to the same iCloud account.

Messages

If you have Messages in iCloud enabled, your text messages, iMessages, and their attachments are stored in iCloud.

Apps Data

Many apps store data in iCloud for syncing across devices.

Mail

Your iCloud email account and attachments use storage space.

How to Check Storage Used by Specific Apps and Services

To see exactly which apps are using your iCloud storage:

Step 1: Go to iCloud Storage Management

Follow the steps above to reach your iCloud settings, then tap "Manage Storage."

Step 2: Review App Storage Usage

You'll see a list of apps using iCloud storage, sorted by how much space they're using.

Step 3: Tap on Any App for Details

Selecting an app shows more details about its storage usage and sometimes options to manage that data.

App/Service	What It Stores	Tips to Reduce
Photos	All photos and videos from your library	Delete unwanted media or use "Optimize iPhone Storage" option
Backups	Device backups (settings, app data, etc.)	Delete old backups or exclude large applications from backup
Messages	Text messages and attachments	Delete conversations or set messages to auto-delete after 1 year
Mail	Emails and attachments	Delete unnecessary emails with large attachments
Notes	Text notes, attachments, scanned documents	Remove old notes or attachments you no longer need

Checking iCloud Storage Using the iCloud Website

You can also check your iCloud storage from a web browser on your iPhone:

Step 1: Open Safari

Launch Safari or your preferred web browser on your iPhone.

Step 2: Visit iCloud.com

Go to iCloud.com in your browser.

Step 3: Sign In

Log in with your Apple ID and password.

Step 4: View Account Settings

Tap on your name in the top-right corner and select “Account Settings.”

Step 5: Check Storage

Your storage information will be displayed at the top of the screen.

Using the Apple ID Storage Menu

Another simple way to check your iCloud storage:

Step 1: Open Settings

Tap the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap Your Name

Select your name at the top of the Settings menu.

Step 3: View Storage

Look for "iCloud" and check the storage bar, or tap it for more details.

Comparing iCloud Storage Plans

If you're running low on storage, you might want to upgrade your plan. Here's a comparison of the current iCloud storage plans:

Plan	Storage Space	Monthly Cost (USD)	Best For
Free	5GB	$0	Basic users with minimal backup needs
iCloud+	50GB	$0.99	Individual users with moderate photo libraries
iCloud+	200GB	$2.99	Users with large photo libraries or families
iCloud+	2TB	$9.99	Professional photographers or family sharing
Apple One	Varies (50GB-2TB)	$14.95-$29.95	Users who want multiple Apple services bundled

How to Manage and Free Up iCloud Storage Space

If you're running low on iCloud storage, here are some ways to free up space:

Delete Unnecessary Backups

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups
2. Select old device backups you no longer need
3. Tap "Delete Backup"

Optimize Photo Storage

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos
2. Enable "Optimize iPhone Storage" to store smaller versions of photos on your device while keeping the originals in iCloud

Remove large attachments from messages

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Messages
2. Tap “Top Conversations” to see which conversations use the most space
3. Delete large attachments you don't need

Delete Unwanted Apps' Data

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage
2. Tap on apps using large amounts of storage
3. Delete documents and data you don't need

Clean Up Mail

1. Open the Mail app
2. Search for emails with attachments
3. Delete large emails you no longer need

How to Upgrade Your iCloud Storage Plan

If you need more storage, here's how to upgrade your iCloud plan:

Step 1: Go to iCloud Settings

1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Select "iCloud"

Step 2: Manage Storage

1. Tap "Manage Storage" or look for "Change Storage Plan"

Step 3: Upgrade Options

1. Tap "Upgrade" or "Change Storage Plan"
2. View the available plans

Step 4: Select a Plan

1. Choose the plan that fits your needs
2. Tap "Buy"

Step 5: Confirm Purchase

1. Confirm with your Apple ID password, Face ID, or Touch ID
2. Your plan will update immediately

Checking iCloud Storage for Family Sharing

If you use Family Sharing with iCloud+, you can check how family members are using the shared storage:

Step 1: Access iCloud Settings

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing

Step 2: View Storage Usage

1. Tap on "iCloud Storage"
2. See how much storage each family member is using

Troubleshooting iCloud Storage Issues

Problem: Storage Not Updating

If your storage usage doesn't seem to update after deleting files:

1. Sign out of iCloud (Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out)
2. Restart your iPhone
3. Sign back into iCloud

Problem: "Storage Almost Full" Notifications

If you keep getting storage warnings:

1. Check which apps are using the most storage
2. Delete unnecessary data or consider upgrading your plan

Problem: Backup Failing

If your iPhone won't back up to iCloud:

1. Check that you have enough iCloud storage
2. Connect to Wi-Fi
3. Try reducing backup size by excluding large applications

iCloud Storage vs. iPhone Storage: Understanding the Difference

Many people confuse iCloud storage with iPhone storage. Here's the difference:

Feature	iCloud Storage	iPhone Storage
Location	Cloud-based (online)	Physical device storage
Access	From any device with your Apple ID	Only from the specific iPhone
Purpose	Backups, photos syncing, app data syncing	Apps, photos, videos, system files on the device
How to check	Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud	Settings > General > iPhone Storage
Upgradable?	Yes, through subscription plans	No, fixed when you buy the device

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Monitoring iCloud Storage Over Time

It's a good habit to check your iCloud storage regularly. Here's a suggested schedule:

• Monthly: Basic check of total usage
• Quarterly: Detailed review of what's using your storage
• After major events: Check after vacations or special events where you've taken many photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iCloud storage fill up so quickly?

iCloud storage fills up quickly primarily because of photos and videos, which take up significant space. If you have iCloud Photos enabled, every photo and video you take syncs to iCloud. Device backups also consume significant space, especially if you back up multiple devices to the same account. Apps that store data in iCloud and email attachments can also contribute to rapidly filling storage.

Can I check my iCloud storage without an iPhone?

Yes, you can check your iCloud storage without an iPhone by using any web browser. Simply visit iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. After logging in, click on your name in the top right corner and select “Account Settings.” Your storage information will be displayed at the top of the page. You can also check from a Mac computer through System Preferences or System Settings.

What happens if I exceed my iCloud storage limit?

When you exceed your iCloud storage limit, several functions stop working properly. Your device will no longer back up to iCloud, new photos won't upload, documents won't sync, and you'll stop receiving emails to your iCloud email address. You'll continue to receive full storage notifications until you either free up space by deleting content or upgrade to a larger storage plan.

Is 5GB of free iCloud storage enough for most users?

The 5GB free iCloud storage is generally not enough for most active iPhone users. This amount can be quickly filled by just one device backup, especially if you have many photos or large apps. If you use iCloud Photos or back up multiple devices, you'll likely need to upgrade to at least the 50GB plan. The free tier is mainly sufficient for users who don't rely heavily on iCloud for backups or photo storage.

How often should I check my iCloud storage usage?

It's advisable to check your iCloud storage usage at least once a month to stay aware of how quickly you're using space. Check more frequently if you're approaching your storage limit or after periods when you've taken many photos or videos. Setting a regular reminder to review your storage can help prevent unexpected “storage full” situations and give you time to manage your data or upgrade your plan if necessary.

Conclusion

Checking your iCloud storage on your iPhone is a simple process that helps you manage your digital life more effectively. Whether you prefer using the Settings app or the iCloud website, staying aware of your storage usage helps prevent unexpected “storage full” messages and data loss. Regular monitoring allows you to take timely action—whether that means cleaning up unnecessary files or upgrading to a larger storage plan.

Remember that different types of content use vary amounts of storage, with photos and videos typically being the largest consumers of space. By understanding what's using your storage and how to manage it, you can make the most of your iCloud account and keep your important data safe and accessible across all your Apple devices.