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How to Reduce iCloud Backup Size: 8 Proven Methods (2026)

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Your iCloud storage is full, and your iPhone won't back up. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Apple's free 5GB storage tier fills up fast with photos, messages, and app data. But before you pay for more storage, try these proven methods to reduce your iCloud backup size.

Quick Answer: To reduce iCloud backup size:

  1. Delete old device backups (Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage)
  2. Turn off backup for large apps you don't need
  3. Delete photos/videos from iCloud Photos
  4. Clear Messages and attachments
  5. Remove unnecessary app data

Most users can free 5-10GB by removing old backups and disabling backup for apps like Netflix, YouTube, and games.

Understanding Your iCloud Backup Size

Before you start deleting things randomly, it helps to understand what's actually taking up space in your iCloud backup.

What's Included in iCloud Backup?

Your iCloud backup includes:

  • App data - Game progress, app settings, documents
  • Device settings - Wallpapers, preferences, accessibility settings
  • Home screen organization - App layout, folders, widgets
  • iMessage, text, and MMS messages - Including photos and videos sent in messages
  • Photos and videos - Only if you're NOT using iCloud Photos
  • Purchase history - Apps, music, movies, TV shows, books
  • Ringtones - Custom ringtones you've created or purchased
  • Visual Voicemail - Saved voicemail messages

What's NOT Backed Up?

These items are stored separately or excluded:

  • Data already synced to iCloud (Photos, Contacts, Calendar, Notes)
  • Data stored in iCloud Mail
  • Health and Activity data (stored separately in encrypted iCloud backup)
  • Touch ID and Face ID settings
  • Apple Pay information
  • Data from apps that store content in iCloud by default

How to Check Your Current Backup Size

Here's how to see what's taking up space:

  1. Open Settings → tap your name at the top
  2. Tap iCloud → Manage Storage
  3. Tap Backups → select your device
  4. Review the total size and "Next Backup Size"

You'll see a breakdown showing which apps are taking the most space. This is your roadmap for what to eliminate first.

How to Reduce iCloud Backup Size

Now let's get into the actual methods. I've ranked these by impact so you can prioritize the biggest wins.

Method 1: Delete Old Device Backups

Impact: High (can free 5-25GB) | Time: 2 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

This is the fastest way to free up massive amounts of space. If you've upgraded from an old iPhone or iPad, you likely have backups from devices you no longer use sitting in iCloud.

Steps:

  1. Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups
  2. Review the list of devices
  3. Tap any old device you no longer own
  4. Tap Delete Backup → Turn Off & Delete
  5. Confirm deletion

Warning: Only delete backups for devices you no longer own or use. You cannot restore from a deleted backup. If you sold or gave away a device, you definitely don't need that backup anymore.

I just freed 18GB by deleting my old iPhone 12 backup after upgrading to iPhone 15. That's instant savings without losing anything important.

Method 2: Turn Off Backup for Large Apps

Impact: High (can free 2-15GB) | Time: 5 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Many apps don't actually need to be backed up. Streaming services, social media apps, and most games can re-download their content or sync from the cloud.

Steps:

  1. Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups
  2. Tap your current device
  3. Review the app list (sorted by size)
  4. Toggle OFF apps you don't need backed up

Apps Safe to Exclude:

Streaming & Media (definitely exclude):

  • ❌ Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max
  • ❌ Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora
  • ❌ Kindle, Audible

Social Media (cloud-synced, safe to exclude):

  • ❌ Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X (Twitter)
  • ❌ LinkedIn, Snapchat

Games (can redownload, progress often cloud-saved):

  • ❌ Candy Crush, Call of Duty Mobile, Pokémon GO
  • ❌ Any game that requires internet login (saves to developer's servers)

Keep These Apps Backed Up:

  • ✅ Banking apps (contain settings/preferences)
  • ✅ Notes apps with local storage
  • ✅ Health & fitness apps with local data
  • ✅ Any app with important local documents

I excluded Netflix (2.3GB), Spotify (1.8GB), and Instagram (900MB) - saved 5GB in 30 seconds without losing anything.

Method 3: Reduce Photos & Videos Backup

Impact: Very High (can free 10-50GB) | Time: 10-30 min | Difficulty: Medium

Photos and videos are usually the biggest culprit. Here are three approaches:

When you turn on iCloud Photos, your photos are stored in iCloud but NOT in your device backup. This shifts where they're stored, potentially freeing backup space.

Steps:

  1. Settings → Photos → iCloud Photos (toggle ON)
  2. Choose "Optimize iPhone Storage" to save space

Result: Photos no longer count toward backup size, but still use iCloud storage. Net effect depends on your total photo library size vs. backup size.

Option B: Delete Unnecessary Photos/Videos

The nuclear option - actually delete photos you don't need:

  1. Check Recently Deleted:

    • Photos app → Albums → Recently Deleted
    • Tap Select → Delete All
    • These still count toward storage until permanently deleted

  2. Find Large Videos:

    • Photos app → Albums → Videos
    • Sort by size (if available) or scroll through
    • Delete old videos you don't need

  3. Remove Duplicates:

    • Manually review or use built-in duplicate detection
    • Photos app → Albums → Duplicates (iOS 16+)

  4. Export to Computer:

    • Connect iPhone to Mac/PC
    • Import photos to computer
    • Delete from iPhone after confirming successful transfer

Option C: Disable Photo Backup Entirely

Warning: Only do this if you have another backup method.

  1. Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups
  2. Tap your device → Camera Roll (toggle OFF)

You'll need to back up photos another way (Google Photos, computer, external drive).

Method 4: Manage Messages and Attachments

Impact: Medium-High (can free 2-10GB) | Time: 10 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

iMessage conversations accumulate photos, videos, GIFs, voice memos, and stickers over time. Here's how to clean them up.

Auto-Delete Old Messages

Set messages to automatically delete after 30 days or 1 year:

  1. Settings → Messages → Keep Messages
  2. Change from "Forever" to 1 Year or 30 Days
  3. Tap Delete when prompted

This immediately deletes old messages and prevents future buildup.

Manually Delete Large Conversations

  1. Messages app → swipe left on any conversation → Delete
  2. Focus on group chats with lots of media
  3. Look for conversations with video attachments

Clear Media Attachments from Specific Conversations

To keep the conversation but remove media:

  1. Open a conversation → tap contact name at top
  2. Tap Info (i icon)
  3. Scroll down to see all Photos, Links, Documents
  4. Tap on media to view → swipe left → Delete
  5. Delete large videos and images you don't need

I had a family group chat with 3.2GB of photos and videos going back 2 years. Deleted the entire conversation and freed massive space.

Method 5: Clear App Cache and Documents

Impact: Low-Medium (can free 500MB-3GB) | Time: 5 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Some apps accumulate cache data over time - temporary files that aren't essential.

Steps:

  1. Settings → General → iPhone Storage
  2. Review apps sorted by size
  3. For large apps, tap → choose:
    • Offload App - Removes app but keeps data (you can reinstall later)
    • Delete App - Removes app and all data

Apps That Often Accumulate Cache:

  • Safari - Website data, history, cookies (Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data)
  • Podcasts - Downloaded episodes (Podcasts app → Library → Downloaded → swipe to delete)
  • Music - Downloaded songs (Music app → Downloaded Music → swipe to delete)
  • Mail - Attachments and message cache

For most apps, the easiest way to clear cache is to delete and reinstall the app. Your account data syncs back when you log in again.

Method 6: Review and Delete Voice Memos

Impact: Low (can free 100MB-2GB) | Time: 3 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

If you record voice memos regularly, they can add up.

Steps:

  1. Open Voice Memos app
  2. Review recordings
  3. Swipe left → Delete on recordings you don't need
  4. Tap Recently Deleted → Delete All

Voice memos are permanently deleted after 30 days in Recently Deleted, but they still count toward storage until then.

Method 7: Optimize WhatsApp/Telegram Backup

Impact: Medium (can free 1-5GB) | Time: 5 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Third-party messaging apps often have their own backup settings.

WhatsApp

  1. WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup
  2. Tap "Include Videos" → turn OFF (videos are huge)
  3. Auto Backup → set to Off or Monthly instead of Daily

Telegram

Most data syncs to Telegram's cloud, not iCloud, but you can clear local cache:

  1. Telegram → Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Usage
  2. Tap Clear Cache
  3. Select how much to keep (500MB recommended)

Method 8: Use iTunes/Finder Backup Instead

Impact: Complete (frees ALL backup space) | Time: 30 min setup | Difficulty: Medium

If you have a Mac or PC, you can skip iCloud backup entirely and back up to your computer instead.

Steps for Mac (macOS Catalina or later)

  1. Connect iPhone to Mac with cable
  2. Open Finder → select your iPhone from sidebar
  3. Under "Backups," check "Back up all data on your iPhone to this Mac"
  4. Click Back Up Now
  5. Wait for backup to complete
  6. On iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → toggle OFF

Steps for Windows (or older Mac)

  1. Connect iPhone to PC with cable
  2. Open iTunes
  3. Click iPhone icon
  4. Under "Backups," select "This computer"
  5. Click Back Up Now
  6. On iPhone: Disable iCloud Backup (same as Mac steps above)

Pros of Computer Backup

  • ✅ Free unlimited backup storage
  • ✅ Faster backup and restore
  • ✅ No iCloud storage needed
  • ✅ Can encrypt backup with password for extra security

Cons of Computer Backup

  • ❌ Must remember to connect regularly (not automatic)
  • ❌ Requires computer access
  • ❌ If computer hard drive fails, you lose backup

My recommendation: Use both methods. Keep iCloud backup enabled for automatic daily backups, but manually back up to computer monthly for extra protection.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Next Backup Size" is Still Large After Changes

Problem: You've made changes but the next backup size hasn't decreased.

Solutions:

  1. Wait 10-15 minutes - Changes take time to process
  2. Force quit Settings app - Swipe up from bottom → swipe up on Settings
  3. Trigger manual backup:
    • Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup
    • Tap Back Up Now
    • Check if size decreases after backup completes
  4. Restart iPhone - Sometimes a restart is needed for changes to register

Can't Delete Old Backups

Problem: Delete button is grayed out or you get an error message.

Solutions:

  1. Check Apple ID - Make sure you're signed in with the correct Apple ID that owns the backup
  2. Wait and retry - iCloud server sync can be slow, try again in 5 minutes
  3. Delete from iCloud.com:
    • Go to iCloud.com
    • Sign in → Account Settings → Manage
    • Under "Backups," delete old backups
  4. Contact Apple Support - If backup appears corrupted or stuck

Backup Size Increased After Following Steps

Problem: Your backup got bigger instead of smaller.

Explanation: This is normal. When you make changes, the system creates change logs and reorganizes data. The first backup after changes can be larger because:

  • System creates snapshots of changes
  • New metadata generated
  • Temporary increase while reorganizing

Solution: Wait for one more backup cycle (usually happens automatically within 24 hours). The size should decrease on the next backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the average iCloud backup size?

A: Most iPhone backups range from 2GB to 8GB. Devices with lots of apps, messages, and local photos can reach 15-25GB. If your backup exceeds 10GB, you should definitely review what's being backed up and exclude unnecessary items.

Q: Will reducing backup size delete my data?

A: No. Reducing backup size only changes what gets backed up to iCloud. Your current data on the iPhone stays intact. However, if you later restore from backup, excluded data won't be restored. Make sure you have alternative backups for important excluded data.

Q: Should I delete my iCloud backup entirely?

A: Not recommended unless you have a computer backup. iCloud backup is your safety net if your iPhone is lost, stolen, or damaged. Instead of deleting the backup entirely, optimize what's included using the methods above.

Q: How often does iCloud backup automatically?

A: Daily, when all of these conditions are met:

  • iPhone is connected to power (charging)
  • iPhone is connected to WiFi
  • iPhone screen is locked
  • You have enough free iCloud storage

If these conditions aren't met, backups won't happen automatically.

Q: Does iCloud backup include apps themselves?

A: No, only app data. When you restore from backup, the App Store re-downloads your apps automatically. This is why you can safely exclude streaming apps - the app will reinstall but doesn't need data restored.

Q: What happens if I turn off iCloud Backup?

A: Your iPhone won't back up automatically to iCloud anymore. Existing backups remain in iCloud until you delete them. You'll need an alternative backup method (computer backup via iTunes/Finder).

Q: Can I reduce backup size without deleting anything?

A: Yes! Exclude apps from backup that store data in the cloud anyway. Apps like Netflix, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok, and most games don't need to be backed up because they can re-download content or sync from their own servers.

Q: How much iCloud storage do I get for free?

A: 5GB free with every Apple ID. This is shared across all your Apple devices and services (Photos, Mail, Backup, Documents, iCloud Drive). If you have multiple devices, they all share the same 5GB pool.

Q: Is it worth paying for more iCloud storage?

A: If you genuinely need more than 5GB after optimization, yes. Apple's pricing:

  • 50GB - $0.99/month
  • 200GB - $2.99/month (can share with family)
  • 2TB - $9.99/month (can share with family)

The 50GB plan is usually enough for most users with one device.

Alternative Backup Solutions

If iCloud storage is consistently insufficient even after optimization, consider these alternatives:

External Storage for iPhone

SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive

For local backup without a computer, this drive plugs directly into your iPhone and automatically backs up photos and videos.

Pros: No recurring cost, works without internet Cons: Only backs up photos/videos, not full device backup

Cloud Storage Alternatives (Photos/Videos Only)

These services back up photos and videos but NOT full device backups:

Google Photos

  • 15GB free storage (shared with Gmail and Drive)
  • Automatic backup
  • Works across all devices
  • Paid: 100GB ($1.99/mo), 200GB ($2.99/mo), 2TB ($9.99/mo)

Dropbox

  • 2GB free
  • Automatic camera upload
  • Paid: 2TB ($11.99/mo)

Microsoft OneDrive

  • 5GB free
  • Paid: 100GB ($1.99/mo), 1TB with Microsoft 365 ($6.99/mo)

Important: These only back up photos/videos. You still need iCloud or computer backup for full device restore capability.

Final Thoughts

Reducing your iCloud backup size doesn't require paying for more storage. By following the methods above, most users can:

  • Free up 5-15GB of backup space
  • Stay within the 5GB free tier
  • Maintain automatic backups
  • Protect important data

Recommended Approach:

  1. Start with Method 1 (delete old backups) - Biggest quick win, takes 2 minutes
  2. Then Method 2 (exclude unnecessary apps) - High impact, minimal downside
  3. Manage Messages (Method 4) if you text heavily - Can free several GB
  4. Consider computer backup (Method 8) if you want unlimited free backup

Important reminder: Your backup is your insurance policy. Don't sacrifice truly important data just to save storage costs. If you genuinely need more than 5GB after optimization, iCloud's 50GB plan at $0.99/month is a reasonable investment for peace of mind.

The goal isn't to eliminate backups - it's to back up smarter. Focus on what actually matters (your personal data, app settings, messages) and skip what you can easily redownload (streaming apps, games, social media).

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