How Do I Manage iCloud Storage on My PC? | Tips to Free Up Space Easily

Managing iCloud storage can sometimes feel like wrestling with a tricky puzzle, especially if you're trying to do it from a Windows PC. But worry not! This guide will walk you through every step, from setting up iCloud on Windows to optimizing your storage. Now, let's get started.

Preparation: How to Set Up iCloud on Windows

Before learning how to effectively manage your iCloud storage on a PC, you need to get everything set up properly. First of all, download the iCloud for Windows app. 

• Download and Install: Visit the Apple website or Microsoft Store and download iCloud for Windows. Install it on your PC following the on-screen instructions.
• Sign In: After installation, open the iCloud app and sign in with your Apple ID.
• Select Services: Choose the iCloud services you want to enable on your PC, such as iCloud Drive, Photos, Mail, Contacts, and Calendars.

With iCloud for Windows installed, you can now start managing your iCloud storage right from your PC.

Note:✎...

During the initial setup, you might be prompted to restart your PC. This ensures that all changes are correctly applied. After rebooting, you’ll find an iCloud Drive folder in File Explorer, making it easy to access your files directly from your PC.

How to Navigate iCloud Storage?

Besides, you also need to understand how to navigate iCloud storage on your PC. The interface on Windows might be a bit different from what you're used to on your Apple devices. When you open the iCloud for Windows app, you’ll see a simple interface, with the following main sections, which allows you to manage your iCloud service:

• iCloud Drive: Access and manage your files and folders stored in iCloud. You can drag and drop files into the iCloud Drive folder to upload them,
• Photos: View and organize your iCloud Photos, including uploading new photos from your PC.
• Mail, Contacts, Calendars: Sync your Apple Mail, Contacts, and Calendar events with your PC.

Pro Tips to Manage iCloud Storage on PC

Now that you’re all set up and familiar with the interface, it’s time to dive into the actual management of your iCloud storage. Just check the following guides:

1. Delete Unnecessary Files to Save Space

Regularly cleaning out your iCloud storage can help leave enough space for any new important files. So, it is crucial to keep routine maintenance, which aims to prevent storage from filling up with unnecessarily data.

Deleting from iCloud Drive

• Open iCloud Drive: Oepen File Explorer (using Win+E key combination) and navigate to the iCloud Drive folder.
• Select Files: Browse through your folders and select the files you no longer need. You can click on individual files or hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple files at once.
• Delete Files: Right-click on the selected files and choose “Delete” from drop-down menu. Also, you can directly press the Delete key on your keyboard.
• Empty Trash: To ensure the files are permanently deleted, right-click on the Recycle Bin on your desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin.”

Deleting From iCloud Photos

• Open iCloud Photos: Open the iCloud app on your PC and click on “Photos.”
• Select Unwanted Photos: Browse through your photo library and select the photos and videos you want to delete. 
• Delete Photos: Click the trash can icon to delete the selected photos and videos. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
• Remove from Recently Deleted: To free up space immediately, go to the “Recently Deleted” album and permanently delete the items.

Deleting iCloud Email Attachments

• Open iCloud Mail: Access iCloud Mail by logging into iCloud.com and opening the Mail app.
• Find Large Attachments: Search for emails with large attachments. You can sort emails by size or use the search bar to find specific attachments.
• Delete Emails: Select the emails with large attachments and click the trash can icon to delete them.
• Empty Trash Folder: Navigate to the Trash folder in iCloud Mail and empty it to permanently delete the emails and free up space.

2. Use External Storage

If you find that your iCloud storage is filling up with files you don’t need any longer, it will be smart decision to move them to an external hard drive or another cloud service. 

Moving Files to an External Hard Drive

• Choose an External Hard Drive: Select a reliable external hard drive with enough capacity to store your files. Ensure it's compatible with your PC.
• Connect the Hard Drive: Plug the external hard drive into your PC using the appropriate USB cable.
• Access iCloud Drive: Open File Explorer and navigate to the iCloud Drive folder.
• Select Files to Move: Browse through your folders and select the files you want to move. 
• Copy or Move Files: Right-click on the selected files and choose “Copy” or “Cut” from the context menu. Navigate to your external hard drive in File Explorer, right-click, and choose “Paste” to transfer the files. Or, you can open those two folders and use "Drag & Drop" method.
• Verify Transfer: After transferring, open a few files on the external hard drive to ensure they have been copied correctly.
• Delete from iCloud: Once you’ve confirmed the files are safely on the external hard drive, you can delete them from iCloud Drive to free up space.

Moving Files to Another Cloud Service

• Choose a Cloud Service: Select another cloud storage service, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Ensure it offers enough storage and meets your needs.
• Sign Up or Log In: If you don’t already have an account, sign up for the chosen cloud service. Log in on your PC.
• Install the App: Download and install the desktop app for the cloud service to make file transfers easier.
• Access iCloud Drive: Open File Explorer and navigate to the iCloud Drive folder.
• Select Files to Move: Browse through your folders and select the files you want to move.
• Drag and Drop: Open the folder for your new cloud service (usually created automatically by the app in File Explorer) and drag and drop the selected files from iCloud Drive to the new cloud service folder.
• Verify Upload: Log in to the new cloud service via a web browser and verify that the files have been uploaded correctly.
• Delete from iCloud: Once you’ve confirmed the files are safely stored in the new cloud service, delete them from iCloud Drive to free up space.

To easily move files from iCloud Drive or iCloud Photos to another cloud drive, you can turn to a professional cloud to cloud transfer tool like MultCloud. Compared with manual download and re-upload, it can save much time since it is transferring cloud data to another cloud directly online without passing through the local. Moreover, it can automatically delete source files from iCloud Drive or iCloud Photos after the transfer.

Bottom Line

In this guide, we cover everything you might be interested in about how to manage icloud storage better on Windows computer. By following the above tips and guides, you can make your iCloud remains organized and efficient on PC.