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Why is iCloud Backup So Large? (New iPhone Fix!)

Struggling with a ballooning iCloud backup? You're not alone! This guide dives into the reasons behind large backups, including issues with new iPhones. We'll also show you clever techniques to minimize storage usage and keep your precious data safe without breaking the bank on iCloud storage upgrades.

October 23, 2024

Why is iCloud Backup So Large?

iCloud

Have you ever glanced at your iPhone's dreaded "Storage Almost Full" notice and wondered why the size of the iCloud backup is so large? You're not by yourself. Millions of iPhone owners struggle to keep up with their devices' ever-growing cloud storage requirements. These days, our iPhones are mini-computers packed with priceless images, videos, documents, and app data, not simply phones. However, things might get annoying when you have limited iCloud capacity and these digital memories collide.

This in-depth tutorial will address all of your urgent concerns regarding iCloud backups, investigate the possible causes of your large iCloud backup, and provide you with practical techniques to recover important storage space. Prepare to overcome that annoying "Storage Almost Full" notification by fastening your seatbelt!

Understand iCloud Backups

Before getting into the specifics of storage issues, let's clarify what iCloud backups are. Essentially, an iCloud backup is a safe image of your whole iPhone, kept on Apple's cloud servers. Your contacts, pictures, videos, app data, device settings, and more are all included in this backup. It functions similarly to a digital safety net in the event that your phone is misplaced, stolen, or breaks. Automatic backups guarantee that your priceless data is safe and ready to be quickly restored to a new device.

Imagine losing years' worth of priceless memories and pictures on your iPhone. Laugh! The knowledge that your data is secure even in the event that your phone is dropped is a comfort that automatic iCloud backups provide. Also, you can easily resume where you left off when upgrading to a new iPhone by restoring from a backup, which conveniently transfers data, settings, and applications.

Why Your iCloud Backup Might Be Huge

Let's tackle the big issue now: why is my iCloud backup so big? There are several reasons why an iCloud backup's size can increase dramatically.

New iPhone Hiccups: Initial Backups and Data Transfer:

Getting a new, sparkly iPhone? Be advised that the first iCloud backup on a new device may be fairly large. This is due to the fact that it is taking a complete picture of your previous phone, including all of your data. Remain calm! When only modifications and fresh data are included in future backups, the original backup size typically decreases.

Hidden Storage Culprits: Messages, Apps, and More:

Even while images and movies are sometimes the first to go when storage issues arise, there are other cunning offenders that can add to an enormous iCloud backup. Here are some hidden offenders:

  • Messages: Text messages dating back years that contain files, pictures, and videos can slowly deplete your capacity. You may be surprised how much space you may free up by deleting old message threads that you no longer require.
  • App Data: A lot of apps keep data locally on your iPhone, and they also back up this info to iCloud. To free up space without losing the app itself, think about offloading or removing useless apps (the data will be re-downloaded when you use the app again).
  • Offline Content: Movies and television series can be downloaded for offline watching on streaming sites like Netflix and Spotify. To keep these downloads from filling up your backup, don't forget to remove them after viewing.

Strategies to Reduce Your iCloud Backup Size

Now that you understand the culprits behind a large iCloud backup, let's explore strategies to reclaim your precious storage space:

Optimizing Photos and Videos

Photos and videos are often the biggest storage hogs. Luckily, iCloud offers features to help you manage them without sacrificing your memories:

  • Enable iCloud Photos Optimization: This ingenious function allows you to save space-saving copies of your images and movies on your iPhone and save full-resolution ones in iCloud. When you have a reliable internet connection, you can access your originals at any time.
  • Delete Old or Unwanted Photos and Videos: Be brutal! Examine your photo collection closely and get rid of everything you no longer require or duplicate.
  • Consider Alternative Storage Options: Consider cloud storage services like Google Photos or Amazon Photos if you have a sizable photo and video collection. These services sometimes offer free or reasonably priced plans with plenty of storage.

Manage App Data

Not all apps need to be backed up to iCloud. Here's how to manage app data selectively:

  • Review Your iCloud Backups: Navigate to Settings > Manage Storage under Your Name > iCloud. The programs that are consuming the most space in your backup are visible to you here.
  • Disable Backups for Unused Apps: You might want to disable iCloud backup for any apps that you don't use very often. By doing this, their data is kept out of backups that are made later.
  • Offload Unused Apps: Think about "offloading" any apps that you don't use frequently. In doing so, you preserve the data and app icon on your device while freeing up storage space. You can download the app again by just tapping its icon, keeping all of your saved data intact. This is a fantastic method to save room for often-used apps without having to give up on the infrequently-used game or recipe app.

Alternative Backup Options to Consider

If you're hesitant to delete old iCloud backups, consider alternative backup methods:

Local Backups

Using iTunes or Finder to back up your iPhone to your computer adds an additional degree of protection. This enables you to store several backups at various times.

Third-Party Cloud Storage

Your iCloud backup will have more room after using services like Dropbox or Google Drive, which provide plenty of storage for your documents, videos, and images. This is where MultCloud shines—it allows you to consolidate and manage your cloud storage services efficiently. By using MultCloud, you can transfer files between different platforms, helping you to identify and remove redundant data from your iCloud, ultimately optimizing your backup size and freeing up valuable space.

  • Cloud Transfer: MultCloud can transfer files from one cloud service to another directly without downloading and re-uploading.
  • Cloud Sync: With MultCloud, you can easily sync two folders between different cloud services in real-time.
  • Cloud Backup: You can backup and restore data between different cloud services automatically.
  • Instagram Downloader: MultCloud can help you download Instagram videos, photos, reels and stories to local device or remotely upload them to your clouds.
  • Email Migration: You can directly back up and save Gmail emails as PDFs to your computer or cloud drive in bulk. 
  • Manage all cloud accounts in one place: Connect all your clouds to MultCloud and you'll find it so easy to access and manage multiple cloud storage files with a single login.

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