iCloud & iCloud Photos · iCloud storage space and plans

How do I free up iCloud storage without deleting my photos?

Short answer: Delete old device backups and trim current ones, move big files you don't need synced out of iCloud Drive, clear large Messages and Mail attachments, and delete data for apps you no longer use. Online-only files don't reduce iCloud usage.

Start with everything that isn't your photo library:

  1. Old device backups — delete backups of devices you no longer use, and exclude bulky apps from current backups.
  2. iCloud Drive — move large files you don't need synced (archives, installers, finished projects) to your Mac or an external drive.
  3. Messages and Mail — remove large attachments and old conversations you don't need.
  4. App data — delete data for apps you've stopped using.

If photos are still the bulk, you can copy older ones to an external drive you trust and then remove them from iCloud Photos — see archiving old photos out of iCloud Photos. Making files online-only on your Mac doesn't reduce iCloud usage.

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