iCloud & iCloud Photos · iCloud storage space and plans
Besides photos and backups, what else uses iCloud storage?
Short answer: iCloud Drive files, Messages, iCloud Mail, Notes attachments, voice memos and app data all count. Contacts, calendars, reminders and passwords are tiny. The Manage list in iCloud settings shows real sizes — usually photos, backups and Drive dominate.
Anything an app stores in iCloud counts: iCloud Drive files, Messages (with Messages in iCloud), iCloud Mail, Notes with large attachments, voice memos, and app data from apps that sync. Contacts, calendars, reminders and passwords are tiny by comparison and rarely matter.
The Manage list in iCloud settings shows the real sizes, largest first — see what's using your iCloud storage. Usually photos, backups and iCloud Drive dominate.