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If you’re like a lot of folks, then you probably don’t want to pay a subscription fee to have all your digital stuff stored in the cloud. You only get 5GB free from Apple, so of course you want to conserve as much of that as possible. Or perhaps you did fork over the extra dough for more storage; if that’s the case, you doubly want to ensure that you’re not wasting space. If you want to get the most out of your iCloud account, and your money, then chances are you might need to learn how to delete iCloud backup storage and save some space.
What Are iCloud Backups?
It makes sense that you’d need to understand what iCloud backups are before you learn how to delete iCloud backup storage. Apple has a nifty little service called iCloud; it’s an online storage space that lets you save any files or digital information you want.
If you have an Apple device (such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer) and also have an Apple account set up, then you’re automatically gifted with 5GB of free space. In reality, however, this isn’t much storage, and if you want more, you will have to pay a subscription fee. Depending on how much storage you want, however, that fee can be as little as $1 each month.
Apple takes it on themselves to fill your iCloud with some of your data automatically. This isn’t some devious scheme to get you to use up all your storage space (at least we hope not); it’s to back up all the data on your device in case something should happen to it or should you need to load it on a new phone or tablet. As long as your iPad, iPhone, or Mac are locked, connected to Wi-Fi, and plugged into a power source, they will automatically send all of your data to the cloud.
Why iCloud Backups Are Important
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Just because deleting old backups might be a good idea doesn’t mean that those backups are absolutely worthless. Each iCloud backup contains all of your photos and videos, unless you have the iCloud Photo Library enabled. That means every memory you want to keep track of in picture or video files will be kept safe. Those pictures of you and your spouse on your honeymoon? They’re covered. That video of your dog ruining your niece’s birthday cake? Also covered. All those precious memories are stored in the cloud.Likewise, iCloud backups store your device settings and app data; your home screen and app organization is kept track of as well. iMessage, text messages, and MMS messages won’t be going anywhere either as long as your device is sending backups to the cloud.
That Macarena ringtone you’ve grown so attached to is safe. Your Visual Voicemail password is all good, too, and you won’t have to worry about losing any health data, since the HomeKit configuration is also there. Finally, any purchases you’ve made on iTunes will be stored in your cloud. That could save you a lot of money in the long run!
Where iCloud Backups Come Into Play
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That all may seem like a lot of data to keep track of, and it sort of is. However, there’s a reason Apple keeps track of all that information for you.
Accidents
Should you ever have an accident and break your device, you don’t have to worry about losing everything; it’s in the cloud. Should you go swimming and forget your phone’s in your trunks, then all your pictures, purchases, and messages will be waiting for you when you finally get a new device with Apple.
If you’re pouring concrete and your device becomes a part of the sidewalk for all eternity, then don’t sweat losing those home videos of the grandkids; they’re there in the cloud.
New Device
If you have multiple devices or simply decide it’s time for an upgrade, your iCloud backups could prove extremely useful. You don’t have to worry about going through the hassle of looking up every single old app you downloaded or finding all the songs you bought from iTunes; they’re still safe in Apple’s digital vault, waiting for you to download them to your new phone, tablet, or computer.
This makes it easy to share your purchases and other digital goods with your family; your spouse, kids, and even grandkids can have easy access to everything you’ve bought if your device is getting backed up to the cloud as designed.
How To Delete iCloud Backup Storage
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Now that you know what iCloud backups are and why they’re important, you’ve come to the final step: learning how to delete iCloud backup storage. It’s really a rather simple process and takes virtually no time at all, although the steps are slightly different depending on whether you’re using a iPhone/iPad or a Mac computer. Neither of these methods requires any special tools or codes and are as easy as fooling around a bit in the settings or system preferences.
Phones And Tablets
First, pull up your settings app. Then, press on your Apple ID at the top of the screen. After that, select iCloud and then Manage Storage. Next, tap backup, and then pick the device whose backup you want to delete. To finish up, press Delete Backup and then select Turn Off & Delete.
Computers
For your Mac, the process is somewhat different, although it’s definitely not a whole lot more involved. Launch your System Preferences and then click on iCloud. After that, select Manage. All you have to do now is pick the backup you want to delete, click Delete, and then click Delete again in the pop-up that comes up. After that, push Done and you’re done! You’ve officially learned how to get rid of your unwanted iCloud backups and make room in your digital vault.
Conclusion
iCloud backups can be handy; and sometimes even lifesavers! They keep track of all the apps, messages, pictures, videos, settings, and purchases associated with your Apple ID, and if something ever happens to your phone, tablet, or computer, you don’t have to worry about losing any of it.This also makes transferring your stuff to a new device quite simple and speedy. In fact, these days getting a new iPhone up and running is as simple as holding it next to your current phone and letting Apple do the rest.However, these backups can also take up a lot of storage space, depending on how much data is on your device, and learning how to delete iCloud backup storage can certainly be useful. Whether you want to wipe the slate clean from the leftovers from your old device or simply get rid of backups you have no use for anymore, freeing up some storage space might be a good idea if you need to make a little room for something more important (as long as you’ve got those precious memories sealed tight elsewhere, that is).
After all, if you’re going to go in with the new, you first have to go out with the old, right? We’ve given you every step you need to follow on how to delete iCloud backup storage. Happy deleting!