How Do You Check Your iCloud Storage Usage?

Q: How do you check your iCloud storage usage?

To check your iCloud storage usage on iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. At the top, you'll see a color-coded bar showing total usage and available space. Tap 'Manage Account Storage' for a detailed breakdown showing how much space each service uses — including Photos, Backups, iCloud Drive, Messages, and individual apps. You can also check at icloud.com by signing in and going to Account Settings.

By Jack Smith · Updated March 8, 2026

Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud to check your iCloud storage usage. You'll see a color-coded bar showing total usage and available space at the top. Tap "Manage Account Storage" for a detailed breakdown showing exactly how much space Photos, Backups, iCloud Drive, Messages, and individual apps are using.

Step-by-Step: Checking on iPhone or iPad

Follow these steps to see your complete iCloud storage breakdown:

Open the Settings app
Tap your name at the top (your Apple ID banner)
Tap iCloud
At the top, you'll see a colored storage bar showing used vs. available space out of your total plan (5 GB free, or your iCloud+ tier)
Tap Manage Account Storage for the detailed breakdown

The Manage Account Storage screen lists every service and app consuming iCloud space, sorted by size. This is the most important screen for understanding where your iCloud storage is going.

What You'll See in the Breakdown

The iCloud storage breakdown typically includes these categories:

Photos: Your iCloud Photos library (often the largest consumer — can be tens or hundreds of GB)
Backups: iCloud Backups for all devices on your Apple ID. Tap to see individual device backups and their sizes.
iCloud Drive: Documents, Desktop/Documents folder sync from Mac, and files saved by apps
Messages: iMessage history and attachments (if Messages in iCloud is enabled)
Mail: iCloud email attachments and stored messages
Individual apps: WhatsApp, third-party apps that use iCloud for sync or backup

Checking on a Mac

On a Mac running macOS Ventura or later:

Click the Apple menu > System Settings
Click your name (Apple ID) at the top of the sidebar
Click iCloud
Click Manage next to the storage bar

On older macOS versions, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage.

Checking on icloud.com

You can also check from any web browser:

Go to icloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID
Click your profile icon in the top-right corner
Click Account Settings
The storage bar appears near the top of the page

This is useful if you don't have an Apple device handy or want to check from a Windows PC.

iCloud Storage vs. iPhone Storage

A common point of confusion: iCloud storage and iPhone storage are completely separate. Checking iCloud storage (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud) shows what's on Apple's cloud servers. Checking iPhone storage (Settings > General > iPhone Storage) shows what's on your physical device. They can show very different numbers. See our iCloud vs iPhone storage guide for a full explanation.

How to Free Up iCloud Storage

If your iCloud is nearly full, here are the most effective ways to free space:

Delete old device backups: Remove backups from devices you no longer own at Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups
Clean your photo library: Since iCloud Photos syncs deletions, removing unwanted photos with Swype Photo Cleaner frees iCloud space too
Review iCloud Drive: Open the Files app, browse iCloud Drive, and delete old documents
Disable iCloud for apps you don't need: Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Show All apps — toggle off ones that don't need sync
Upgrade your plan: iCloud+ starts at just $0.99/month for 50 GB — use our iCloud cost calculator to compare plans

Reduce iCloud usage by cleaning your photo library with Swype Photo Cleaner

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