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Experts Say This Is The One Common iCloud Mistake That Always Zaps Up Your Storage

March 6, 2025 by Lisa Cupido

 
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iCloud offers iPhone users a number of benefits. For starters, you can use the cloud storage system to backup data on your device so that it has a safe place to be stored. From there, you can then delete this data from your phone so that you free up storage space on your device — and how many of us can say we don’t need extra storage? iCloud can store pretty much any file — from documents and spreadsheets to videos and photos. You can then use it to collaborate with others on the same file, such as a presentation.

Most importantly, perhaps, Apple uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that iCloud is private and safe, so you can feel good about where you are storing your files.

However, if you are continuing to make one very common mistake, using iCloud could be costing you storage space, and not saving it for you. Because so many iPhone users look for cloud storage to unload their media files, which often take up the most storage space, this mistake could be one you are making, too.

Enabling Download and Keep Originals


Do you really need two version of photos on your device — the original and smaller versions? Probably not. But when you have the setting Download and Keep Originals enabled, your iPhone stores full-resolution versions of photos locally, and this takes up tons of storage space. Even if you have iCloud Photos turned on, this mistake prevents you from benefitting from as much storage space as possible.

The quick solution is to go to Settings > Photos and enable “Optimize iPhone Storage.” This will retain smaller versions of photos on your phone and keeps the original, larger files stored in iCloud.


Another important reminder is to make sure you are managing what iCloud stores and being selective — or else it might wind up taking up unnecessary space storing things you don’t need or want. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. Choose which apps you want to back up, and which you’d rather not.


These tips will help ensure that iCloud works for you and helps you conserve more storage.

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