Could somebody please explain to me why there is a three layer of cloud settings ? under icloud there are some apps, then under menage storage (icloud storage) there are some apps along with backups, and then under backups there are some apps that you can turn on or off. What the differences ? Could not figure it out :(
iPhone XS Max, iOS 13
That 1st layer (Settings > [username] > iCloud) is where you select which apps sync with or use iCloud (and you are not designating which apps are included in iCloud Backup on that screen). The one item for iCloud Backup in that list is used to turn iCloud Backup off/on.
Under Manage Storage you can select a specific app that is syncing data to iCloud and delete the storage that app is using.
Under Settings > [username] > iCloud > Backups > [device name], the list of apps, allows you to exclude an app from being backed up by iCloud Backup.
The most confusing part of that may be that there is a difference between syncing and backup. With synced data (e.g., iCloud Photos), changes are dynamically sent to iCloud while with iCloud Backup changes are only recorded on iCloud when iCloud Backup runs. Also note that if you turn on iCloud Photos (syncing) for example, your photos will dynamically sync to iCloud as changes occur (new photo taken, photo deleted, etc) and that your photos will not be included in iCloud Backup.
That 1st layer (Settings > [username] > iCloud) is where you select which apps sync with or use iCloud (and you are not designating which apps are included in iCloud Backup on that screen). The one item for iCloud Backup in that list is used to turn iCloud Backup off/on.
Under Manage Storage you can select a specific app that is syncing data to iCloud and delete the storage that app is using.
Under Settings > [username] > iCloud > Backups > [device name], the list of apps, allows you to exclude an app from being backed up by iCloud Backup.
The most confusing part of that may be that there is a difference between syncing and backup. With synced data (e.g., iCloud Photos), changes are dynamically sent to iCloud while with iCloud Backup changes are only recorded on iCloud when iCloud Backup runs. Also note that if you turn on iCloud Photos (syncing) for example, your photos will dynamically sync to iCloud as changes occur (new photo taken, photo deleted, etc) and that your photos will not be included in iCloud Backup.
Re: Ok, so I've come to a conclusion. I would like to empty my Icloud photo storage, before that to backup and only use this as a sync to my PC and not a photo backup, if you get me ? So i'll be using free Icloud space until it gets full again, then copy my photos to pc then use it like that again.
How to delete Icloud photos, will this delete the photos on my iphone ? THANK YOU SIR !
I'm not sure I understand so will try to cover some (but not all) possibilities. What I think you are saying is that you want to periodically manually transfer photos from your phone to a computer via the "Import to a PC" method described in Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
and delete the photos from the phone after they are on the PC. And you want to have an iCloud Backup of those that are on the phone between transfers.
If that is correct. the next question is whether iCloud Photos is currently turned on. If so, turn it off as described in Get help with iCloud Photos - Apple Support
(read that carefully and be sure you understand it).
With iCloud Photos off you can import the photos to the PC and once you are sure they are there (and that you have an effective backup system in place for the PC) you can delete them from the phone.
Turn on iCloud Backup on the phone (or leave it on if it was already on) and insure photos are not excluded from the backup.
re: Could I somehow keep the old photos only on cloud?
No. Apple does not offer cloud-only storage. If you want cloud-only storage for photos, there are 3rd party option including Google Photos and Dropbox.
But if you upgrade iCloud storage to an adequate plan and have the Optimize Storage option turned on in iCloud Photos, that may get you by. It is designed to automatically save space by keeping some or all photos as smaller space-saving versions on the phone while keeping full sized versions on iCloud.
See the "Save space on your device" section of Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
Or are you asking about keeping the photos on iCloud only while you make the transition from the old to the new phone? If so, then the answer is yes. If you have photos on iCloud Photos, it will not be lost if you use the following procedure to clear the old phone: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
and when you turn on iCloud Photos in the new phone (using the same Apple ID for iCloud) they will automatically sync to it.
Thank you so much for answering to my question.
So what implications are if I let an app sync in the first layer of Icloud, and turn it off in backup department ? I understand an example of photos, but did not get it with the other apps. Let say Acrobat, an app for dealing with pdf files. Sync is on, backup is off. I can use it on other devices, but my data is not backed up ? Still don't quite get it. Maybe because I came from an Android device where syncing also means backing it up so no confusion could be made anyways.
And again, thank you for making a thorough answer. Appreciate it !!!
Ok, so I've come to a conclusion. I would like to empty my Icloud photo storage, before that to backup and only use this as a sync to my PC and not a photo backup, if you get me ? So i'll be using free Icloud space until it gets full again, then copy my photos to pc then use it like that again.
How to delete Icloud photos, will this delete the photos on my iphone ? THANK YOU SIR !
re: Let say Acrobat, an app for dealing with pdf files. Sync is on, backup is off. I can use it on other devices, but my data is not backed up ?
Your data is on iCloud with either sync or backup; in that respect they are the same.
Differences (that I can think of right now):
Backup occurs only periodically, either when you manually run it or automatically (if option is on) when charging and connected to wi-fi and locked. However sync is dynamic, happening when a change occurs.
Backups can only be restored to a device in their entirety and replace all data that is currently on the device. Restore is not applicable to sync because the data is the same on the device and on iCloud.
Re: Also turning off backup on the phone, and leaving it ticked in itunes for the cloud does it still makes a cloud backup or not ?
I don't believe it does. I never use iTunes anymore and haven't tried that option however.
Okaay, that was fine. You helped me so much. And to ask this : I have 64gb model, and my memory is almost full. I am left with 1gb free. So, I would like to upgrade to a 200gb storage plan, but still I do not have free memory on my phone to take a new pictures and videos. What could I do, except swap my phone to a one with the bigger storage ? Could I somehow keep the old photos only on cloud?
Also turning off backup on the phone, and leaving it ticked in itunes for the cloud does it still makes a cloud backup or not ?
Icloud confusing :D
