Free up space

Hello Julia,

I would like provide some clarification on the iCloud service. iCloud can store backups of your iPhone. iCloud is also a synch service for your Photos, Contacts, Messages, Reminders and Notes. The purpose of a sync service is to ensure that your data remains current and in sync across all your devices logged into the same iCloud account. Whatever you delete on your device will be deleted from your iCloud account. Whatever you add to your iPhone will be added to your iCloud account.

Julia, based on the above, iCloud space is not going to free up space on your iPhone. The only way to free up space on your iPhone is to delete the data that you can part with. Media files (Photos, Videos and Music) take up the most space.

There is more information in this article by Apple ➔ About Storage on your device and in iCloud.

Axel F.

See the instructions in Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support

Note that in order to reduce the space used on your iPhone for photos you will need to turn on the Optimize Storage option. See the "Save space on your device" section of the above link for more information.

Axel, iCloud can in fact free up space on an iPhone.

See the following from the article you linked About storage on your device and in iCloud - Apple Support

You can make storage space available on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you use iCloud Photos and turn on Optimize Storage.

Also see the following from Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support

Your photos and videos are stored on your device in their original, high-resolution version. This means that they use a lot of space on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. With iCloud Photos, you can make more space available on your device and have your entire collection, everywhere you go.

FoxFifth, Yes you are right by way of optimization of storage space on the iPhone. I know it works. I use it effectively.

I wanted to stress to OP that iCloud storage cannot be used as a separate (external) storage entity and focus on the sync aspects of it. In the end You are Right. The question from OP is, " How can I transfer my photos on to iCloud to free up my space?" Syncing the photos to iCloud and choosing Optimize Storage will accomplish just that. I am onboard. Thank You!

Axel F.