'Out of memory' but 4.2gb cloud & 120gb local of unused memory

Just as I expected, davey17x.

Once again you go to the wrong set of switches for the purpose you claim:

1. Do you not recognize that these settings are about “APPS USING ICLOUD”?
2. For iCloud Backups, one must go to the iCloud Backup options, in Settings -> [Your Name] Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases -> iCloud -> Manage Storage -> Backups under “CHOOSE DATA TO BACK UP”.

The options you have shown pertain only to direct iCloud storing, and sharing, and synchronizing of App data and/or files using iCloud, in quite a different capacity than for Backups.

Additionally, don’t you know that Backups don’t «spirit away» your «data»? Backups are but a storage of a copy of your data.

Backups are for safe keeping, just in case.

While you are correct that only a single (the latest) backup is necessary, there are times when people, for one reason or another, wish to go back to an even earlier state: it’s like wanting to go back to an earlier version of a document.

Though Backups are compressed—in order to minimize space used—files that are already compressed, to minimize how much space they use, typically cannot be compressed further (or only a tiny bit, at best). Hence, a 7 GB video file (which is, typically, already compressed) will obtain little if any compression when Backed-up.

Hence the reason for expecting that the addition of that single file will put you over the 5 GB allocation.

However, as I’ve already stated, if you wish to take your «chances», in not backing up, that’s up to you.

History shows that the likelihood that you will regret that decision is very nearly 100%, given enough time.

As I’ve tried to help you see, davey17x, while those «simple toggle switch[es] that say 'apps using icloud' and they're all switched off, as [you] don't store ANYTHING on the icloud» are only about direct storage to iCloud, and have nothing (except peripherally) to do with iCloud Backups.

Even the peripheral affect is the opposite of the actual, direct affect: if you do store images on iCloud, then these same images will not be part of an iCloud Backup; on the “flip-side”, if you don’t store images on iCloud, then these images will be part of an iCloud Backup.

Do you see the reverse relationship, now?

Additionally, the only things that will be backed up in an iCloud Backup are things that are «locally stored», such as App data, and your 7 GB video file.

After all, anything that is only «locally stored» is vulnerable to data loss, including the loss of your device.

Do you still have your 7 GB video file?

Welcome, davey17x, to Apple Support Communities!

You are wondering why, after downloading a single 7 GB (gigabyte) file, you «get an error message the ipad cannot be 'backed up' as there is not enough memory in [your] cloud account to do this.»

Unfortunately, the backup system doesn’t know that you don’t want that 7 GB file to be backed up, and there is no way to designate which files are or are not to be backed up.

You could change to using a Computer (PC or Mac running iTunes, or Mac running Catalina using the Finder) for your backups.

The problem, davey17x, is that you are misinterpreting the iCloud related Photos App options as iCloud Backup options, and they are not.

It’s as simple as that. The purpose of said options has only an incidental affect upon iCloud Backups: simply to avoid duplicating iCloud use.

The principle is that if the files already reside on iCloud (using iCloud photos, sharing, syncing, etc.), then there is no need to take up iCloud space to Backup those same files.

In your case, you have chosen to have no other means for protecting your files, so an iCloud Backup is the only remaining option for protecting your files.

Have you tried what I recommend?

«How about going to Setting -> [Your Name] Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases -> iCloud -> Manage Storage -> Backups -> [Your Device], and seeing how large your Backups have been, and how large your Next Backup Size is calculated to be. (Note: it may take some time for your device to determine your Next Backup Size.)

You can also go into “CHOOSE DATA TO BACK UP”, from there. (That lets you choose which Apps you do or do not want to be backed up. It does not go down to individual files.)»

There are no other options that pertain to iCloud Backups.

The other iCloud related Photos App options are not about iCloud Backups, but other iCloud features related to sharing Photos App content.

Unfortunately, davey17x, switching on or off «icloud photos, photo stream and shared albums» does not change whether that downloaded 7 GB video file is backed up, except in that if that file is already included in your «icloud photos» (by turning that option on), then it will not also be backed up in iCloud.

How about going to Setting -> [Your Name] Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases -> iCloud -> Manage Storage -> Backups -> [Your Device], and seeing how large your Backups have been, and how large your Next Backup Size is calculated to be. (Note: it may take some time for your device to determine your Next Backup Size.)

You can also go into “CHOOSE DATA TO BACK UP”, from there. (That lets you choose which Apps you do or do not want to be backed up. It does not go down to individual files.)

Try signing out of the device and back in. If that doesn't work -- https://getsupport.apple.com.

You end with «yes... of course I back-up software...», davey17x.

Interestingly, iDevices haven’t backed up any of the software since something like iOS 9, or earlier.

It does back-up App Data, including App settings, and files.

I am curious as to why your 7 GB video file was either not backed up (assuming you have actually had a successful backup, since rebooting), or was able to be sufficiently compressed to fit in your 5 GB limit (most video files are quite compressed already).

But, if you’re happy, I’m happy, and will think nothing more about such.

Just be aware, that whatever is not actually backed up (or otherwise stored elsewhere, besides local copies) is subject to data loss, and will be lost, at some point. It’s guaranteed, unfortunately.

Yes, davey17x:

«4 - all the toggle switches 'apps using iCloud' DO relate to stopping the iPad backing up apps unnecessarily to the iCloud» (emphasis added) in precisely the way I have been explaining to you. Unfortunately, that is in the reverse of what you have been trying to claim.

For instance, when one sets the Photos App to use iCloud Photos, such photos will not also be backed up to iCloud, because such would be unnecessarily redundant.

You are also correct that

«5 - Apple don't[sic] back-up anything and everything on the iPad by default, that's why the [iCloud backup] switches [which are separate from the above «’apps using iCloud’» switches] are there - off means off [for the iCloud backup switches].»

Please don’t try to spread your misconceptions to others.

I don’t remember you ever writing of «a 5gb file that didn't exist».

However, you did seem to keep writing of a 7 GB video file that you had explicitly placed in the local (hardware) storage of your iPad.

Now. If that file was actually fictitious, then there was no issue. Was there?

You’re the one that referred to «a 5gb file that didn't exist», and only in your penultimate post, dear davey17x.

You never mentioned anything like that, in any of your previous posts.

As for what the Apple Support people told you, they were probably not wrong, dear fellow.

The only thing that is wrong is your interpretation. (Undoubtedly exacerbated by the filtering of your conversation with them through your preconceptions. It’s a well known phenomenon known as “confirmation bias”.)

Like I wrote: Please don’t try to spread your misconceptions to others.

It’s simply a matter of what the various option settings are for, dear davey17x.

You are the one that is miss-claiming what two distinct sets of options are intended to do.

I have simply clarified, so you, but, more especially, other readers, will have a clear understanding of what the options are intended for and what they actually do.

If you wish to remain in denial, there’s simply nothing I can do.

Like “they” say: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him/her drink!”

So, I focus most on making sure misconceptions are not passed on to others.