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User profile for user: Jay_boogie1
Jay_boogie1 Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

iCloud Drive Storage

Why does iCloud drive take space on my iPhone? It’s supposed to be external storage which I’m paying for, yet when I go to clear space on my phone and move my media into my Files, (iCloud Drive) it still takes space on my phone storage, as some of those videos are downloaded to my phone. How can I avoid this? I need the videos not to take up phone storage space and have the cloud sign as some of them do, meaning I have to download them to view them, which would save me space. As you can see in the picture, some files have the cloud sign and some dont, whereas they should all ideally have that sign. Please help!

iPhone 6s, iOS 13

Posted on Oct 29, 2020 2:20 PM

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User profile for user: zinacef
zinacef
User level: Level 10
88,473 points

Posted on Oct 29, 2020 2:49 PM

Because that's how iCloud works and was designed - it stores your data in the cloud whilst also storing a smaller footprint of the data on your device as well. iCloud is not your traditional cloud-based solution like some third-party options, e.g. Dropbox or Google Photos, but rather it is a syncing solution that basically syncs your data across all devices, making your data easily accessible to you on all your devices.


To answer your question re: how to avoid this -- consider clearing space on your iCloud and on your device as well (see links below), or consider using a third-party option.


Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? - Apple Support

How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

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User profile for user: zinacef
zinacef
User level: Level 10
88,473 points

Oct 29, 2020 2:49 PM in response to Jay_boogie1

Because that's how iCloud works and was designed - it stores your data in the cloud whilst also storing a smaller footprint of the data on your device as well. iCloud is not your traditional cloud-based solution like some third-party options, e.g. Dropbox or Google Photos, but rather it is a syncing solution that basically syncs your data across all devices, making your data easily accessible to you on all your devices.


To answer your question re: how to avoid this -- consider clearing space on your iCloud and on your device as well (see links below), or consider using a third-party option.


Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? - Apple Support

How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

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iCloud Drive Storage

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