Why can’t I downgrade my cloud storage from 200 to 50?

I thought that might be the case. If you were to reduce your iCloud storage you would lose most of your stored data. You can try turning off iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive, iCloud Mail, all of which sync your iPhone data to iCloud to save storage on your iPhone itself. You should also check your iCloud Drive, if you use it, to see how much storage you are currently using. It’s amazing how much stuff we wind up accumulating.

Photos always seem to take up the most space. If you turn iCloud syncing off, though, those won’t be accessible to your other devices like your computer or tablet.

Without iCloud make sure you are making regular backups of your iPhone. If it’s lost, stolen, damaged, becomes non functional, you’re up a creek.

So what happens when you try? Are you already using more than 50GB?

Well, if it will make you feel any better, my wife and I share our iCloud account and we pay $9.99/mo for the 2TB storage. We blew past the 200GB over a year ago. Pictures of the grandkids and all that you know.