I had to downgrade since I wanted to stick to my old storage which was 128GB of storage but instead gave me 5GB which is an extreme downgrade and want my 128 GB of space back
iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 16
There never has been a 128 GB iCloud storage plan. You must be thinking of the original storage on the device itself, not iCloud. You apparently canceled your iCloud plan so that left you with just the storage on your device which could be almost full. Downgrading to the 5 GB plan just means that you do not currently have any available space on iCloud. If you wish to not pay for an iCloud subscription then you can just use the free 5GB but if you want to free up space on your device itself that will involve deleting files (after preferably copying them to a computer).
iCloud and "storage" are greatly misunderstood. iCloud storage is syncing storage and anything in it is also on all devices used with that Apple ID too. If you want to reduce photos use of your phone storage you can select to optimize those copies and only keep lower quality ones on your device and keep the full quality ones in iCloud. The link below has the general information you need about different kinds of "storage", how to get more, or how to better manage what you have:
Note there's different kinds of "storage". Click on this link to discover what's the difference between device and iCloud storage, ways to manage your space, and upgrading to iCloud+ if you need more --> What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? - Apple Support
Take-away:
1. Storage on a device itself is fixed and cannot be upgraded. If you want that then you have to change your present device for one with more capacity.
2. iCloud storage is on Apple's main computers. It is not a like a normal storage hard drive but by using optimization settings on your device it can help free up device storage. Lesser used items and larger file versions can be stored in ICloud and you can get access while connected to the Internet. It does not turn a 64 GB storage device into a 64 (or whatever) + 50GB/200GB/2TB device but if you have a lot of things that aren't being used much, or you don't mind only having lesser quality photos on your device, it can free up extra space so you can make the best of the GB you do have on the device itself.
If you have upgraded iCloud storage and are seeing a message on your device that storage is full then it is possible you are not making the best use of iCloud storage and need to use optimization features. If you do have optimization activated then it is possible you are exceeding your device's needs in terms of on-device storage and you need to buy a device with more storage.
Click on the link to learn how to optimize the storage on a device --> "How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch" - How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support
- "If your device is low on storage, it automatically frees up space while installing an app, updating iOS or iPadOS, downloading music, recording videos, and more.
To make more storage available, your device can remove some of your items, like streamed music and videos, files in iCloud Drive, and parts of apps that aren't needed. It also removes temporary files and clears the cache on your device. But your device only removes items that can be downloaded again or that aren't needed anymore."
Here's the same information as a video: "How to free up space on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod" - https://youtu.be/bnhuHSv_WrI
Optimization specifically with reference to "Set up and use iCloud Photos" - Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
--> Save space on your device
iCloud Photos keeps all your photos and videos in their original, high-resolution version. You can save space on your device when you turn on Optimize Storage.
Manage your photo and video storage - "Learn how photos and videos use your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch storage, ways to save space, and how to upgrade your iCloud storage if you’re running out."
Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support
There never has been a 128 GB iCloud storage plan. You must be thinking of the original storage on the device itself, not iCloud. You apparently canceled your iCloud plan so that left you with just the storage on your device which could be almost full. Downgrading to the 5 GB plan just means that you do not currently have any available space on iCloud. If you wish to not pay for an iCloud subscription then you can just use the free 5GB but if you want to free up space on your device itself that will involve deleting files (after preferably copying them to a computer).
iCloud and "storage" are greatly misunderstood. iCloud storage is syncing storage and anything in it is also on all devices used with that Apple ID too. If you want to reduce photos use of your phone storage you can select to optimize those copies and only keep lower quality ones on your device and keep the full quality ones in iCloud. The link below has the general information you need about different kinds of "storage", how to get more, or how to better manage what you have:
Note there's different kinds of "storage". Click on this link to discover what's the difference between device and iCloud storage, ways to manage your space, and upgrading to iCloud+ if you need more --> What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? - Apple Support
Take-away:
1. Storage on a device itself is fixed and cannot be upgraded. If you want that then you have to change your present device for one with more capacity.
2. iCloud storage is on Apple's main computers. It is not a like a normal storage hard drive but by using optimization settings on your device it can help free up device storage. Lesser used items and larger file versions can be stored in ICloud and you can get access while connected to the Internet. It does not turn a 64 GB storage device into a 64 (or whatever) + 50GB/200GB/2TB device but if you have a lot of things that aren't being used much, or you don't mind only having lesser quality photos on your device, it can free up extra space so you can make the best of the GB you do have on the device itself.
If you have upgraded iCloud storage and are seeing a message on your device that storage is full then it is possible you are not making the best use of iCloud storage and need to use optimization features. If you do have optimization activated then it is possible you are exceeding your device's needs in terms of on-device storage and you need to buy a device with more storage.
Click on the link to learn how to optimize the storage on a device --> "How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch" - How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support
- "If your device is low on storage, it automatically frees up space while installing an app, updating iOS or iPadOS, downloading music, recording videos, and more.
To make more storage available, your device can remove some of your items, like streamed music and videos, files in iCloud Drive, and parts of apps that aren't needed. It also removes temporary files and clears the cache on your device. But your device only removes items that can be downloaded again or that aren't needed anymore."
Here's the same information as a video: "How to free up space on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod" - https://youtu.be/bnhuHSv_WrI
Optimization specifically with reference to "Set up and use iCloud Photos" - Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
--> Save space on your device
iCloud Photos keeps all your photos and videos in their original, high-resolution version. You can save space on your device when you turn on Optimize Storage.
Manage your photo and video storage - "Learn how photos and videos use your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch storage, ways to save space, and how to upgrade your iCloud storage if you’re running out."
Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support
Read this support article for instructions on how to upgrade to iCloud+ --> Upgrade to iCloud+ - Apple Support
There is no 128 GB plan. The closest to your target are 50 GB and 200 GB.
128GB was my original storage plan when I first got my phone, I had to downgrade thinking I was going to get it back but instead had received 5GB
i got Icloud but had recently downgraded to 5GB since it was my only option and thought it was going to give me back my original 128 GB but instead gave me 5GB of storage with is insane for the amount i paid for my iPhone 12 Pro how do I fix this?
