icloud drive taking my iphone space

I search for all answers in support and none seems to help, out of my iphone storage, 18GB is taken up by iCloud drive and I don't know what it is. I check in iCloud drive in iPhone manage account storage it is only 40KB as there is hardly anything as I don't sync data.

The iCloud drive storage seems to grow fast and I am worried I used up all my iPhone storage, how do I delete what is in icloud drive please?

iPhone 6, iOS 12

Posted on Jan 19, 2024 11:51 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 19, 2024 11:54 PM

Please refer to the two sets of pics one below the other.


  1. First set of pics on top (iPhone Storage): When you open iPhone Storage and tap on iCloud Drive you will see a message that reads "Your most recently accessed files are downloaded to this device for quick access. The original files remain safely stored in iCloud." The pic shows 7.22 GB of iCloud Drive data. This figure remained same even after turning off iCloud Drive Sync.
  2. The second set of Pics at the bottom (iCloud Storage): When you access iCloud Storage on your iPhone with iCloud Drive Sync enabled, you'll notice a comprehensive list of apps currently undergoing synchronization with iCloud Drive. This synchronization is contingent upon your data interaction within these apps. Should you decide to disable sync for any particular app, the syncing process halts instantly. Nevertheless, the residual data generated by these apps before disabling sync persists on your iPhone for a brief period, extending until you cease further interaction with these files. This transitional period serves as a temporary phase during which the residual data gradually diminishes, ultimately aligning with the disengagement of iCloud Drive sync for the selected applications.






You may try experimenting this as follows:

  1. Settings > [Apple ID] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Sync This iPhone [Enable]
  2. Wait for "Apps Syncing to iCloud Drive " to populate.
  3. Tap on it. Note all the Apps that sync to iCloud Drive.
  4. Settings > General > iPhone Storage > iCloud Drive [Storage Size: Note it down]
  5. Settings > [Apple ID] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Sync This iPhone [Disable]
  6. Settings > General > iPhone Storage > iCloud Drive [Check and compare the Storage]


The disparity in iCloud Drive storage utilization on your device remains minimal whether iCloud Drive is enabled or disabled. In practical terms, the impact on your local storage experience is negligible before and after toggling the iCloud Drive sync functionality.



Do the following only after taking a current backup of your device either on iCloud or iTunes.

  • By removing the applications (from this example: Books, iMovie, Numbers and WhatsApp) that were previously synchronized with iCloud from your iPhone, you effectively eliminate the associated data stored in iCloud Drive with your iPhone. Consequently, the storage usage indicator on your iPhone, in relation to iCloud Drive, will register a reduction to zero. This action optimizes your device's storage management, freeing up space and streamlining the synchronization between your iPhone and iCloud Drive. It's a practical approach to decluttering and ensuring that your iCloud storage is utilized efficiently.


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 19, 2024 11:54 PM in response to MayLw

Please refer to the two sets of pics one below the other.


  1. First set of pics on top (iPhone Storage): When you open iPhone Storage and tap on iCloud Drive you will see a message that reads "Your most recently accessed files are downloaded to this device for quick access. The original files remain safely stored in iCloud." The pic shows 7.22 GB of iCloud Drive data. This figure remained same even after turning off iCloud Drive Sync.
  2. The second set of Pics at the bottom (iCloud Storage): When you access iCloud Storage on your iPhone with iCloud Drive Sync enabled, you'll notice a comprehensive list of apps currently undergoing synchronization with iCloud Drive. This synchronization is contingent upon your data interaction within these apps. Should you decide to disable sync for any particular app, the syncing process halts instantly. Nevertheless, the residual data generated by these apps before disabling sync persists on your iPhone for a brief period, extending until you cease further interaction with these files. This transitional period serves as a temporary phase during which the residual data gradually diminishes, ultimately aligning with the disengagement of iCloud Drive sync for the selected applications.






You may try experimenting this as follows:

  1. Settings > [Apple ID] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Sync This iPhone [Enable]
  2. Wait for "Apps Syncing to iCloud Drive " to populate.
  3. Tap on it. Note all the Apps that sync to iCloud Drive.
  4. Settings > General > iPhone Storage > iCloud Drive [Storage Size: Note it down]
  5. Settings > [Apple ID] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Sync This iPhone [Disable]
  6. Settings > General > iPhone Storage > iCloud Drive [Check and compare the Storage]


The disparity in iCloud Drive storage utilization on your device remains minimal whether iCloud Drive is enabled or disabled. In practical terms, the impact on your local storage experience is negligible before and after toggling the iCloud Drive sync functionality.



Do the following only after taking a current backup of your device either on iCloud or iTunes.

  • By removing the applications (from this example: Books, iMovie, Numbers and WhatsApp) that were previously synchronized with iCloud from your iPhone, you effectively eliminate the associated data stored in iCloud Drive with your iPhone. Consequently, the storage usage indicator on your iPhone, in relation to iCloud Drive, will register a reduction to zero. This action optimizes your device's storage management, freeing up space and streamlining the synchronization between your iPhone and iCloud Drive. It's a practical approach to decluttering and ensuring that your iCloud storage is utilized efficiently.


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icloud drive taking my iphone space

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