Will my data remain in iCloud if I turn off the iCloud sync?

AlWeir wrote:

iCloud Drive is a synchronization service, it is not a backup solution. Google Drive, OneDrive, Mega, and a host of other Cloud solutions are out there.

Not correct. iCloud+ has TWO independent functions. iCloud backups, and iCloud sync. It’s confusing because they both have the same name prefix. But they have no connection with each other. Go to Settings/[your name]/iCloud. You will see a bunch of switches (with iOS 16 or later also tap Show All). When you turn on a switch that data type will sync to iCloud. If you do this on multiple devices that share an Apple ID the selected data will sync to all of those devices. 

You can also turn on iCloud Backups. This will back up your phone every night if the phone is plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi and locked.

But note that these are independent functions; anything that you sync by the first method will be excluded from the iCloud backups.

You get other benefits with iCloud+

• Hide my Email, which lets you access websites without giving away your primary email account (and also track who they sell your identity to)
• Private Relay, which is sort of a super VPN (at much lower cost than commercial VPN)
• Custom email domain, so you can create a personalized email address that forwards to your Apple ID email (such as jane@doe.com)

iCloud Drive is a synchronization service, it is not a backup solution. Google Drive, OneDrive, Mega, and a host of other Cloud solutions are out there.

If you have multiple Apple devices you can use all of them with most files on iCloud. It was basically set up by Apple for Photos on iPhones and Apple expanded to include files in Documents and the Desktop on a Mac as well as Messages and Notes. I believe (don't quote me on this) that if you turn off iCloud completely you might lose what you have entered in Notes. The solution to this is in the Notes settings on you iPad you have a "Default Account". It can be either iCloud or On My Phone. If you are going to shut off iCloud then turn on On My Phone on your iPad.

Backups should be created to provide a recovery mechanism in the event of catastrophic damage to your iPad or iPhone. Backups are completely different than iCloud - iCloud houses your data while backhoes provide this recovery mechanism.

Backup methods for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

AlWeir wrote:

iCloud Drive is a synchronization service, it is not a backup solution. Google Drive, OneDrive, Mega, and a host of other Cloud solutions are out there.

iCloud is absolutely a backup service for iPhones and iPads.

LindaMac1947 wrote:

Well, Idris Seabright, I actually DID understand about 60% of what you said. So, perhaps I actually did make it to Grade 3 with Al Weir! (lol)

I think you're doing great. New things can always be a bit challenging. It might interest you to know that many of the "Level 10" folks here are over 70 and a few are over 80!

(1) how long will it take to use up 50 gigs? I write short stories that I would hate to lose.

Short stories wouldn't take up that much room. I just looked through some of my MS Word files. None of them were larger than 1 megabyte. There are 1000 megabytes in a gigabyte.

What takes up room tends to be photos for most people. By the nature of the data in the files, they're just bigger.

AND (2) Are you saying that using iCloud is more effective – or safe? – than using “back-up to my iPad”? I note that “sberman” (also a Level 10, like you) recommends that I use a back-up method — I am presuming he means in concert with also using iCloud? What back-up method would you recommend — and why?

AND (3) What takes up the most room in storage, my little stories, or photos and videos – and why?

You don't back up "to your iPad"; you backup from your iPad to... an external hard drive, cloud storage, a thumb drive.

I recommend more than one option. Set your iPad to automatically back up to iCloud so that it does that daily. Then, periodically, save important data to an external hard drive (they're cheap these days). I find it's easiest to do that from my computer rather than from the iPad. Do you have a computer? Definitely read the link from sberman carefully. If you have specific questions about it, be sure to ask.

thank you so much for your time and patience. This is a real learning experience and I revel in it!

Linda

Being open to learning new things is one of the best ways to keep one's mind young!

LindaMac1947 wrote:

With reference to my comment about backing up to my iPad, I actually misquoted. In “Settings” and then under “Notes”, there is a choice for a “Default Account”, that being either “iCloud” or “My iPad”. (What the heck is a “Default Account“?) When I was told my iCloud was nearly full and made my initial choice to cancel iCloud, I changed my “Default Account” setting from “iCloud” to “My iPad“. After these conversations, I will change it back to “iCloud“.

Got it!

I do have an additional question: Is there any way of getting some sort of external drive for an iPad? My Dell laptop is about 100 years old, with no support from Dell any longer. I hesitate to put ANYTHING of any importance on it, even though it would only be for the short period of backing up on an external drive. Mind you, I do have an external drive hooked up to it. But I don’t really understand how it works. I mean, it has been there for years. What is actually on it? Does it just keep the most recent things? I’m not even sure how much it holds!

An older external drive might not connect easily to a newer iPad. Start here:

Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support (CA)

If I go, the thumb drive route, I suppose I would just keep buying them as I need them. Then I would have to file them away; right?

They come in comparatively large capacities these days. So if the bulk of what you want to store is documents, it might take you a while to fill one up. I would also suggest not just "filing them away". Check them periodically. Things can go bad.

I will now go immediately to iCloud to buy more storage. Then I will ensure that everything I deleted from iCloud is put back on it. And THEN I will figure out an additional way to back up. Does that sound like a sensible plan?

Sounds good!

Thank you again for your time. Your patience is incredible, and for that I sincerely thank you.

There are a lot of great, knowledgeable people here. Hope to see you around.

Glad to hear things are going well!

LindaMac1947 wrote:

I am a new senior citizen user, so please answer as if you were talking to a kindergartener.

Nope, I'm going to talk to you like the smart, capable adult that you are. ;-)

My iCloud is nearly full. If I turn off, for example, NOTES, will the things I have typed into my notes, still be there, or do they get deleted as well? Same question for calendar and so on.

If you turn off iCloud, you will be asked if you want to keep the data on your iPhone or delete it. Obviously, you want to keep it.

I would seriously consider, rather than turning off iCloud, that you upgrade your iCloud Storage. The lowest tier of paid storage is .99/month for 50 gigs. It's well worth it so that you can continue automatically backing up your iPhone/syncing it (both things are happening).