How to maximize 2T of iCloud extra storage

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Level 1

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How to maximize 2T of iCloud extra storage

I have been paying for 2T of iCloud extra storage, but it seems like I am hardly utilizing any. I use Gmail as my primary email account, and do not use my iCloud account. My Google account is 99% full and I would like to avoid buying extra storage in Google. Can I revert to using the Mail app on my iPhone 14 to use Gmail? I forget what I need to do in settings. Would this alleviate storage in Gmail, or do I not understand anything? 90% of my Google storage is Photos....Thank you.

iPhone 14, iOS 17

Posted on Feb 4, 2025 9:44 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

KiltedTim

Level 10

228,396 points

Feb 4, 2025 9:49 AM in response to Hezzers22

Using the mail app to access your gmail account will not result in storing your gmail in icloud.

Your gmail will ALWAYS be stored in your google cloud storage.

You could store your photos in icloud, but moving them from google to the iCloud Photo Library isn’t going to happen using your phone.

You’ll need to download them from google to a computer, then put them into the iCloud Photo Library from there.

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Answer 2

Hezzers22 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 5, 2025 2:06 AM in response to KiltedTim

Hello KiltedTim, Thank you for your clear and prompt reply. Honestly, I did not expect an answer seeing that it was the first time asking the community anything. Although I was hoping for a miracle resolution, you confirmed my suspicions - I'm going to have to pay for additional Google storage. I have photos from 2004-2018 backed up on a HD as well photos in Photos in iCloud. I bought 2T iCloud storage mainly for Photos. I have always worked in Microsoft/Android and therefore, I have a Google Account and use Gmail, Drive and Google Photos (Google Photos as a backup to iCloud). Having lost precious photos in the early days of Apple, I thought I was being smart by uploading all my photos to Google Photos. It took me over a week using a computer. Could I possibly not have any photos upload automatically to Google Photos? I could still keep my free Google account and use Gmail and Drive after deleting unwanted photos and emails and hover around a 90% full Google account. Could I do this, and how in settings? Many kind regards.

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How to maximize 2T of iCloud extra storage

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