iCloud storage: 300MB Documents, iCloud Drive empty

Hello Amburguesa, and welcome to the Apple Support Community.

The existing replies correctly distinguish iCloud Drive from iCloud Photos, but one additional point may explain the 300 MB of “Documents” usage.

The Documents category in iCloud Storage isn’t limited to files visible in iCloud Drive. It can also include application data stored in iCloud by third-party apps or Apple apps using CloudKit. Some of this data isn’t directly browsable through iCloud.com or the Files app, even though it legitimately occupies iCloud storage.

To identify what is using that storage, check Settings > [Apple Account] > iCloud > Manage Storage on the iPhone. If an app is listed there, disabling its iCloud storage (if appropriate) may remove the associated data after confirmation.

If no apps account for the reported storage and iCloud Drive remains empty across the iPhone, Files app, and iCloud.com, it may be worth contacting Apple Support, as they can verify whether the storage report is accurate or if there is an issue with iCloud storage accounting.

Helpful links:

Manage your iCloud storage on your Apple device - Apple Support

iCloud User Guide - Apple Support

iPhone User Guide - Apple Support

If you discover which app or service is using the reported 300 MB, please post an update.

Your findings may help other members of the Apple Support Community who encounter similar unexplained iCloud storage usage.

Please let us know the outcome.

Your feedback may also help other members of the Apple Support Community working with similar issues.

🙏🏻

Have a good Day.

And one more thing…

Never forget to think different.



Your post is quite baffling.

• 300MB is 6% of the 5GB of free storage Apple provides each user. Why is this concerning?
• ”… aside from the photos she’s intentionally backed up.” What does “backed up” mean exactly?
  • Stored in an iCloud backup? You cannot select what goes in there.
  • Stored in iCloud Photos? Those are not stored on iCloud Drive.
• Has she checked Settings > [her name] > iCloud > Storage to see just what is used?
• If she uses iCloud for Messages, of course that will occcupy iCloud space but not in iCloud Drive.
• She can open the Files app on iPhone, tap “Browse” on the bottom, and see the contents of iCloud Drive, if any.

Still outstanding:

• Has she checked Settings > [her name] > iCloud > Storage to see just what is used?
• She can open the Files app on iPhone, tap “Browse” on the bottom, and see the contents of iCloud Drive, if any.