iCloud storage help please

The fact that it wouldn't restore with > 3GB of available space, then became frozen when you tried later, is a strong indication that something is corrupt and needs to be restored. Hopefully doing so will solve all your problems.

Unfortunately, that indicates that the source of the problem is contained in your backup and restoring the backup simply returns it to your phone. In these cases, all you can do is either live with it, or save as much of your data as you can, then restore your phone as new (without using your backup) and start over.

If you want to try just living with it, you could try migrating your data to a new iCloud account to see if that helps. You would have to leave your existing iCloud email address behind and set up a new one, but could set up email forwarding to forward email to your old address to your new one. To migrate to a new account, first save all your photo stream photos to your camera roll. If you are syncing your Notes with iCloud, email them to yourself. Then go to Settings>iCloud, tap Delete Account, choose Keep on iPhone when prompted. Next, sign in with a new Apple ID, turn on your data syncing with the new account, and choose Merge to upload your data with the new account. When you turn Mail to On you will be given an new iCloud email address. You can set up forwarding by going to icloud.com from your computer, sign into your old icloud account, open Mail, click on the gear shaped icon on the top right and choose Preferences, then set it up on the General tab. The disadvantage of this approach, other than losing your email account, is that the root problem will remain on your phone, and is likely to get worse over time until addressed.

If you want to save as much of your data as you can, you can import your photos to your computer (as outlined earlier). You can sync any voice memos to your iTunes library by checking Include Voice Memos on the Music tab of your iTunes sync settings and syncing (this will create a voice memos playlist in iTunes containing them). You can email your Notes to yourself. You can sync your contacts, reminders, calendars, etc. with your iCloud account. You can write down your email account settings. You will lose your text message conversations, app data, recent call lists, and your settings.

Another option of course it to set up an appointment with the Genius bar at a nearby Apple store to get a second opinion.

I wish I could give you a better option, but this kind of thing does happen from time to time and the only way to fix it is to set up the phone as new and start over.

You're welcome. Good luck!

I've forgotten the specifics of what was done at this point. Did you create a backup on your computer? Did you ever import your photos to your computer using your usb cable, and if so, are the photos on your computer now?

Dez1978 wrote:

And will my apple Id change?

When you set up a phone as a new iPhone it's just like it came out of the box. You would go through the initial setup screens on the phone and enter your Apple ID. If you ended up doing that, you would just enter your existing ID; you don't need to create a new one.