IPad backup to iCloud

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IPad backup to iCloud

I have an IPad Air 1 with 128 gb of storage. It is running iOS 9.0.1. Looking at my iCloud backup size, it says that my IPad is using 58.4 gb on iCloud. I am trying to determine why the backup is so large and how I can reduce the size. My best guess is that the issue is my videos based on the fact that when I have my IPad connected to iTunes, the space allocated to videos is very close to the iCloud backup size. These videos show up on the Videos app on my IPad as “Home Videos”. Thus, I assume that backup is backing up the videos to iCloud which I do not want it to do but don’t see how to change this. These are videos that I have installed using iTunes and are not purchased from Apple but instead are stored on my computer’s hard drive.

I have done various searches on the Internet and not seen any way to turn off backing up the videos to iCloud. The videos do not appear under my Camera Roll. I also haven’t seen a way to get a detailed breakdown on what is stored in the iCloud backup using either iCloud on my PC or my IPad. When I look at “Manage iCloud Storage” on my IPad, the “documents and data” add up to a 1gb at most and the backup for the IPad shows 58.4 gb but won’t give me a detailed listing of what composes the 58.4 gb.

iPad Air, iOS 9.0.1

Posted on Oct 9, 2015 8:49 AM

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Answer 1

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,336 points

Oct 9, 2015 10:39 AM in response to jpflatto

The contents of the Videos app is not included in a backup (nor are the contents of the Music app ; nor photos/videos in the Photos app that were synced from a computer). What apps are being backed up to the cloud, and how much space each app is using, should be shown in Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage > 'iPad name' - you can use that screen to change which apps do/don't backup to the cloud.

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Answer 2

jpflatto Author

Level 1

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Oct 9, 2015 10:58 AM in response to King_Penguin

I didn't think the apps themselves were stored on iCloud but rather just a link to them on the App Store. When I look at the details, I am showing maybe 1 gb of App data and not the 58gb of data being shown.

Thanks.

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Answer 3

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,336 points

Oct 9, 2015 11:03 AM in response to jpflatto

The apps themselves aren't (no iTunes store download is), but their content (documents, files, photos) are (the contents of the Music and Videos apps aren't included in a backup).

Settings > iCloud > Storage is showing that you are using 58 GB of your iCloud storage ? And you only have the one device being backed up to the cloud, you haven't got other iOS device (iPhone, iPod Touch) ?

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Answer 4

jpflatto Author

Level 1

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Oct 9, 2015 12:25 PM in response to King_Penguin

Actually I have a similar issue with my iPhone. I have my iPad and iPhone connected to iTunes.

IPad – 58.43 gb of video; 562.9 mb of photos; 46.05 gb Apps; 2.06 gb of other. These values are from iTunes with my IPad connected. Looking at the Manage storage on my IPad, the IPad is using 58.4 gb of iCloud space.

iPhone 6 with 64 gb of space, running iOS 9.0.2. It is using 35.4 gb on iCloud. According to iTunes, it is using 7.64 gb for audio; 29.42 gb of video, 23.6 mb of photos, 6.15 gb of apps, 1.13 gb of Documents and Data, 1.27 gb of Other.

I wish there was a way to see what iCloud was storing by type (i.e., video, app, etc.) but I haven't found a way yet.

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 5

jazcan

Level 4

1,456 points

Oct 9, 2015 2:36 PM in response to jpflatto

This has been my experience with iCloud backup.

After the last update, I had a lot of trouble completing iCloud backups. After several weeks I was able to get it working for my iPads & iPhone again. When I tried to backup initially, the total amount of the backup to be done would show as one amount but the actual backup was MUCH larger. It seems, that even after deselecting many apps from the list, my backup included them all. I noticed that when I first installed iOS 9 that everything was toggled on in the backup. With many failed attempts, I would delete the backup & turn iCloud backup off & then on again. I did toggle many apps off but I really don't think that worked. In the end, I did a backup that was supposedly going to be 800+ MB, when the backup completed it was over 11 GB so something was off. Now, after turning most back on, my backup size has changed very little indicating to me that they were turned on to begin with and toggling them off had no effect.

Are you seeing your iPad's iCloud backup size through your PC or Mac as outlined in this support article?:

Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

When doing an iCloud backup, under Backup Options, do you have any really large Apps toggled off? What size is your photo library? Do you have it toggled off? Some apps may still be backing up even though you have toggled them off.

Your videos should not be backing up to the cloud if they were added to your device through iTunes. Any videos made or edited through apps though would be backed up.

When you check General->Storage & iCloud Storage->(under Storage) select Manage Storage. There you will see exactly what each App is taking up in storage space on your device & when you click on the right arrow you will see how much of that space is documents & data (the amount that is backed up to iCloud if toggled on in iCloud backup options.

Your backup is extremely large. If all else fails & you can't find what is taking up the space, you could always backup your iPad to iTunes, then delete & turn off iCloud backup to regain the space. After that, turn iCloud backup back on and see what your next estimated backup size will be?

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