Mystery "backup" memory in iCloud

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Mystery "backup" memory in iCloud

A few days ago I got a notification that my iCloud storage is almost full. I thought this was weird since I hardly use it any more, usually I backup to my PC or elsewhere. I deleted all the device backups and turned off iCloud backup but it still shows 3.8gb of memory taken up by "Backup" and nowhere in iCloud can I see any detailed info about what it is or how to get rid of it. Under the storage heading of the PC app, all I get is the bar showing what memory is used and by what. There are no backups saved but that space is still occupied. The only things I currently have active in my iCloud settings for my devices is Safari and Find My Phone, no pictures or other app data. I even turned off Safari temporarily to see if that would make a difference but it didn't.

What is hogging that 3.8gb?

Posted on Nov 18, 2015 9:45 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 19, 2015 5:53 AM in response to galaxygirl67

Welcome to the Apple Community.

I had a similar problem after my iOS update. My back up wouldn’t complete, it showed up as 0 Kb, the next back up showed up as 0Kb and I didn’t get an option to delete my existing back up.

I turned back up off and whilst I didn’t then get an option to delete my previous back up, the previous back up (0 Kb) did disappear of it’s own accord. I was then able to turn back up back on, the 0 Kb back up did not reappear and I was able to start and complete a new back up.

Some have reported that after they turn back off, the previous back up (0 Kb) does not disappear or that if it does it reappears when back up is turned back on (although they are then able to make a new back up providing they have space).

It seems that in some case the 0Kb back up is corrupted data and does indeed take up space in the cloud and it doesn’t appear that this can be removed by the user, if this is what has happened in your case, contact Apple Support, (change country if necessary) they have been able to remove the corrupted data for some users. If this link doesn’t work for you, select ‘Support’ from the black menu at the top of the page and then choose ‘More Products’ on the page that appears.

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