Backup size seems too large, next backup too small...

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Level 1

4 points

Backup size seems too large, next backup too small...

Hello all

I've recently had the warning that my iCloud storage is running low.

When going to Manage Storage on my iPhone, it shows the current backup size as 3.4GB and Next Backup Size as 64.4MB.

Looking at what is going to be backed up, the largest is 148MB of photos. Adding up everything on the list that appears I get to about 250MB. I understand there are things like messages, mail etc to go on top of this.

Firstly, how is my next backup size only 64.4MB when it clearly shows more than this in the list below it? Is this the amount of data required to bring the backup to date?

Secondly, I'm not sure how I reach 3.4GB current backup size. What has always taken up a lot of room is my photo library, but for about a year now I only have "My Photo Stream" and "iCloud Photo Sharing" selected, purposely to keep my backup size lower.

My iPad back up is 1.1GB, which is about what I would expect my iPhone to be.

Cheers!

iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.4

Posted on Aug 18, 2016 1:50 AM

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Answer 1

javaliga

Level 10

120,173 points

Aug 18, 2016 7:42 AM in response to piersanthony

To answer your first question, backups are incremental. That is, essentially, only the data/settings that have changed since the last backup are added to the current backup. And, yes - 64.4 MB would be what is required to bring your backup to date.

As to your second question, I'm not sure either, based on what you have shown.

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Answer 2

piersanthony Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 18, 2016 7:53 AM in response to piersanthony

Thanks Javaliga, that makes more sense now.

After realising that the next backup size is incremental, I decided to delete the current 3.4GB backup, and it's now telling me that my next backup is just 1.6GB, which is about what I expected it to be in the first place. There must have been a load of random files saved in there which were not part of the current backup.

So no need to upgrade to a larger storage size after all!

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