iCloud Backup Suddenly Grows in Size - AirDrop Possible Cause

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Level 1

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iCloud Backup Suddenly Grows in Size - AirDrop Possible Cause

Hey! So a year or two ago I had an issue with my iCloud backup, where it went from ~1GB to some incredibly huge value, way over the 5GB limit.

After an insane amount of troubleshooting (including wiping all my health data, which was heartbreaking) I couldn't get the size of the backup to shrink. In the end I set up my phone as a new device and started from scratch. That worked!

But now I've run into the same problem again. My phone went from ~4GB (it's now that big because I started using 1 Second a Day) to ~28.5GB! I've now paid for iCloud Storage for my Photo Library, so that's now completely separate. But I don't want that much space being wasted when I know it should be about 1/7 the size.

I was trying to think what could possibly have happened, and I realised I transferred ~24.5GB of TV shows over AirDrop from my Mac to my iPhone. 4GB + 24.5GB...I don't think this is a coincidence! When the transfer completed I added the files to VLC directly on iOS. VLC didn't show as backing up that much data under the iCloud Storage settings (nothing did!).

So far I have tried:

Deleting the files from VLC
Turning off the VLC iCloud Backup
Deleting the VLC app
Cleaning the history and cache from Safari
Cleaning the cache from a dodgy third party app on Mac with my iPhone connected
Deleting the iCloud Backup
Turning iCloud Backup off and on
I even even tried turning the iPhone off and on again!

The backup is still at 28.5GB. I feel sure it's some sort of AirDrop cache on the phone somewhere. The files aren't in the 'Files' app and I can't think where else they could be.

So my question is, has anyone experienced this before? Any tips on cleaning unnecessary data off the phone? I'm on 11.3.1 iPhone X.

iPhone X, iOS 11.3.1, null

Posted on Jul 6, 2018 1:24 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

duff_weird Author

Level 1

7 points

Jul 9, 2018 3:35 AM in response to duff_weird

Approached the problem again with a fresh perspective...

Instead of looking in:

Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups > iPhone

I looked in:

General > iPhone Storage

There I could see that the content I transferred with AirDrop was somehow still associated with the FILES app. Despite not showing up in my iCloud Drive or anywhere on the files app, and not being counted in the storage used by the files app when backed up to iCloud.

To Fix:

- Delete Files App

- Restart iPhone

- Install Files App

Annoying if you use the files app a lot and have a lot of other documents downloaded, but way better than having a 30GB iPhone Backup!

So Apple should fix this somehow. It's either a bug, or just a glaring omission on their part. Either only add the files to the specified app when transferring through AirDrop, have an option to review the files in the files app, or have an option to clear the Files App Downloads/Cache.

Hope this helps someone in the future!

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Answer 2

LarryHN

Level 10

106,182 points

Jul 9, 2018 8:49 AM in response to duff_weird

duff_weird wrote:

My bad Larry, I meant that my photos storage are now completely separate from my iPhone Backup since I enabled iCloud Photo Library.

Regardless, I've solved the issue now. Thanks though!

and again that is incorrect

No it is not - iCloud storage is iCloud storage - you do not have separate storage for backups and for iCloud Photo Library and for iCloud Drive - all use the same storage and you have to have adequate storage for what you want to use for all services combined -- Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

Glad you solved your issue - but the statement you keep making about iCloud Backup and iCloud Photo Library storage being separate is not correct

LN

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,182 points

Jul 9, 2018 7:27 AM in response to duff_weird

I've now paid for iCloud Storage for my Photo Library, so that's now completely separate. But I don't want that much space being wasted when I know it should be about 1/7 the size.

No it is not - iCloud storage is iCloud storage - you do not have separate storage for backups and for iCloud Photo Library and for iCloud Drive - all use the same storage and you have to have adequate storage for what you want to use for all services combined -- Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

LN

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Answer 4

duff_weird Author

Level 1

7 points

Jul 9, 2018 9:04 AM in response to LarryHN

You're correct that iCloud is just one big lump of storage. I'm just trying to say that what I meant in my original post is that my photos were being backed up to iCloud via my iPhone Backup. But now I'm using iCloud Photo Library, there are no longer photos included in my iPhone Backup. They are all stored on iCloud as part of my iCloud Photo Library. So the additional space on iCloud being taken up by my iPhone Backup was not due to Photos.

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