Why Is My iPhone Storage Full When I Have iCloud？| Tips

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why is my iPhone storage full even though I have iCloud?”, you’re not alone. Many iPhone users have experienced this problem where their storage seems to be full despite all the hard work they’ve put into using iCloud for backups and storage. It’s frustrating.

But the good news is that there are ways you can fix this and better manage your storage. In this article, we’ll discuss why this happens and provide helpful tips to fix it.

Why Is My iPhone Storage Full When I Have iCloud?

Before we get to the solution of “my iPhone storage is full but I have iCloud”, it's important to understand how iPhone storage and iCloud storage work. Even if you use iCloud, there are several reasons why your iPhone may show as full.

iCloud Doesn’t Store All of Your Data

iCloud Backup Isn’t the Same as Cloud Storage

Your iCloud Storage Might Be Full (Solution: 5 Best Ways to Free Up iCloud Storage on iPhone/Mac)

Local Files Taking Up Space

5 Tips for iPhone Storage Is Full But You Have iCloud

Now that you know why your iPhone storage is still full even with iCloud, let’s look at how to manage your storage to free up space and get the most out of iCloud.

Tip 1. Backup iPhone Data to PC to Free Up Storage

If your iPhone storage is full and you need to free up space, you can use the professional iOS backup software FoneTool to back up data to an external space. Compared with iCloud, which only provides 5GB of free backup space, FoneTool supports backup iPhone data to PC/External Hard Drives for free without space restrictions.

Now, you can download FoneTool this iOS storage management tool and follow the guide to learn how to backup iPhone when iCloud is full.

>> Selectively Backup iPhone Data

Step 1. Download and open FoneTool on the Windows PC > Connect iPhone to the computer.

Step 2. Tap Phone Backup from the left panel > Choose Selective Backup > Click Get Started.

Step 3. Check the file icon to select data you wish to backup > Preview and select the files you want to export from iPhone > Tap OK.

Step 4. Tap Backup Storage Path to select a backup storage location on your PC > Click Start Backup to continue.

>> Fully Backup iPhone without iCloud

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer > Launch FoneTool.

Step 2. Move to Phone Backup > Choose Full Backup > Tap Get Started.

Step 3. Check Enable Backup Encryption to encrypt your private data > Then set a storage path to store the backup on the PC > Tap Start Backup to begin the task.

When you need to restore your backups, you can go to My Backup > Restore to get the backup. FoneTool supports you to restore data to your iOS device, even if they have different Apple IDs.

Tip 2. Optimize iPhone Storage for Photos & Videos

Photos can consume a significant amount of iPhone storage, but there's a built-in option to optimize storage by keeping smaller photo files on your device while storing the full-resolution versions in iCloud. This allows you to free up space without losing access to your images.

To ensure this feature is enabled, follow these steps to fix “why is my storage full when I have iCloud”: Go to Settings > Photos > Enable the checkmark next to the Optimize iPhone Storage.

Tip 3. Transfer Files to iCloud/iCloud Drive

If you're running low on storage on your iPhone, transferring files to iCloud Drive is a great way to free up space while still being able to access your data across devices. Unlike iCloud Photos, which primarily stores photos and videos, iCloud Drive allows you to store documents, PDFs, videos, and other files in the cloud.

Step 1. On your iPhone, launch the Files app.

Step 2. Navigate to On My iPhone or another storage location > Select the files you want to transfer.

Step 3. Tap the Move or Share button > Choose iCloud Drive as the destination.

Step 4. You can create folders inside iCloud Drive to keep your documents structured and easy to access.

Once the files are in iCloud Drive, they won't take up local storage space on your iPhone unless you download them manually. This method is particularly useful for storing large documents, work files, or videos that don't need immediate offline access.

If you want more control over file transfers, FoneTool also allows you to upload files to iCloud/iCloud Drive from iPhone, which speeds up the process and ensures the safety of your important files.

Tip 4. Offload Unnecessary Apps

You can offload an app to fix the issue of “my iPhone storage is full but I have iCloud”.

Step 1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Step 2. Select the app you want to offload.

Step 3. Tap Offload App.

Tip 5. Manage Your iCloud Backup Settings

If your iCloud storage is full or you want to back up less data, you can manage the apps and data included in your iCloud backup. Some apps may back up a lot of data, but you might not need to store it in the cloud.

Here is how to manage iCloud backups.

Step 1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage.

Step 2. Tap on Backups and select your device.

Step 3. Review which apps and data are being backed up and toggle off anything unnecessary.

Conclusion

That’s all about the issue of “why is my iPhone storage full when I have iCoud”. There are several reasons about this question. Optimizing your iCloud settings, uninstalling apps, and transferring data to iCloud Drive or your computer can help your iPhone run smoothly and efficiently. If you're running low on iCloud space, consider using a free third-party backup solution like FoneTool to manage your data without limitations. This way, you can keep your iPhone organized and your data safely backed up.