If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of digital photos, music, and other files that you want to keep safe and accessible. iCloud is a great way to do that, but it can be a little pricey. So, is it worth it? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of iCloud storage.
iCloud: An Overview
iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple Inc. launched on October 12, 2011. As of February 2016, the service had 782 million users. The service provides its users with means to store data such as documents, photos, and music on remote servers for download to iOS, macOS or Windows devices, to share and send data to other users, and to manage their Apple devices if lost.
iCloud also provides the means to wirelessly back up iOS devices directly to iCloud, instead of being reliant on manual backups to a host Mac or Windows computer using iTunes; iCloud backups occur daily over Wi-Fi when the device is locked and connected to an electrical outlet. However, iOS apps can opt out of using iCloud and choose to store their data only on the local device. In that case, all documents stored in that app are still synced via iCloud (such as in Pages), but are not backed up.
The Pros and Cons of iCloud Storage
iCloud storage is a great way to keep your files backed up and accessible from anywhere, but there are some things you should know before using it. Here are the pros and cons of iCloud storage.
PROS:
-Your files are backed up automatically and securely
-You can access your files from anywhere, on any device
-You can share your files with other people easily
-You get 5 GB of storage for free
CONS:
-Paid plans can be expensive
-You can only share files with other iCloud users
-Certain file types cannot be stored in iCloud (e.g., mp3s)
How to Use iCloud Storage
Apple offers every user 5GB of free storage on iCloud, which is great for backing up your iPhone or iPad. But if you have multiple devices or need to store more than just photos and videos, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. Here’s everything you need to know about iCloud storage.
There are three iCloud storage plans: 50GB for $0.99 per month, 200GB for $2.99 per month, and 2TB for $9.99 per month. You can upgrade your storage plan from your iOS device, Mac, or PC.
If you need more than 2TB of storage, you can contact Apple Support to discuss pricing options.
iCloud storage is used for backups of your iOS devices, photos and videos stored in iCloud Photo Library, files stored in iCloud Drive, and mail messages stored in iCloud Mail. It is not used for storing purchased music, books, apps, or TV shows; these items are kept in your iTunes Library and are not counted against your iCloud storage allocation.
Tips for Maximizing iCloud Storage Space
Here are a few tips for maximizing iCloud storage space:
1. Delete unnecessary files and folders.
2. Compress large files.
3. Store infrequently used files in the cloud.
4. Use iCloud Drive to store documents and data.
5. Use browser extensions to manage your downloads.
How to Back Up Your Data with iCloud
iCloud is a great way to keep your data backed up and accessible, but it can be confusing to set up and use. Here’s a guide to getting started.
First, you need to sign up for an iCloud account if you don’t already have one. You can do this by going to Settings > iCloud on your iOS device or System Preferences > iCloud on your Mac. Once you’re signed in, you’ll be able to choose which types of data you want to sync with iCloud.
On iOS, you can sync photos, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, documents, and more. On Mac, you can sync photos, contacts, calendars, documents, and mail. Once you’ve selected the data you want to sync, it will be uploaded to iCloud and available across all of your devices.
You can access your iCloud data from any web browser by going to icloud.com and signing in with your Apple ID. From here, you’ll be able to view and download your photos, contacts, calendars, documents, and more.
If you’re using iCloud to back up your data, it’s important to periodically check that your backups are up to date. To do this on iOS, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage. On Mac, go to System Preferences > iCloud > Manage…
What to do if Your iCloud Storage is Full
If your iCloud storage is full, you have a few options for managing the storage and freeing up space. You can buy more iCloud storage, you can delete files and data from your iCloud storage, or you can move data to your device.
iCloud storage is a great way to keep your files and data safe and accessible, but it can fill up quickly if you’re not careful. If your iCloud storage is full, you’ll need to manage the storage and free up some space. You can do this by buying more iCloud storage, deleting files and data from your iCloud storage, or moving data to your device.
1. Check what’s using up your iCloud storage. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. This will show you a breakdown of what’s taking up space in your iCloud.
2. Delete any unwanted files or data. Once you know what’s taking up space in your iCloud, you can delete it to free up some space. To delete files from iCloud Drive, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Documents & Data. To delete photos and videos from iCloud Photo Library, go to Settings > [your name] Photos & Camera > Optimize Device Storage.
3. Buy more iCloud storage. If you need more than the free 5GB of storage that comes with iCloud, you can buy additional storage from Apple. To do this, go to Settings > [your name] ids & Passwords section of the Settings app preferences under storage.”
Alternatives to iCloud Storage
There are a few alternatives to iCloud storage that you may want to consider, especially if you’re not songs happy with how iCloud works or how much it costs. Here are some of the best iCloud storage alternatives.
pCloud
pCloud is a cloud storage service that works across all your devices and lets you securely sync your files across the web. It offers a generous amount of free storage space, as well as two-step authentication and encryption to secure your data. The platform is intuitive and easy to use, with a streamlined interface that makes it simple to manage your files—and it also comes with mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud-based file storage service that lets you store your files online and sync them across all of your devices. You can access your Dropbox files from anywhere, and make changes that will be automatically synced across all of your devices. Dropbox also makes it easy to share files with others.
Google Drive
Google Drive is Google’s cloud-based file storage service. You can store any type of file in Google Drive, and access it from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. Files that you store in Google Drive are synced across all of your devices, so you can always have the most up-to-date versions.
FAQs About iCloud Storage
Q: How much iCloud storage do I get for free?
A: Apple offers 5 GB of iCloud storage for free. If you need more storage, you can purchase additional storage in increments of 50 GB, 200 GB, or 1 TB.
Q: What happens if I go over my iCloud storage limit?
A: If you go over your iCloud storage limit, your device will no longer back up to iCloud, new photos and videos won’t upload to iCloud Photo Library, and Mail will stop syncing attachments. You can still access your existing iCloud backups and data, but you won’t be able to create new backups or save new data to iCloud. To continue using these features, you’ll need to purchase additional storage.
Q: How do I purchase additional iCloud storage?
A: You can purchase additional iCloud storage from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. You can also purchase additionalstorage from your PC by going to System Preferences > iCloud > Manage. On iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage. Pricing varies by country or region.
Q: What types of files count against my iCloud storage?A: All the files stored in your My Photo Stream album count against your 5 GB of free storage. Apple Music files and iTunes Match content don’t count against your iCloud storage unless you choose to download them locally on each device. Purchased music, TV shows, apps, books, and photo books don’t count against your Apple ID’s total available space that’s displayed in Settings because they’re already stored safely in the cloud; however these items still count towards the total space used by all of the devices associated with that Apple ID for things like backing up devices and maintaining a complete copy of each device’s content in case it needs to be restored at a later date.
