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You must take the time to manage your iCloud storage quota. Everything from backups, photos, and documents, to apps syncing data across the iPhone and the Mac, uses iCloud. Unless you go on regular cleaning sprees, you are bound to burn through a storage plan sooner rather than later.

A while back, we looked into freeing up iCloud storage on iPhone and iPad. In this post, we shall explore ways to do that on the Mac as well. By the end, you will hopefully have lots of spare iCloud storage available. Let's get started.

1. Delete Obsolete Backups

By default, iPhones and iPads are automatically configured to back up data to iCloud. However, you can choose to delete the backups of any devices that you no longer use (or own) to free up huge chunks of storage right from your Mac.

On the Mac, head over to System Preferences > Apple ID > Manage. Then, pick an obsolete backup and click Delete ' — '.

If you delete any iPhone or iPad backup that is in active use, you put that device at risk. In that case, we strongly recommend that you create regular local backups to your Mac using Finder.

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2. Delete Unwanted Photos

All the photos that you capture on an iPhone or iPad end up using a lot of space on iCloud. If you have iCloud Photos enabled on your Mac, you can choose to delete unwanted photos and screenshots to free up space.

Open the Photos app, and then dive into categories such as Screenshots (located underneath Media Types within the sidebar) to locate and delete unwanted images (right-click an image and select Delete Photo).

You can also select multiple photos for removal; hold down the Command key while clicking on items.

Note: Deleting photos will also remove them from other devices that use iCloud Photos.

3. Switch to Google Photos

Consider using Google Photos for photo backups. In addition to 15GB of free storage, Google Photos lets you upload and sync an unlimited number of photos and videos (although at compressed quality).

On the Mac, install the 'Backup & Sync from Google' client to upload and access photos. On the iPhone and iPad, use the Google Photos app instead.

Download Backup & Sync (Mac)Download Google Photos (iPhone & iPad)

After backing up your photos and videos to Google Photos from all your devices, you choose to disable iCloud Photos and free up the associated cloud storage. Head into System Preferences > Apple ID > Manage. Then, select Photos and click Turn Off and Delete.

Recommended: Refer to this guide for more details on what happens when you disable and delete iCloud Photos.

4. Delete Unwanted Files in iCloud Drive

Do you use iCloud Drive to sync files and folders between devices? Head over to Finder, select iCloud Drive from the sidebar, and then remove any unwanted items to free up space.

Tip: While inside any folder, switch to List view, and then click the Size column to arrange files by size. That should help you to identify large files that you no longer have any use for.

5. Switch to Google Drive

Instead of using iCloud Drive, consider switching to an alternative cloud storage service. Google Drive, for example, not only offers 15GB of free storage but also doesn't count certain forms of data toward your quota.

To start using Google Drive, download 'Backup & Sync from Google' to your Mac. You can access your Google Drive contents on the iPhone and iPad via the Google Drive app.

Download Backup & Sync (Mac)Download Google Drive (iPhone & iPad)

6. Delete iMessage Attachments

If you use iMessage on your iPhone or Mac, you will often end up consuming lots of iCloud storage since messages and conversations are set to sync among devices by default. In terms of gigabytes, this could very well run into double digits if left unchecked.

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Open the Messages app, and then search for and delete unwanted photos, attachments, or conversation threads—right-click an item and select Delete. If you use macOS Big Sur, you can use the improved search capabilities in Messages to locate unwanted items faster.

7. Disable Messages in iCloud

Don't have the time to delete attachments and conversation threads in iMessage? If so, you can choose to disable the Messages app from syncing data between devices and quickly free up lots of storage in iCloud.

Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > Manage. Then, select Messages, and click Turn Off and Delete.

8. Delete Attachments in Mail

If you use an iCloud.com email account, consider deleting emails with attachments to free up space. Use the Mail app's filters to get to them quickly.

Open the Mail app on your Mac, and then click View > Filter > Enable Messages Filter. Then, head back into the Filter menu, and set the criteria to 'Only Mail with Attachments.'

You can then start deleting unwanted email messages and conversations with large attachments. For more details, check out this guide.

9. Delete Voice Memos

Do you record lots of voice memos? Since they are set to sync between devices, your recordings can end up using iCloud storage. So, open the Voice Memos app and delete any unwanted voice memos.

You must also remove them from the Recently Deleted folder in Voice Memos. Otherwise, they will continue to reside both locally and on iCloud for the next 30 days.

10. Review and Delete Other Backups

Finally, head into System Preferences > Apple ID > Manage again and go through the list of the various backups performed by apps or services to iCloud.

Then, delete any that you deem unnecessary. For example, you could remove an obsolete WhatsApp backup that you no longer have any use for.

Be careful while doing that because deleted iCloud data is often irrecoverable.

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Regularly reviewing and managing your iCloud storage quota from yourMac (or your iPhone) will ensure that you don't run out of space at theworst of times. Sure, not all of the ways listed above may suit everyone.But a single action like switching to Google Photos (with its unlimitedstorage offering) can help prevent what would've seemed like anunavoidable upgrade to the next iCloud storage tier for a long time tocome.

Next up:iCloud has lots of nuances to it. Check out these 8 tips and tricks to start using it like a pro.

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read Next8 Best iCloud Tips and Tricks to Use It Like a ProAlso See#macos #storage

Did You Know

Quick Charge 4.0 is 20% faster and 30% more efficient than Quick Charge 3.0.

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What you need to install Windows 10 on Mac

• MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
• MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
• MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
• Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
  

• iMac introduced in 2012 or later¹
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
  

The latest macOS updates, which can include updates to Boot Camp Assistant. You will use Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows 10.

64GB or more free storage space on your Mac startup disk:

• Your Mac can have as little as 64GB of free storage space, but at least 128GB of free storage space provides the best experience. Automatic Windows updates require that much space or more.
• If you have an iMac Pro or Mac Pro with 128GB of memory (RAM) or more, your startup disk needs at least as much free storage space as your Mac has memory.²

An external USB flash drive with a storage capacity of 16GB or more, unless you're using a Mac that doesn't need a flash drive to install Windows.

A 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro on a disk image (ISO) or other installation media. If installing Windows on your Mac for the first time, this must be a full version of Windows, not an upgrade.

• If your copy of Windows came on a USB flash drive, or you have a Windows product key and no installation disc, download a Windows 10 disk image from Microsoft.
• If your copy of Windows came on a DVD, you might need to create a disk image of that DVD.
  

How to install Windows 10 on Mac

To install Windows, use Boot Camp Assistant, which is included with your Mac.

1. Use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition

Open Boot Camp Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. Then follow the onscreen instructions.

• If you're asked to insert a USB drive, plug your USB flash drive into your Mac. Boot Camp Assistant will use it to create a bootable USB drive for Windows installation.
• When Boot Camp Assistant asks you to set the size of the Windows partition, remember the minimum storage-space requirements in the previous section. Set a partition size that meets your needs, because you can't change its size later.

2. Format the Windows (BOOTCAMP) partition

When Boot Camp Assistant finishes, your Mac restarts to the Windows installer. If the installer asks where to install Windows, select the BOOTCAMP partition and click Format. In most cases, the installer selects and formats the BOOTCAMP partition automatically.

3. Install Windows

Unplug any external devices that aren't necessary during installation. Then click Next and follow the onscreen instructions to begin installing Windows.

4. Use the Boot Camp installer in Windows

After Windows installation completes, your Mac starts up in Windows and opens a ”Welcome to the Boot Camp installer” window. Follow the onscreen instructions to install Boot Camp and Windows support software (drivers). You will be asked to restart when done.

• If the Boot Camp installer never opens, open the Boot Camp installer manually and use it to complete Boot Camp installation.
• If you have an external display connected to a Thunderbolt 3 port on your Mac, the display will be blank (black, gray, or blue) for up to 2 minutes during installation.

How to switch between Windows and macOS

Restart, then press and hold the Option (or Alt) ⌥ key during startup to switch between Windows and macOS.

Learn more

If you have one of these Mac models using OS X El Capitan 10.11 or later, you don't need a USB flash drive to install Windows:

• MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
• MacBook Air introduced in 2017 or later³
• MacBook Pro introduced in 2015 or later³

• iMac introduced in 2015 or later
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro introduced in late 2013
  

To remove Windows from your Mac, use Boot Camp Assistant, not any other utility.

For more information about using Windows on your Mac, open Boot Camp Assistant and click the Open Boot Camp Help button.

1. If you're using an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) or iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) with a 3TB hard drive and macOS Mojave or later, learn about an alert you might see during installation.

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2. For example, if your Mac has 128GB of memory, its startup disk must have at least 128GB of storage space available for Windows. To see how much memory your Mac has, choose Apple menu  > About This Mac. To see how much storage space is available, click the Storage tab in the same window.

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3. These Mac models were offered with 128GB hard drives as an option. Apple recommends 256GB or larger hard drives so that you can create a Boot Camp partition of at least 128GB.