What Is iCloud Storage?
Worlds away from the days of floppy disks, iCloud storage is a cloud-based storage system designed to keep your data safe and secure. iCloud stores photos, videos, documents, music and more across all Apple devices connected to the same account. It’s easy to access your data without having to store it on a hard drive or other physical device.
You can choose between different plans to meet your needs – with options ranging from 5GB all the way up to 2TB. The amount you pay depends on the size of your plan, but typically ranges anywhere from $0.99-$9.99 per month (USD).
If you’re ready to get back the time and energy spent managing your data across devices, then iCloud might be a great option for you – but if not, you may need to cancel your iCloud storage plan. Thankfully we’ve got a step-by-step guide that will show you how!
How to Manage iCloud Storage
If you’re running out of storage space on your Apple device, you may be considering canceling (or downgrading) your iCloud storage plan. In order to do this, there are a few steps you’ll need to take.
First, open system preferences and select the ‘iCloud’ tab. Here, you can view the current storage plan and adjust it accordingly. You can even choose a different size of plan or downgrade altogether if needed.
Once you’ve chosen the desired plan size, select ‘Manage’. This will open up a second window where you can view information about your current iCloud Storage plan. To finish the cancelation process, click on ‘Change Storage Plan’ and then ‘Downgrade Options.’ Now, simply follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the change and complete the cancelation process.
By allowing users to manage their iCloud Storage plans directly from system preferences, Apple makes it easy for anyone to easily cancel their subscription when needed—without any additional hassle or confusion.
How to Cancel iCloud Storage
Canceling iCloud Storage is relatively easy, and you can get it done in three simple steps.
Step 1: Open the Settings App
The first thing you’ll want to do is open the Settings app on your device. It may look a little different depending on which device you have, but the procedure remains largely the same.
Step 2: Tap Your Account Name
Once you’re in the Settings app, tap your account name at the top of the screen. You’ll now see a list of all of your devices that are backed up to iCloud.
Step 3: Manage Storage
Once you’ve selected your account name, tap ‘Manage Storage’ and scroll down to iCloud Storage and tap it. You will now be shown the storage plan for your device, as well as any other devices that are connected to iCloud with their own storage plan. Tap ‘Cancel Subscription’ and follow any additional prompts that appear to complete cancelation of your subscription. That’s all there is to it!
What Happens After Canceling iCloud Storage
So what happens when you cancel your iCloud storage plan?
You’ll still be able to access your photos, music, and other data stored in your iCloud account, but they won’t be automatically backed up to iCloud anymore. If you delete something from your device, it’ll stay deleted, as it won’t have been backed up to the cloud.
You’ll also see some changes to the services associated with iCloud storage. Your Docs & Data area will no longer be synced across devices and you won’t have access to the Mail Drop feature or shared photo albums and family photo streams.
Without an active iCloud subscription, any files stored in the iCloud area of your Mac or PC will no longer be accessible—you can either back them up manually or download them before canceling your subscription. All of this data should still be present on any active Apple devices that were using iCloud storage prior to canceling.
Alternatives to Canceling iCloud Storage
Maybe you aren’t ready to completely cancel your iCloud storage, but could still use a little help managing it? That’s understandable – there are several alternatives to canceling iCloud Storage that can help you out.
Downgrade Your Plan
First, you can consider downgrading your plan. iCloud storage plans come in a range of sizes, and with an annual plan there’s often a discount associated with the larger sizes. Depending on your needs, you might be able to save some money by downgrading the amount of storage you buy each year.
Use iCloud Backup
If you need more space for your backups and other files but don’t want to upgrade or downgrade your plan, consider taking advantage of the free 5GB of iCloud storage that comes with every account. You can add files by turning on iCloud Drive or enabling backups in Settings, and delete anything you don’t need to free up space again quickly.
Use Other Cloud Services
Finally, if none of these alternatives appeal to you, consider using other cloud services such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Not only do both services offer free plans, but they also offer additional features such as collaborative editing, multiple devices access and unlimited storage at unique prices.
FAQs on Canceling iCloud Storage
When it comes to canceling iCloud Storage, there are some questions that come up more often than others. To make sure you have all the answers you need, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about iCloud Storage cancelation.
Q: What happens when I cancel my iCloud Storage plan?
If you cancel your current iCloud Storage plan, you will be downgraded to the free 5GB plan. Any files that exceed the 5GB limit will no longer be accessible and will be deleted from iCloud Storage, although they can still be backed up on your device or computer.
Q: Do I get a refund if I cancel my iCloud Storage plan?
No, if you decide to cancel your current iCloud Storage plan before its renewal date, Apple does not provide a refund for any remaining time in your subscription. However, unused storage space may roll over to your new subscription if you decide to upgrade later on.
Q: Can I renew my canceled iCloud Storage plan?
Of course! Once your current subscription has expired or been canceled, you can renew it at any time by signing back in to the same Apple ID and following the same steps as before. You can also choose to upgrade or downgrade your plan at that point as well.