MacLife UK – August 2019

Prune app folders
Mac and iOS apps often save to iCloud
Drive. Select iCloud Drive in Finder’s sidebar to
view their dedicated folders there. If there are
apps you no longer use, back up/archive those
folders and remove them from iCloud Drive.

Refine iOS backups
Tap the current device’s backup to see
its size and what data is being backed up. If
there is data you don’t need in iCloud (such
as in book/magazine apps), turn it off —
especially if you can restore it from elsewhere.

Minimize Mac iCloud use
If you sync Desktop and Documents to
iCloud, you can turn off that feature to save
online space. Better: take care with what you
put in those folders. Don’t dump huge files on
the desktop. Ensure big files are stored locally.

Delete old backups

On iOS, go to Settings > [your name] >

iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups to see a list

of iOS device backups taking up iCloud space.

Some may be redundant — and big! If so, delete

them: tap an item and then Delete Backup.

Use local iOS storage

If you use an iOS app that stores a lot of

data solely on one device, and you unfailingly

back up that data elsewhere, consider turning

off iCloud usage for that app in Settings > [your

name] > iCloud. (Don’t risk data loss, however.)

Remove photos & videos

These media files take up a lot of space

in iCloud — either in your iCloud Photos library

or, if you don’t use that, in iOS device backups.

Pruning them can save a ton of space, but you

must ensure you copy them to your Mac first.

JARGON BUSTER

In iOS, iCloud storage

shows a mysterious

“Others” category. This

is down to screen space.

To see a full categorized

iCloud breakdown, go to

System Prefs > iCloud >

Manage on your Mac.

GENIUS TIP

Large attachments

received through iCloud

email and Messages eat

up space. Archive the

bigger ones locally on

your Mac, then delete

the online copies.

How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

Image rights: Apple. maclife.comAUG 2019 85