How to Downgrade iCloud+ Storage in 2026 (Without Losing Photos)

Updated February 2026 • 7 min read

Apple gives you 5GB of free iCloud storage — barely enough for an iPhone backup and a few photos. Most Apple users end up paying $0.99-9.99/month for more. Here's how to downgrade without losing your photos, or switch to a free alternative.

iCloud+ Pricing

5GB: Free (included with every Apple ID)
50GB: $0.99/month ($12/year)
200GB: $2.99/month ($36/year)
2TB: $9.99/month ($120/year)
6TB: $29.99/month ($360/year)
12TB: $59.99/month ($720/year)

⚠️ What Happens If You Exceed Free Storage

iPhone backups stop — no more automatic backups
iCloud Photos stops syncing — new photos stay only on your device
iCloud Drive stops syncing — documents don't update across devices
Apple nags you constantly with storage full notifications
After 180 days of exceeding storage, Apple may delete excess data

Step 1: Free Up Space Before Downgrading

Delete old backups: Settings → [Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups. Delete backups for old devices you no longer own.
Clean Photos: Delete screenshots, duplicates, and videos you don't need. Videos use the most space.
Clear Messages attachments: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Messages. Delete old photo/video attachments.
Remove app data: Settings → [Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage. Apps like WhatsApp, Voice Memos store data in iCloud.

Step 2: Move Photos Off iCloud

If photos are your biggest storage consumer:

Download originals: On Mac, open Photos → Settings → iCloud → Download Originals to this Mac
Export to Google Photos: Upload to Google Photos (15GB free) as a backup. Use the Google Photos app on iPhone for automatic upload.
Apple's transfer tool: privacy.apple.com → Transfer → Google Photos (Apple's official tool, preserves metadata)
Once photos are safely elsewhere, disable iCloud Photos: Settings → [Name] → iCloud → Photos → OFF

Step 3: Downgrade or Cancel

iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage → Change Storage Plan → Downgrade Options
Mac: System Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage → Change Storage Plan
Select 5GB (free) or a lower tier
The downgrade takes effect at the end of your current billing period

Free Cloud Storage Alternatives

Google Photos: 15GB free. Auto-backup from iPhone. Good search and sharing.
Google Drive: 15GB free (shared with Photos and Gmail). Works on all platforms.
OneDrive: 5GB free (15GB with Microsoft 365). Good if you use Windows too.
Local backup: Plug iPhone into Mac/PC → Back up locally in Finder/iTunes. Free, unlimited, no subscription.

💡 The $0.99 Argument

50GB for $0.99/month ($12/year) is genuinely cheap peace of mind. If you're all-Apple and value automatic iCloud backup, it might be worth keeping. The real waste is paying for 200GB or 2TB when you could offload photos to Google Photos for free and stay on the 50GB tier.

🔍 Find All Your Apple Subscriptions

iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+ — the Apple subscription stack adds up fast. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel and see every recurring charge from Apple and everywhere else.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Icloud Storage

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions