Cancel iCloud+ Storage in 2026: The Complete Downgrade Guide

Updated February 2026 • 8 min read

What iCloud+ Costs

Free: 5GB (barely holds a few hundred photos)
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)

Apple deliberately gives you only 5GB free — barely enough for device backups — to push you toward paid storage. Even a $1,500 iPhone comes with just 5GB of cloud backup.

Step 1: See What's Using Your Storage

On iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage

Common space hogs:

Photos: Usually 60-80% of storage (10K photos = ~50-100GB)
Backups: 5-20GB per device
Messages: Old attachments (videos, images) accumulate
iCloud Drive: Documents, app data

Step 2: Free Up Space (Before Downgrading)

Move photos to Google Photos: Install Google Photos app → backup all photos → disable iCloud Photos. Google offers 15GB free (shared with Gmail/Drive)
Delete old backups: Settings → iCloud → Manage Storage → Backups → delete backups for old devices you no longer own
Clean Messages: Settings → Messages → Keep Messages → 1 Year (instead of Forever). Delete old message threads with large attachments
Optimize iPhone Storage: Settings → Photos → "Optimize iPhone Storage" — keeps full-res in cloud, thumbnails on device
Review app data: Some apps store significant data in iCloud — disable syncing for apps you don't need backed up

Step 3: Downgrade Your Plan

Go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage
Tap "Change Storage Plan"
Select "Downgrade Options"
Choose the free 5GB plan (or a lower paid tier)
Enter your Apple ID password to confirm

⚠️ Important Warning

If your iCloud usage exceeds the free 5GB after downgrading, Apple stops backing up your device and stops syncing new photos. Make sure you're under 5GB before downgrading, or use an alternative backup method.

Free Cloud Storage Alternatives

Google Photos: 15GB free (shared with Gmail/Drive), best photo organization and search
Google Drive: 15GB free for documents and files
OneDrive: 5GB free (15GB with Microsoft 365 subscription you may already have)
External hard drive: $50-100 for 1-2TB — back up locally via your computer, no monthly fee ever
Synology NAS: $200-400 one-time for personal cloud, runs at home, no subscription

🔍 How many cloud storage subscriptions are you paying for?

iCloud, Google One, Dropbox, OneDrive — many people pay for 2-3 overlapping services. Upload your statement to JustCancel to find them all.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Icloud Storage Detailed

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions