icloud backup much bigger than calculated size

Carousel Kate Said:

"icloud backup much bigger than calculated size: Am only backing up a few apps. Calculated size is 15 MB. Actual back up is 3GB: did all the steps to clean up things….messages, files, etc what is the problem?"

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Backing Up to iCloud:

15MB is quite small, by today's stands of a backup. How were you able to determine this wild be the amount? See here: What does iCloud Back Up? - Apple Support

Carousel Kate Said:

"icloud backup much bigger than calculated size: No have owned this ipad for years: added a 2nd ipad almost the same and the backup is half the size. Same problem with the expected size much smaller than actual backup. Am running out of free storage"

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Running Out of Free iCloud Storage:

Download All of iCloud Drive:

Use my User Tip: Getting a Quick and Direct "iCloud Drive-to-External Hard Drive" Download - User Tip. Once downloaded, verify you can access the data. Once verified, trash what is in iCloud.

"do I have no option but to either delete my 2nd ipad back up or pay for more storage? because the backup that's there now makes no sense. it's huge and there is no reason for it. I'm only backing up a few apps! (and what ever else it picks up, which shouldn't be much) thanks"

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View iCloud, Manually:

What happens when you view iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos manually? Does anything show up?

• https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive
• https://www.icloud.com/photos

See if you need to upload files...

Upload Items to iCloud:

A. Enable Photos on iPhone:

1. Click: Settings
2. Tap: your Name (top item)
3. Tap: iCloud
4. Tap: iCloud Drive (so that it is green)
5. Tap: Photos (so that it is green)
6. Click: Show More Apps... Button (if you do not see these)

B. Enable Photos on Mac:

1. Go to: System Settings
2. Click: Apple ID (on top-right)
3. Click: Cloud
4. Tap: iCloud Drive (so that it is green)
5. Tap: Photos (so that it is green)

Carousel Kate Said:

"icloud backup much bigger than calculated size: It was calculated by the iPad. As the size of the next backup"

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Is this the first backup? If not, then not many changes would have been made since last backing up.