Icloud backup fails due to not enough space

Question

Level 1

7 points

Icloud backup fails due to not enough space

I am unable to backup my phone (14 pro) to icloud. Last successful backup was 9 weeks ago. I deleted that backup (4.7 GB) and am currently using 3KB out of the 5GB available on icloud. I selected backup now and it failed saying not enough space. My contacts (322) are the only things I want to backup. It doesn't seem plausible that 322 contacts would produce a backup sized greater than 5GB. Is there something else being included in the backup that I have no control over? Thanks.

iPhone 14 Pro

Posted on Sep 29, 2024 12:38 PM

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Answer 1

TheLittles

Level 10

201,479 points

Sep 29, 2024 08:17 PM in response to eg32

eg32 Said:

“Icloud backup fails due to not enough space: My contacts (322) are the only things I want to backup. It doesn't seem plausible that 322 contacts would produce a backup sized greater than 5GB. Is there something else being included in the backup that I have no control over? Thanks.”

———-

Troubleshooting iCloud Storage:

Use a computer to perform this, as it would

be more user-friendly doing so.

iCloud Storage Being Used:

Visit iCloud Drive, and see what’s seen. In certain countries m, Apple provides 5GB of free storage. Log in here: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive

Export All of iCloud:

You can export all of iCloud Drive, and then trash what is in there, once you are confident all is accessible from the backup. So, export all of iCloud. Use my User Tip: Getting a Quick and Direct "iCloud Drive-to-External Hard Drive" Download - Apple Support

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Answer 2

eg32 Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 29, 2024 07:56 PM in response to shoeluvr13

Yes, I do see the contacts in icloud.com/contacts. I'd like to understand why that is. On my phone, under settings > contacts > accounts there is an account called iCloud designated as contacts. I don't recall defining that, so is that something that happens automatically? And is that what makes the info available in iCloud.com/contacts?

Also, a change made to a contact on my phone or in icloud.com/contacts shows up immediately in the other location, so being in icloud.com/contacts doesn't function as a backup.

So I still would like to be able to backup my contacts to iCloud.

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