How can I share iCloud+ storage in Family Sharing?

Question

Level 1

4 points

How can I share iCloud+ storage in Family Sharing?

I needed more space so I signed up my family for iCloud+. I'm feeling a little cheated though....

If a single person signs up for 50GB storage, their amount of storage available goes up by 45GB (from the free 5GB). I have a family of 5, so we went from 25GB free storage to 50GB - only an extra 25GB. I feel like each user should keep their 5GB free when adding to these plans.

Well what I really want is for Apple to allow for their apps to backup to other cloud services - my main family cloud backup is with iDrive which I much prefer to iCloud. There's really no technical reason for Apple to keep iCloud locked in except to force us into another subscription.

Anyone have any workarounds for this? It's going to get expensive as my family keeps increasing consumption.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Sharing iCloud+ with family

Posted on Aug 11, 2025 4:59 PM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

424,991 points

Aug 11, 2025 7:17 PM in response to Tuckewok

You have posted in a voluntary, user-to-user technical support community. Responses are exclusively from other users like yourself, not Apple. Click on this link for Apple products feedback links --> Product Feedback - Apple

Apple may not respond but your comment will be read.

iCloud isn't really a backup service, it is a syncing service. It can be used as a backup should, say, a device be stolen, but it isn't really designed to be a backup service. You can turn off syncing for various apps in Settings. I have it turned off for most of my options and even with 5 devices using iCloud I still have 3 GB free.

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Answer 2

Tuckewok Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 13, 2025 5:26 PM in response to Limnos

I understand that it's mostly a syncing service, but it's also the only automatic way to backup your iPhone. I'm not going to sync my phone daily with my computer to back it up, but it's nice having those backups - I've had phones go for watery deaths and the backups saved me from a lot of heartburn.

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

424,991 points

Aug 14, 2025 7:10 AM in response to Tuckewok

Well, as I said, nobody on this forum can do anything more about the way Apple does things that you can't already do yourself by providing feedback. Others have made your observations but I wanted to let you know they will pretty much be unread here by those who can actually do anything about it. ;-)

Yes, iCloud can be used for making a backup, but it isn't really designed for that and Apple outlines its limitations. Legal - iCloud - Apple

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