iCloud storage upgrades and downgrades

Learn about the iCloud storage plans that you can choose from, how to buy more storage or downgrade your plan, and where you can change your payment information.

When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage. You can use that storage for backups, iCloud Photo Library, iCloud Drive, Mail, and more. Your purchased music, movies, apps, books, TV shows, and shared albums don’t count against your free storage. If you need more iCloud storage, you have two options:

If you have an annual plan, you can upgrade or downgrade to a monthly plan.

Buy more iCloud storage

You can buy more iCloud storage from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. When you choose a new storage plan, we cancel your existing plan and charge you the prorated cost of the larger plan (the cost of the higher-tier plan minus the prorated cost of the previous plan). Your plan is upgraded immediately, and the new monthly payment date is updated to reflect the purchase date for the new plan.

You're billed every month for your storage plan unless you cancel by downgrading your plan. You get an email each month to remind you of your upcoming payment.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. If you're using iOS 8 or later, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage. If you're using an earlier version of iOS, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup.
  2. Tap Buy More Storage or Change Storage Plan.
  3. Choose a plan, then tap Buy and enter your Apple ID password.

On your Mac

  1. Choose Apple  menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
  2. Click Manage in the lower-right corner.
  3. Click Buy More Storage or Change Storage Plan.
  4. Choose a plan, then click Next and enter your Apple ID password.

 

On your Windows PC

  1. Open iCloud for Windows.
  2. Click Storage.
  3. Click Change Storage Plan.
  4. Choose a plan, then click Next.
  5. Enter your Apple ID password, then click Buy.

Downgrade your iCloud storage plan

You can decrease your iCloud storage from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. The downgrade will take effect after your current monthly or annual subscription ends.

If you downgrade your storage plan and your content exceeds the storage you have available, new photos and videos won't upload to iCloud Photo Library and your devices stop backing up to iCloud. iCloud Drive and the other apps that you use with iCloud won’t update across your devices. You can't send or receive messages with your iCloud email address. Learn how to manage your storage by deleting backups, documents, photos, and email messages that you don't need anymore.

If you cancel your plan or you don't renew it, you'll automatically go back to 5GB of free storage.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. If you're using iOS 8 or later, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage. If you're using an earlier version of iOS, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup.
  2. Tap Change Storage Plan.
  3. Tap Downgrade Options and enter your Apple ID password.
  4. Choose a different plan.
  5. Tap Done.

On your Mac

  1. Choose Apple  menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
  2. Click Manage in the lower-right corner.
  3. Click Change Storage Plan in the upper-right corner.
  4. Click Downgrade Options.
  5. Enter your Apple ID password, then click Manage.
  6. Choose a different plan.
  7. Click Done.

 

On your Windows PC

  1. Open iCloud for Windows.
  2. Click Storage.
  3. Click Change Storage Plan.
  4. Click Downgrade Options.
  5. Enter your Apple ID password, then click Manage.
  6. Choose a different plan.
  7. Click Done.

View or change your Apple ID payment information

When you buy more iCloud storage, your upgrade is billed to the Apple ID that you use with iCloud. If you use Family Sharing and you use the same Apple ID in iCloud and iTunes, the upgrade is billed to your family organizer. You can view or change your account information—like your credit card number, billing address, and more—from your Settings or System Preferences.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store.
  2. Tap your Apple ID username > View Apple ID. You might need to enter your Apple ID password.
  3. Tap Payment Information.
  4. Update your account.

If you use different Apple IDs in iTunes and iCloud, you might need to sign in with your other Apple ID in iTunes.

On your Mac

  1. Choose Apple  menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
  2. Click Account Details.
  3. Enter the Apple ID password for your account.
  4. Choose Payment, then click Details next to your credit card information.

On your Windows PC

  1. Open iCloud for Windows.
  2. Click Storage if you're using iCloud for Windows.
  3. Click View Account.
  4. Enter the Apple ID password for your account, click View Account, then follow the instructions.

If there's an issue with your payment information when you try to upgrade or downgrade your storage from your Mac, you're asked to update your payment information. You can also update your payment method in the iTunes Store.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Risks are inherent in the use of the Internet. Contact the vendor for additional information. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Last Modified: