hidden icloud storage, how can i delete them?

If your using icloud backup, that backs up everything which is more than the basic 5 gb you have. You can backup contacts alone, but if your specifically talking about icloud backup, that backs up everything not just contacts. depends on how much things you have on the phone, but a backup might be anyware from 25gb or more. Point is, 5gb won't be enough to backup your phone to icloud. If you just want to backup contacts, turn on contacts, but that's separate from icloud backup.

Hi,
I can back up my iPhone with 5GB. Double tap on everything under the 'manage storage' option under iCloud and see what's there. When I've previously got a new phone and chosen to back up from iCloud, all my apps are there, and messages too, all with 5GB, and I'm not just talking about native apps, all my other apps too. Before you back up, delete your existing backup, which won't delete everything on your phone, and then try backing up.

Are you using the latest version of iOS? I don't understand why it's failing to backup when it appears you have enough space, and it doesn't seem like the space required for the backup is anywhere close to filling your quota. Perhaps try connecting to power and Wi-Fi, though this shouldn't be necessary if you want to manually trigger a quick backup.

This may be a longshot, but check the files app on the iPhone in question. If there are any files on there, documents, audio/video files, pictures, etc., those also will be stored in iCloud. While separate from iCloud backup, it still takes up storage space. Same with photos, if you are using a shared photo album, and especially if you have a ton of photos on iCloud Drive, that two takes up storage space.
Just a thought. ☺️

In addition to checking the files app under iCloud Drive, go to iCloud settings and check under the manage storage section. Some apps store data in such a way that it still uses your quota, but doesn't save the files in iCloud Drive itself. If you find things you don't want, delete the app data, but be very careful, as you may accidentally delete preferences and other important information used by apps. However, I don't think this is the problem. Using 56 MB is a drop in the bucket if you have 5 GB. TO be fair, 5 GB isn't a lot of space, but if you don't have a lot of content on your phone, you can easily make backups and stay well below this limit.

The only option I can think is just, going to settings, general, about, and see what is occupying storage on the phone and how much storrage is beeing occupied by what. That should give you an idea of how much space the backup approximately need in icloud.

I’ve now seen this problem twice, and although this solution will not make sense it worked twice. On your iPhone go into settings, apps, and scroll all the way to the bottom to hidden apps click on hidden apps even if you have no hidden apps in there just click on it and then reboot your iPhone and do an iCloud backup. I can’t say for sure if it will work on your phone, but I worked on two iPhones for me in the past month good luck.

Now that you mention it, I’ve been dealing with the exact same problem. I just checked my email and apparently my iCloud storage is almost full. I’ve been using this phone for a long time, and I really don’t think I suddenly have more pictures and videos than usual. It keeps telling me that the 5 GB of free storage isn’t enough to back up everything on my device, and honestly that makes no sense. I want to keep all my photos and videos on my phone exactly where they are. I’m not trying to delete anything. What confuses me is that when I go into the settings, I can’t even figure out what’s taking up the space. It shows one backup that’s about 2 GB, but I have no idea where the other 3 GB is going. Nothing listed in iCloud adds up to that number, so I can’t figure out what’s happening.

What I really need to know is: is there a way to stop iCloud from backing up my photos and videos, but still keep all my personal files stored locally on my device? I know about Google Photos and Dropbox, and I could make an account just to store everything, but honestly that feels unnecessary. And I don’t really want to pay another subscription fee just to back up files. It feels like everything nowadays is a subscription. Even storage. I swear I remember that at one point Apple sold a one-time purchase option for something like $350 for a chunk of storage, but maybe I’m remembering that wrong. Either way, it’s wild that everywhere you go now, there’s another subscription waiting for you. If there’s any way to disable the iCloud photo backup while keeping everything on my phone, that’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out. Also, are there any services out there that have a one time purchase option for a set limit of storage without the subscription? Thanks.

Hi,

Do the following:
1. Go to Settings, Your Name, iCloud, Photos. Double tap this.
2. Double tap on 'Manage Storage'.
3. At the bottom, double tap on 'Turn Off and Delete Photos'. There will be a message about giving you 30 days to download stuff to your device.

Not quite done yet...

Now, go back to the main Settings screen. Then scroll all the way to the bottom to Apps. Then finally navigate by heading until you get to the letter 'P', you want to double tap on Photos.
In here, ensure iCloud Photos is set to 'off', and make sure you have selected, 'Download and Keep Originals'.

HTH.