Apple Temporarily Expands iCloud Storage in iOS 15 for Backing Up Data and Transferring to a New Device - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Temporarily Expands iCloud Storage in iOS 15 for Backing Up Data and Transferring to a New Device

If you're low on iCloud storage but want to buy a new device and transfer your data, Apple is making the process easier in iOS 15 with a temporary storage boost.

icloud
Apple says that the new feature will grant you as much storage as you need to complete a temporary backup for up to three weeks, letting users transfer their apps, data, and settings to a new device using ‌iCloud‌ even when there's an inadequate amount of ‌iCloud‌ storage available.

Now when you buy a new device you can use iCloud Backup to move your data to your new device, even if you're low on storage. iCloud will grant you as much storage as you need to complete a temporary backup, free of charge, for up to three weeks. This allows you to get all your apps, data, and settings onto your device automatically.

For those who have not upgraded past the standard 5GB of storage included with a free ‌iCloud‌ plan, this change should make upgrading to a new device a much more seamless experience.

Apple today also announced that its paid ‌iCloud‌ storage plans are now known as ‌iCloud‌+, with new features that include a Private Relay that hides your browsing activity, a Hide My Email option, and a new feature for personalizing an ‌iCloud‌ Mail address with a custom domain name that can be shared among family members.

Popular Stories

Meta Ray Ban Lens

Apple Planning to Unveil Privacy-Focused Smart Glasses at WWDC 2027

Sunday July 26, 2026 9:26 am PDT by
Apple currently plans to unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC 2027 next June, and privacy will be a focus, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. For the glasses, Apple is prototyping "a slew of new hardware and software-related privacy features" that are not available on current products, he said. He did not mention any specific features, but he noted that Apple's marketing will likely...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: When is the Next Apple Event?

Thursday August 13, 2026 7:11 am PDT by
It is now mid-August, meaning that Apple's annual iPhone event is just around the corner. Below, we take a look at when the event might be held this year. This September, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an all-new foldable iPhone that will reportedly be named the iPhone Ultra. The regular iPhone 18, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 are not...
iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More

Thursday August 13, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce at least five new devices at its iPhone-centric event next month, and it's also possible we'll get devices waiting on Siri AI like the Apple TV. iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting ...

Top Rated Comments

kenni417 Avatar
68 months ago
how generous. how about raising the 5gb free tier cap? this isn't 2011.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fwmireault Avatar
68 months ago
Thank you for that Apple. Now fix the 5GB free plan. This is ridiculous in 2021

I have the 2TB tier with Apple One sub, so I am willing to pay for this service. But if Apple want more people to eventually subscribe on the paid iCloud subscription, they need to give a little more in the free tiers
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tomtad Avatar
68 months ago
Seriously just up the storage limit, 5GB is ridiculous
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
68 months ago
5gb of free storage is absolutely ridiculous for 2021. Here's 512gb iPhones, 2tb iPads but here's a puny 5gb of storage, it's ridiculous that you actually have more RAM now than cloud storage 😄

We pay enough for these devices so Apple could be a bit more bloody genorous, 50GB really should be the minimum free storage and then paid tiers after that, storage isn't exactly that expensive these days.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
countryside Avatar
68 months ago
That is great, glad iCloud is getting more attention. Frankly, it is the highlight of the day for me. Just bring that Private Relay VPN to the entire phone, not just Safari.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dooglekit Avatar
68 months ago
2 iMacs,2MacMinis,1Mabook Pro,3Apple TV's,1iPad,2iPhones.....And they give me 5GB of storage???? How about 5GB for each device? I refuse to pay them a penny more.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)