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.

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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.

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Top Rated Comments

kenni417 Avatar
26 months ago
how generous. how about raising the 5gb free tier cap? this isn't 2011.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fwmireault Avatar
26 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
26 months ago
Seriously just up the storage limit, 5GB is ridiculous
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
26 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
26 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
26 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)