I’m running out of iCloud storage on my iPhone and can’t back up my data properly anymore. I need help figuring out the best way to free up space or manage my storage. What steps should I take to optimize the available space without losing important files?
For anyone out there struggling with the eternal ‘storage full’ message on their iPhone (yeah, we’ve all been there), I stumbled upon something that totally transformed the game for me. It’s called the Clever Cleaner App, and let me tell you, it’s not just another one of those flashy download-it-and-regret-it tools. Nope, this one actually works. Let me walk you through what made it stand out for me.
My Experience
First off, the thing that impressed me the most wasn’t just the fact that it’s free (though that is definitely appreciated). It’s how efficient it is. Picture this: I was constantly juggling photos, apps, and videos, trying to scrape together enough space just to download updates. My phone was basically my digital hoarder alter ego. So, I figured I’d give this app a shot. To my surprise, I managed to clear out 45 GB of space. Yeah, you read that right — FORTY-FIVE GIGS. It’s like a spring cleaning spree, but for your phone’s storage!
Why It Works
It doesn’t just stop at getting rid of junk files. This app dives deeper into sorting out the clutter, like identifying duplicates you didn’t even know existed. Kind of makes you wonder why iPhones don’t come with something like this pre-installed, huh?
What really sealed the deal for me was the buzz it’s gotten over on Reddit. And let’s be real—when “the Reddit guys” vouch for something, you know it’s worth checking out.
Where to Get It
I found the app on the App Store. Here’s the link if you want to grab it yourself:
Clever Cleaner App – Free iPhone Storage Cleaner
Bonus Resource: A Handy Video
If you’re like me and enjoy visually learning how to make the most out of a tool, there’s a great YouTube video that breaks it all down. It’s called 7 Best Ways to Clean Up Your iPhone Storage, and it gives helpful tips beyond just using apps. Watch it here:
Visual Preview
To give you an idea of the app’s interface and functionality, check out this image below:
If freeing up precious storage space on your phone sounds like a dream come true, this might just be the app for you. Go ahead, give it a whirl, and discover a whole new level of tech organization you didn’t even know you needed.
4 Likes
Photos. Look, if there’s one thing iPhones notoriously hoard, it’s a bazillion unnecessary photos and videos. Before you even bother with @mikeappsreviewer’s Clever Cleaner App (which I’m sure is great, but lemme suggest something else for variety), check your Photos app for duplicates. Yeah, those five identical selfies? DELETE. Or better yet, use the iOS “duplicate detection” feature if you’re on iOS 16+.
Next, consider offloading photos/videos you wanna keep by moving them to Google Photos or a platform like Microsoft OneDrive. Free up iCloud space entirely, amirite? Bonus: Google Photos gives you like 15GB for free. You’re welcome.
Apps—when was the last time you used all 7 of those food delivery apps? Delete the ones gathering digital dust. Oh, and iPhone has a super underrated “Offload Unused Apps” feature in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. It nukes app data you aren’t using while keeping the app icon – convenient without the commitment.
Finally, turn off unnecessary iCloud backups. Head to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage. You prob don’t need half the apps syncing to iCloud. Lower-priority games or apps? Yeah, uncheck 'em. Trust me, you won’t miss that Candy Crush backup.
Clever Cleaner App does sound handy for sifting through buried junk and duplicates, though. Like, yeah, Mike makes a good point—it’s annoying Apple doesn’t already include something so practical. Use what works for you.
Alright, iCloud space woes—it’s like a constant battle, isn’t it? First off, love what @mikeappsreviewer and @waldgeist shared, but here’s my two cents: skipping third-party apps can sometimes solve your problem faster than adding more downloads.
Start with iCloud itself:
-
Review your iCloud backups:
Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. See which devices are hogging space. You might be backing up an old device you don’t even use anymore! Delete those. -
Disable unnecessary app backups:
Click into your current backup and uncheck data for apps like social media or games. Does TikTok really need to take up iCloud space when you can just reinstall it? -
Optimize Apple Photos settings:
Activate Optimize iPhone Storage in the Photos settings. This saves lower-res versions on your phone while high-res goes to iCloud—saves tons of space both locally and in the cloud. But beware, if you ever disable it, your phone might collapse under the weight of re-downloading full res.
Avoid Over-Reliance on iCloud:
-
@waldgeist mentioned Google Photos, and honestly, I second that. It’s a lifesaver. Even if you don’t stick with Google, switching to other cloud services (like Dropbox or OneDrive) can take a load off iCloud. Spread your storage stress out across platforms.
-
Have an external drive handy? Consider transferring videos or massive photo libraries to one via the Files app.
Ditch App Bloat:
I’m not talking about duplicates here. Look at your apps broadly and decide the ones that drain storage without true utility. Games esp. store giant caches, even when you barely play them. And yeah, Apple’s Offload Unused Apps is pretty clutch (Settings > General > iPhone Storage), but personal manual deletion works even better if you’re in control-freak mode.
Don’t Sleep on Messages:
Clear your iMessage attachments—Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages lets you check ‘Large Attachments.’ You’ll be shocked by the embarrassing amount of random GIFs or group convo videos you don’t need anymore.
What About the “Other” Data?
Honestly, Apple needs to do better defining what this category even is. If ‘System Data’ keeps growing out of control, and normal tweaks fail, your best bet might be biting the bullet and doing a reset (make sure you properly back up needed files).
Alright, About Clever Cleaner:
I originally rolled my eyes seeing “another storage-cleaner app,” but ngl, @mikeappsreviewer has a point—it’s kinda genius how it organizes and identifies duplicates in seconds. Like, why dig through my own trash when I can automate it? Still, I’d use it sparingly unless Apple figures out how to integrate this natively someday.
Bottom line, clean smarter, not harder, and take a break from hoarding. Do you really need 20 angles of the same sunset photo? 
Alright, let’s take a different spin on solving the iCloud storage crunch. While other responses have highlighted some pretty solid approaches, I’d say let’s tweak the lens here and maybe question if we’re relying too much on iCloud itself—or even apps like the well-praised Clever Cleaner App.
1. Why limit yourself to iCloud?
Apple kind of nudges you towards buying more iCloud space, but have you considered alternative storage options like Amazon Photos (free if you’ve got Prime), Dropbox, or even an external SSD? Google Photos is another top-tier choice—as @waldgeist mentioned. It’s fast, easy, and cross-platform-friendly.
Pro tip: Try using Google Photos or a similar service for archival purposes instead of syncing everything to iCloud. This keeps it out of the endless iCloud cat-and-mouse game while still accessible. Plus, who wants to pay monthly for data that never decreases?
2. About that “Clever Cleaner App”
I see the love it’s getting here, and yeah, it does sound like the Swiss Army knife of storage management. The duplicate finder feature seems golden. But—here’s the catch—it can be counter-productive. Automating deletion without a full sweep can sometimes wipe out stuff you thought was junk but might need later. Proceed cautiously, especially if you overload it with permissions.
Pros: User-friendly, efficient, and legitimately free.
Cons: Risks accidental deletion; third-party apps can feel intrusive.
3. Delete system-side offenders manually instead
Forget apps entirely for this step. Go nuclear by tackling ‘Others’ or ‘System Data’ clogging your storage. They’re those untrackable gigabytes eating space—things like Safari cache, accumulated app logs, or iOS weirdness.
- Solution: Safari → Clear Browsing Data. Done.
Better than letting Cleansers guess what junk means. Or worse, making false promises on the notorious “Other Storage” problem.
4. Rethink “Optimize iPhone Storage”
Did anyone warn you this iCloud photo compression solution has a sneaky Achilles’ heel? If you deactivate it later, your phone could redownload full high-res files, which makes a storage “win” temporary at best. Stick to third-party backups instead for long-term relief.
5. My Unorthodox Shortcut
Transfer your videos and heavy photo folders directly to a Mac or PC. You can even Airdrop specific files, then stash them externally. No gimmicks or settings to fiddle, just a quick detox of 4K vacation videos nobody asked for.
Final say? Sure, Clever Cleaner App is a nifty tool, and Reddit’s backing is worth noting—but for control freaks like me, old-school file transfers and diversified cloud storage still feel more foolproof than even top-rated apps or Apple’s iCloud ecosystem.