Backing up iPad and iPhone to iCloud & the space required

[jrp]

I switched from US Cellular to Verizon last week and got a new 32 GB iPhone. I've had a 32 GB iPad on Verizon for about nine months.

I've backed the iPad to the iCloud servers since I got it. The iPhone backed up to iCloud once, but since I've been getting a message that my cloud space is insufficient for backup. Settings tell me that I have 1.6 GB available. Is this truly not enough space for backing up the phone and do I need to add to my iCloud space if I wish to use it for my backups? I've switched to backing up to my hard drive for now.

 

[mike123abc]

Check to be sure it is just the 2 devices. I had to delete my old iPhone since it was taking up space. My iPhone5 said no space, it backed up at about 2 GB.

 

[jrp]

I'll look, but I can't think what else would be in there. It's my first iPad and first iPhone.

 

[mike123abc]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4859

Describes what is backed up. Perhaps too many photos and videos on both devices?

 

[jrp]

Looks like photos are the pigs. Might just back them up on one device. Thanks.

 

[jrp]

Turning off photos on the iPhone got the iCloud backup to run. Not optimal, bit it worked.

 

[stimpson]

Turning off photos on the iPhone got the iCloud backup to run. Not optimal, bit it worked.

That's exactly what I have had to do with better half's phone. Too many photos and vids. I turned that off and back them up to the iMac.

 

[jrp]

If I take any pictures with the phone that I really want to keep, they transferred to the iPad and my iMac, so I'm not leaving something valuable to me out of my backup scheme.

 

[mike123abc]

It is not really that expensive to upgrade to 15GB ($20/year).

 

[jrp]

It is not really that expensive to upgrade to 15GB ($20/year).

You're right, but free is cheaper.

If I run into future shortages I'll likely spring for the expanded storage.

 

[mike123abc]

I guess you have to figure how much your pictures are worth? I lost a few on a trip once, it sure would have been nice for auto backup.

 

[jrp]

I deleted a bunch of pictures that are on my iPad and iMac and are backed up on both. That reduced the space needed for backup enough that I could turn iCloud backups back on. Nothing yet at risk. Now I know what to do if it again becomes an issue.