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How to manage your iCloud storage on a Mac computer and buy additional gigabytes

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You can manage your iCloud storage on a Mac as well as purchase additional space for your apps and data. Apple

  • It's easy to manage your iCloud storage on your Mac by viewing the details in System Preferences.
  • In your preferences, you have the option to view which apps are taking up the most space. If you're running low on storage, you also have the option to purchase additional gigabytes.
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iCloud is great for storage and syncing across multiple Apple devices — and it's easy to manage it.

Whether you use iCloud as your primary backup for your iPhone, sync photos and documents, or just for extra storage space, you can view all of your account's details in System Preferences. 

In your preferences, you can see what's taking up the most space and — if you find you're running low on storage — you also have the option to purchase additional gigabytes (When you first sign up for iCloud, you get 5 GB of free storage.)

Additionally, you can delete individual backups, deselect items syncing across devices, and make changes to Family Sharing.

Here's how to manage your iCloud storage on a Mac. 

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How to manage iCloud storage on your Mac

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of your desktop.

2. Click "System Preferences." This will automatically open the app.

  • You can also launch System Preferences by clicking the icon in your Dock, using the Launchpad or doing a Spotlight search for it.

3. Click "iCloud." This is the first icon in the third row of options.

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Click "iCloud" to access your iCloud details. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

4. You can now manage individual items by clicking the "Options…" button next to "iCloud Drive" and "Photos" to choose what gets saved and synced. You can also select and deselect other apps by clicking in the checkbox to the left.

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You have the option to choose which documents and apps are synced to iCloud. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

5. Additionally, the bottom will show a bar of how much space you have left. Click "Manage…" to view how much space each item is currently using. For example, you'll see how many GB your Photos are taking up. If you use iCloud for Backups you can click to view and also delete.

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You can view the size of each individual item in your iCloud storage. Marissa Perino/Business Insider

6. Finally, click "Change Storage Plan…" here to upgrade or downgrade your current plan. When you first sign up for iCloud, you get 5 GB of free storage but you can change this at any time. If you choose to pay for additional space, it will automatically be billed to the information on your Apple ID.

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You can adjust your current iCloud storage plan according to your own need. Marissa Perino/Business Insider
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