iCloud Backup Storage size shows 2 different sizes in 2 different places?

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ios 17.3.1,  iphone 14, I have gotten along forever with the 5GB of iCloud Storage utilizing about 3.4GB.  After updating to 17.3.1 and then while charging my iphone, I received a message that my phone could not backup due to insufficient storage space.

Upon checking in Settings>(name)>iCloud  the  iCloud bar now showed I needed 6.6GB of storage space, almost all of it for Backup.

However if I go to the bottom of that page, to Device Backups>iCloud Backup banner, and  pressing it takes me to the iCloud Backup page which shows my backup to be 3.4GB (similar to what it has always been)? Pressing on the banner at the bottom of that page takes me to Backup Details page which shows what is being backed up and confirms the 3.4GB size.

To tentatively resolve the situation, I puchased an additional 50GB of storage which then allowed my iphone to perform the backup at the 6.6GB level.

All seems well, however why the sudden increase in iCloud storage need?  And why does the needed Backup size show 6.6GB on the iCloud screen and 3.4GB  on the Backup screens?

Windows 11 Pro v24H2 and Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2

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Look at Settings – iPhone Storage iOS and System data sizes.

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Settings > General > iPhone Storage

OK, found them – but so what?  Is this something new?  Why would this explain the large difference in iCloud space need?

Windows 11 Pro v24H2 and Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2

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Tex265 wrote:

Settings > General > iPhone Storage

OK, found them – but so what?  Is this something new?  Why would this explain the large difference in iCloud space need?

This in not something new but gives you an storage size on your iPhone needed to be backed up (not all of it as it contains temp files..)

The size difference for backup probably is a result of how Apple checks the size of data for backup.

According to iCloud app I use ~3.3 GB of data yet I opted for 50GB storage too.

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Thanks, but I don’t think this is the answer.  I was fine until my last update to 17.3.1.

Hard to believe a .1 update would be significantly larger.  It is as if iCloud is backing me up twice?

I tried to reset iCloud by Turning it off and deleting the Backup, but it never went to 0 only down to 3.5GB which again is similar to my prior amount.

My wife has similar set up and content to mine and she has had no problem with the 5GB iCloud Storage.

Anyone know how to force iCloud Storage to completely clear out?

Windows 11 Pro v24H2 and Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2

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Tex265 wrote:

Anyone know how to force iCloud Storage to completely clear out?

You can’t.

“Backups that are currently being used to restore a device can’t be deleted.

iPhone or iPad
Go to Settings > [your name], then tap iCloud.
Tap Manage Account Storage or tap Manage Storage, then tap Backups.
Tap the name of the device whose backup you’d like to delete.
Tap Delete Backup > Turn Off & Delete.”

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204247

You can drill down to backup details see your backup size, next backup size..
Down on that screen there is a option to turn off iCloud backup and delete all backup on iCloud.

The only way is to restart your iPhone as new wiping all apps and data.

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I went to the local Apple Store today, after over 30 minutes the Genius Techs are stumpted.

They are thinking perhaps a yet to be reported bug in the 17.3.1 update and to wait a few weeks to see if it get ironed out.

I checked further on my wife’s phone and she has the opposite situation.  Her iCloud Backup size is reported in the Backup banner as 2.6GB  yet in the Settings>(Name)>iCloud screen the Backup size reports as 385 MB’s !

Suggest others here check on these areas to see what is showing up.  As the Apple Store Techs now wonder whether either phone has a valid Backup or there is an iCloud Storage reporting problem.

Windows 11 Pro v24H2 and Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

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Tex265….I had never noticed this or, if I did, didn’t think about it.  My iCloud numbers are all over the place as well.  Last Backup size is 216.8.  iCloud storage used is 493.3.  Backups Documents and Data is 307.7.  My current iPhone was set up in the Apple Store last year using my older phone’s iCloud backup.  So restoring a new phone using another phone’s iCloud backup does work.  I assume the older phone used had the same iCloud number variance as well.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

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Tex265 wrote:

the Genius Techs are stumpted

Not a lot of genius then?

cheers, Paul

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