Temporary iCloud Backup Storage on iOS 15 Explained

Apple introduced a feature in iOS 15 that grants users free, temporary iCloud storage to seamlessly transfer data when upgrading to a new iPhone or iPad. Regardless of your current iCloud storage tier, this feature ensures that insufficient cloud storage never prevents you from backing up your existing device and restoring your data to a new one. This article covers how this temporary storage functions, its time limits, and the exact steps needed to use it during a device upgrade.

How Temporary iCloud Storage Works

Typically, Apple provides users with 5 GB of free iCloud storage, which quickly fills up with photos, messages, and app data. When upgrading devices on iOS 15 or later, Apple bypasses this limit by granting temporary access to as much iCloud storage as required to create a complete device backup.

Key characteristics of the temporary storage include:

  • Cost: Completely free; no paid iCloud+ subscription is required.
  • Capacity: Unlimited; it expands to fit the full size of your device's data, apps, and settings.
  • Duration: The backup remains available for 21 days from the time it is completed.
  • Extensions: If your new device does not arrive within the 21-day window, you can request an additional 21 days through the Settings app before the original backup expires.

Once you restore the backup onto your new device, the temporary iCloud backup is automatically deleted after a brief grace period, returning your iCloud account to its standard storage limit.

Requirements

To take advantage of temporary iCloud backup storage:

  • Your current device must run iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 (or later).
  • You must know your Apple ID credentials.
  • Your current device must be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and a power source during the backup process.

Steps to Create a Temporary Backup

  1. Open Settings on your current iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap General, then scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone (or iPad).
  3. Under the Prepare for New iPhone section at the top, tap Get Started.
  4. If prompted that iCloud Backup is turned off, tap Turn On Backup to Transfer.
  5. If your current iCloud storage is full, the system will automatically allocate the temporary storage. Tap Continue.
  6. Wait for the backup process to complete. You can monitor the progress on the main Settings page.

Restoring the Backup to Your New Device

Once your new device is in hand:

  1. Turn on the new device and follow the initial setup assistant.
  2. Connect to Wi-Fi.
  3. On the Apps & Data screen, select Restore from iCloud Backup.
  4. Sign in with the same Apple ID used to create the temporary backup.
  5. Select the most recent backup from the list and wait for the restoration to finish.