iCLOUD

Want to make the most of Apple's online storage service? Craig Grannell digs into its best features, from sharing pictures to putting email addresses into stealth mode...

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THE BASICS

■Check your storage

Open Settings (System Settings on Mac); select your name and then iCloud. You'll see a storage bar outlining what's hogging all the space. Tap/click on it for apps listed by usage. A family percentage is shown too, in case your kids' accounts are stockpiling videos in Messages like they're prepping for a data apocalypse.

■Update your plan

Apple's 5GB of free iCloud space hasn't changed since 2011. It was stingy back then and is absurdly tight-fisted today. You'll need more. Use 'Change Storage Plan' to upgrade. Be mindful that Apple One plans also add storage,

Family Sharing lets you share the love...and paying anything nets you iCloud+. (That will be important later.)

■See what's syncing

Back in the main iCloud pane, select 'See All' next to 'Saved to iCloud'. First, you'll see which Apple apps and devices are syncing data with iCloud. Scrolldown and youllsee third parties that are doing the same. This is just internal app data, not files, and you can switch off iCloud sync for any of them.

■Go beyond Apple