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AZsport115
User level: Level 1 (116 points)

iCloud continues to fill up with photos even though no new photos have been taken

Yesterday I received a message my iCloud (200GB) was full.


I had 25000 photos yesterday. I spent 2 hours and got down to 24700. I deleted 300 photos/videos and deleted them from deleted items as well. This increased my available icloud space to 2GB free (198GB of 200GB used).


Today I get a notice my iCloud is full. I check what it taking up space, and the number of photos in may iCloud has increased from 24700 to 25300! I have not taken a single photo since yesterday, and nobody has shared a photo with me since yesterday.


What is happening?!?! What are these new 600 photos and where are they coming from?!

Posted on Nov 5, 2026 11:59 AM

3 replies

sberman
User level: Level 10 (280,982 points)

Nov 5, 2026 1:29 PM in response to AZsport115

Deleting photos sends them to “Recently Deleted”, where they take as much space as they did before deletion.


One way additional photos may be added is by sending or receiving messages which contain photo attachments.

AZsport115 Author
User level: Level 1 (116 points)

Nov 5, 2026 1:33 PM in response to sberman

Thanks! I made sure to empty out the Recently Deleted items. Where and how the 600 photos have shown up today from yesterday is bizarre. I actually haven't received a single message in any of my messaging apps (messages, whatsapp, etc.) which contain photos in the last 24 hours. I'm mystified as to where these 600 photos came from.


It's quite frustrating--I spend an hour clearing space, it's clear for a day, the next day it fills up without explanation along with a pop up message to spend money to buy more space.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256389397