iCloud storage full: "Not Enough Storage". Backups exceed 5GB Just like everyone else, I get the notification that my iCloud is full and no backup can be made. iOS gives me the suggestion to upgrade my storage on my iCloud account. Because I only want to store my settings, phone numbers and other 'light' stuff, I see no reason to upgrade. I think a few gigabytes should be more than plenty to backup my device(s).

What is taking all the space on my iCloud?

First I checked on my Mac - OS X Mavericks

On OS X I have checked the following in 'System Preferences' -> 'iCloud':


Backup 4.44 GB
Documents 550.7 MB
Mail 5 MB




Okay, my major storage exists of the type 'Backup'. I Guess these are the backups from my iPad and iPhone, but System prefs gives me no further clue. Lets look at my iPhone

I got out my iPhone - iOS 8.4

I go to 'Settings' -> 'iCloud':


iCloud Drive ON
Photos ON


iCloud Photo Library OFF
My Photo Stream OFF
iCloud Photo Sharing ON

Mail OFF
Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Safari, Notes, Passbook ON
Backup, Keychain, Find My iPhone ON




Then I go to 'Settings' -> 'iCloud' -> 'Storage':


Total storage 5.0 GB
Available 15.9 MB




I go to 'Settings' -> 'iCloud' -> 'Storage' -> 'Manage Storage':


  LAST BACKUP FAILED
  
  An additional 5 GB of storage is required. To
  continue backing up this iPhone do one of the following:
  
  
  Change your backup options
  Delete some data
  Buy more storage
  


Also, it gives me the following use of my data:

Backups:


iPhone backup of 4.3 GB
iPad backup of 137.4 MB


Documents &amp; Data:


Some documents with a total of 534.6 MB




Okay, so all my storage goes to 'Backups'. Lets select the iPhone backup (and here is where I get lost...)

'Settings' -> 'iCloud' -> 'Storage' -> 'Manage Storage' -> 'iPhone Backup':


  BACKUP OPTIONS
  
  Choose the data you want to back up.
  An additional 5.0GB is required to back up
  this iPhone


Next Backup Size 5.0 GB ⚠️


Photo Library 2.3 GB OFF
WhatsApp 550 MB OFF
Keynote 238 MB OFF




There is no space requiring stuff to backup and still is it taking 5.0GB... What does my phone want to backup that takes 5.0 GB of space? Is there a way to visualise this? I only want to backup some settings and contacts, no major stuff...

How can I backup my stuff with the default 5 GB?
What to do when you do not have enough storage because your backup size is too large:


Delete the current backup on your iCloud for that specific iOS device.
Your iCloud backup is now automatically turned off, so turn it back on.
A new backup is made and has a reasonable size.


Theoretically your phone could crash in the short while you do not have a backup, so you could run an iTunes backup first.