What to do when Apple tells you there’s not enough storage to re-sync iCloud Photo Library

Glenn Fleishman, Macworld [AUTOPLAY, grrr]:

When I tested disabling and re-enabling iCloud sync, as Joe’s wife did, I was told I didn’t have enough storage at iCloud, even though I had nearly 90GB free and my library is about 115GB. That library was already stored in iCloud in identical form.

Instead of first comparing photos in iCloud with those on my system, I wasn’t able to proceed without upgrading my storage and then later downgrading it. (Apple lacks automatic pro-rated refunds, and even though it says you can email to obtain such a refund, I received no response to my email.)

There’s some sense in this: Apple doesn’t want you to start an operation that will fail. But it could also predict whether it would work or not.

Glenn digs in to a real problem, an edge condition with iCloud sync when you hit the limits of storage on a very temporary basis.