iCloud 50 GB storage suspended after credit card update
Hi there, I received multiple emails asking to update my credit card and I did every time and it doesn't work. Not my service is suspended (50 GB).
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.6
Dealing with a suspended iCloud account is incredibly stressful, especially when you feel like you have been following instructions by updating your card repeatedly. The most critical thing to consider right now is that you may have been the target of a phishing scam. Legitimate emails from Apple generally do not ask you to click a link to update billing information; instead, they direct you to your device settings. If you were entering your credit card details into a website linked directly from those emails, it is highly likely that Apple never received your new information because you were unknowingly giving it to scammers. You should immediately stop clicking any links in those emails and check your bank statement for any unauthorized charges unrelated to Apple.
To actually fix the suspension and restore your 50GB storage, you need to update your payment method directly through your device's system settings, not a browser. Often, when a service is suspended, there is an "Unpaid Order" or a balance due that blocks the system from accepting edits to an existing card. The most reliable fix is to open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name, and select Payment & Shipping. Instead of trying to fix the old card, choose "Add Payment Method" and enter your card details as if it were a brand new card. This forces the system to immediately charge the unpaid balance (usually the cost of the last month's storage) to this "new" method. Once that charge clears, the suspension will lift, and you can then delete the old, failed entry.
Regarding your data, you can breathe a little easier knowing that Apple does not immediately delete your files when a payment fails. A "suspended" status typically means your account is in a read-only mode; you cannot upload new photos, back up your phone, or receive emails if your limit is reached, but your existing data remains safe for a grace period, which is typically around 30 days. As soon as you resolve the unpaid balance using the method described above, your storage plan will reactivate, and your phone will resume backing up and syncing photos as normal.
