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iPhone (iOS)⏱ 5 min

How to Free Up Storage Space on iPhone (iOS)

Find and delete large files, old downloads, and temporary data.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

iPhone's storage management is guided through Settings > General > iPhone Storage, which shows a bar chart breakdown by category and a list of apps sorted by total size including their cached data. The Recommendations row at the top of this screen adapts to your device's actual usage patterns, suggesting actions like auto-deleting watched videos from specific apps or enabling iCloud Photo Library to offload full-resolution copies. Offloading apps rather than deleting them is particularly effective: it removes the app binary (usually the largest portion) while keeping your local documents and settings, so reinstalling later feels seamless.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Tap each large app to Offload it, and scroll to Recommendations for automated suggestions.
  2. 2Delete downloaded videos, podcasts, and offline maps you no longer actively use.
  3. 3Move photos and videos to cloud storage (Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive) and remove local copies once confirmed.

Still Not Working?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is taking up so much storage on my iPhone (iOS)?
On iPhone, check Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Photography (photos/videos), messaging apps retaining media, and downloaded podcast/music/game content typically account for the most space.
Why is my iPhone (iOS) saying storage is full when I have space?
Storage shown as available may exclude space reserved for the OS, system files, and pending updates. On iPhone, iOS reserves space for OTA updates. On Android and Windows, certain system operations require a free-space buffer. If available space is below 10%, the device treats itself as full for safety.
Will moving photos to the cloud free up storage on iPhone (iOS)?
Yes, but only if you also delete the local copies after confirming the cloud backup is complete. Google Photos and iCloud have an option to Remove Downloaded Copies or Optimise Storage that does this automatically after verifying the cloud backup is safe.
How much free storage should I keep on iPhone (iOS)?
Keep at least 10–15% of total storage free for optimal performance. Below 10%, most operating systems slow down significantly as they struggle to write temp files, install updates, and manage virtual memory. On a 64 GB device, aim to keep at least 6–8 GB free at all times.

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