iPhone storage full? 7 ways to free up space fast

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

Open Settings, General, iPhone Storage to see what is using the space. Delete large videos, clear Recently Deleted in Photos, offload apps you rarely use, and remove old message attachments.

When an iPhone is nearly full it cannot take photos, install updates or even receive some messages. The storage page shows exactly where the space went, sorted by size.

Step by step

  1. Look at the storage list

    Open Settings, General, iPhone Storage and wait for the bar to load. Apps are listed from largest to smallest, with recommendations at the top.

  2. Empty Recently Deleted

    Deleted photos and videos keep using space for 30 days. Open Photos, tap Collections, scroll down to Utilities and tap Recently Deleted. Unlock the album, tap Select, then the three dots, and Delete All.

  3. Delete large videos

    In Photos, tap Collections, then Media Types, Videos. A few long 4K clips can take several gigabytes. Move them to a computer or cloud storage first if you want to keep them.

  4. Turn on Optimise iPhone Storage

    If you use iCloud Photos, open Settings, tap your name, iCloud, Photos and choose Optimise iPhone Storage. Full-size originals stay in iCloud and smaller versions stay on the phone.

  5. Offload unused apps

    In iPhone Storage, tap an app and choose Offload App. The app is removed but its data and icon stay. You can also switch on Offload Unused Apps to make this automatic.

  6. Clear message attachments

    In iPhone Storage, tap Messages and review Photos, Videos and Large Attachments. WhatsApp has its own tool: WhatsApp, Settings, Storage and Data, Manage Storage.

  7. Remove downloads inside apps

    Films in Netflix, playlists in Spotify, podcasts and offline maps are stored inside those apps. Delete downloads you have finished with from within each app.

Good to know

System Data, at the bottom of the list, shrinks by itself over time. Restarting the phone and installing a pending iOS update often reduces it.

Keep at least 5 GB free so iOS updates and the camera work smoothly.

Before deleting photos, make sure they are backed up: how to back up an iPhone to iCloud.

In short: Settings, General, iPhone Storage. Clear Recently Deleted, large videos, unused apps and message attachments.

Sources
  • Apple Support: How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad

Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.