Ever get the dreaded “iPhone Storage Full” message right when you’re trying to take a photo or download an app? The most common reason is that your iPhone is packed with photos, videos, unused apps, cached files, and system data you probably didn’t even realize were piling up. The fastest way to fix it is to go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and offload or delete anything you no longer use. If you’re tight on space, photos and videos are usually the biggest culprits.
1. Check What’s Taking Up Space
Start by going to: Settings > General > iPhone Storage
Here, your iPhone shows a color-coded breakdown of what’s eating up space. You’ll likely see categories like Photos, Apps, Media, Messages, and “System.”
2. Offload Unused Apps
iOS makes it easy to offload apps you haven’t used in a while. This keeps your data but removes the app itself. You can turn this on by going to: Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps
Or manually offload one-by-one from the iPhone Storage screen.
3. Delete Large Videos and Duplicate Photos
Photos and videos often take up the most storage. Go through your Photos app, filter by Videos or Live Photos, and delete ones you don’t need. You can also use apps like Gemini Photos to find duplicates and blurry shots.
4. Clear Messages and Attachments
Old text threads can quietly eat up storage, especially if they have a lot of images or videos.
- Go to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages
- Change it from “Forever” to 30 Days or 1 Year Also, scroll to the Messages section in iPhone Storage and delete large attachments.
5. Use iCloud or External Storage
Consider moving files to iCloud:
- Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos and turn on iCloud Photos This backs up your media to the cloud and frees up local space.
Or, use external drives like Lightning or USB-C flash drives to transfer large files off your phone.
6. Clear Safari Cache and Other App Data
Safari and other apps build up cached data over time. For Safari:
- Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
For other apps, check their settings or delete/reinstall the app to clear storage.
Final Tip:
Storage issues sneak up on almost every iPhone user. The good news is, once you understand where the space is going, you can take back control with just a few minutes of cleanup.
