How to to free up space on your iPhone

Created by Kayla McDonald, Modified on Thu, 3 Oct at 3:49 PM by Kayla McDonald

Here’s a step-by-step guide with 12 ways to free up space on your iPhone:

Option 1: Check Storage Usage

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
This will show you how much space each app is using, including media, system files, and app data.

Option 2. Offload Unused Apps

In iPhone Storage, you may see recommendations to Offload Unused Apps. This deletes apps but keeps their data so you can reinstall them without losing anything.
Tap Enable to offload unused apps automatically or manually tap each app and choose Offload App.

Option 3. Delete Unused Apps

For apps you don’t plan to use anymore, go to the Home screen.
Long press on the app icon, then select Remove App, and tap Delete App to remove it completely.

Option 4. Clear Safari Cache

Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
This will remove cached data, history, and cookies from Safari.

Option 5. Manage Photos and Videos

Go to Photos > Albums > Recents.
Delete any unwanted photos and videos.
To delete them permanently, go to Recently Deleted and select Delete All.

You can also enable iCloud Photos by going to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos > Turn on iCloud Photos and enable Optimize iPhone Storage. This keeps lower-resolution photos on your iPhone and stores the full resolution in iCloud.

Option 6. Delete Old Messages

Go to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages.
Set it to 30 Days or 1 Year to automatically delete older messages.

Option 7. Clear App Data

Some apps store large files, like music or videos. To clear this data:

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
Select the app that is using a lot of space, and either choose Offload App (to keep the data) or Delete App to remove the app and its data entirely.

Option 8. Delete Downloaded Music/Podcasts/Movies

- For Music:

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music.
Swipe left on All Songs or specific albums/songs to delete downloaded music.

- For Podcasts:

Open the Podcasts app > Library > Downloaded.
Swipe left on episodes you want to delete.

- For Movies/TV Shows:

Open the TV app > Library > Downloaded.
Swipe left on any content you wish to delete.

Option 9. Remove Large Attachments from Messages

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages.
You’ll see options like Review Large Attachments or Top Conversations. Go through and delete large attachments (like images and videos) that you no longer need.

Option 10. Empty Recently Deleted Album

Photos and videos you delete aren’t removed immediately but sent to the Recently Deleted album for 30 days.
Go to Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted and select Delete All to remove them permanently.

Option 11. Manage iCloud Storage (Optional)

Consider using iCloud for storing backups, photos, and other files.
Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud.
You can buy more iCloud storage or move some files to iCloud to free up physical space on your iPhone.

Option 12. Reset and Clean Your iPhone (Last Resort)

If your iPhone is still low on space and you've tried all options, you can do a factory reset (be sure to backup your data first).
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

By following these steps, you should be able to free up a significant amount of space on your iPhone.