Check your total storage in Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap General. Then tap iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage if you're using an iPad). At the top, you'll see a colored bar showing how much storage you're using and how much is free. The number below the bar tells you the exact amount — for example, "128 GB total, 45 GB available".

This screen shows you your total capacity and remaining space in seconds. If you see less than 1 GB free, your phone will start running slowly and may refuse to install updates or take photos. Most people should aim to keep at least 10 to 15 percent of their storage empty.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see your total capacity and how much space is left.
  • The same screen lists every app and file on your phone, sorted by size, so you can see what's taking up the most room.
  • Photos and videos usually consume the most storage, followed by apps you rarely use.
  • Deleting an app removes it completely, but you can reinstall it later from the App Store without paying again.

See which apps and files are using the most space

On that same iPhone Storage screen, scroll down to see a list of every app installed on your phone. They're sorted by size, with the largest at the top. Tap any app name to see more details — you'll find out when you last used it and how much space it takes up.

Photos and videos almost always rank at the top. If you see a single app taking up several gigabytes, that's usually your camera roll or a streaming service like Netflix or YouTube that has downloaded content. Games and social media apps like Instagram or TikTok also consume significant space because they store cached images and videos.

Delete apps you don't use regularly

If an app hasn't been opened in months, removing it is the fastest way to free up space. Press and hold the app icon on your home screen, then tap Remove App and confirm. The app disappears immediately, and you get that storage back right away.

Don't worry about losing data — if you delete an app that stores information (like a notes app or a banking app), that data is gone. But for most apps like games or social media, you can reinstall them later from the App Store, and your account will still be there. Reinstalling doesn't cost anything, even if the app originally cost money.

Clear out old photos and videos

Your camera roll is usually the biggest storage hog. Open the Photos app and tap Albums at the bottom. Tap Recently Deleted to see photos and videos you've already deleted — they stay there for 30 days before disappearing permanently. If you want to free up space immediately, tap Select, then tap each photo or video you want to remove, and tap Delete.

You can also delete photos directly from your main library. Tap Select in the top right, choose the photos you want to remove, and tap Delete. If you want to keep photos but move them off your phone, you can back them up to iCloud Photos or download them to a computer first.

Use iCloud Photos to store without taking up phone space

If you turn on iCloud Photos, your photos and videos upload to Apple's cloud storage instead of sitting on your phone. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos and turn on iCloud Photos. Your phone will then show optimized versions of your photos — smaller files that take up less room — while the full-quality originals stay in the cloud.

This requires an iCloud+ subscription (which starts at $0.99 per month for 50 GB). If you don't pay for extra storage, you get 5 GB free, which fills up quickly if you take a lot of photos. The advantage is that you can access all your photos from any device, and your phone has much more free space.

Clear Safari cache and temporary files

Safari stores temporary files and browsing history that add up over time. Go to Settings > Safari and scroll down to Clear History and Website Data. Tap it and choose how far back to clear — all time removes everything. This usually frees up a few hundred megabytes, which isn't huge but helps if you're running very low on space.

You can also clear the cache for other apps the same way. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap an app that you use but haven't opened recently, and tap Offload App. This removes the app but keeps your data, so when you reinstall it, your settings and information are still there. It's less drastic than deleting the app entirely.

Check if you need to upgrade your phone's storage

If you consistently run out of space even after deleting apps and photos, your phone's storage capacity is too small for how you use it. iPhones come in different sizes — 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB — and you can't upgrade the storage on an existing phone. If you're regularly below 5 GB free, you'll need to either use cloud storage more aggressively or consider a phone with larger capacity when you upgrade.

Before you decide you need a new phone, try using iCloud Photos, offloading unused apps, and moving files to cloud services like Google Drive or OneDrive. Many people find they can manage with their current phone once they understand what's taking up space and clean it out regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Offload App" do, and is it different from deleting an app?

Offload App removes the app from your phone but keeps your data and settings. When you reinstall it, everything is still there. Deleting an app removes both the app and its data. Use Offload if you want to free up space but might use the app again soon.

Why does my iPhone say I'm using more storage than my apps add up to?

Your phone stores system files, cached data, and temporary files that don't show up in the app list. Photos and videos also take up space that may not be obvious. The iPhone Storage screen shows the biggest items, but smaller files add up across the whole system.

Can I move files to an external hard drive or USB stick?

iPhones don't support external storage like Android phones do. Your only options are cloud services (iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive) or connecting your phone to a computer and backing up files there. You can't plug in a USB drive directly to an iPhone.

If I delete a photo by accident, can I get it back?

Yes, for 30 days. Open the Photos app, tap Albums, and tap Recently Deleted. Find the photo and tap Recover to restore it. After 30 days, it's gone permanently unless you have a backup from iCloud or your computer.

Does turning on iCloud Photos cost money?

You get 5 GB free with any Apple ID. Beyond that, iCloud+ plans start at $0.99 per month for 50 GB. If you take a lot of photos, you'll likely need to pay for extra storage, but the free tier works for light users.