An iPhone with full storage is fixed by finding what takes the space, then removing the cheapest items first. Start at Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The menu paths below match Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 26 and iOS 27; where the two differ, the step says so.
Step 1: See what is using the space
- Open Settings, tap General, then tap iPhone Storage.
- Read the available storage at the top of the screen.
- Tap an app's name to see its storage details.
Apple says this screen lists recommendations and the apps using the most storage, and that cached and temporary data might not count as usage. It also describes the categories: Photos holds the Photos app's photos and videos, Messages holds messages and attachments, and Mail holds emails and attachments.
If a "Storage Almost Full" alert appears, Apple says to check the storage recommendations or remove some content, such as videos and apps. Tap Show All to see the recommendations for your phone. Read each description, then tap Enable or tap the recommendation to review what you can delete.
Step 2: Offload or delete apps
Offloading frees the space an app uses but keeps its documents and data. In iPhone Storage, tap the app, then tap Offload.
To have the phone do it when space runs low, go to Settings > Apps > App Store and turn on Offload Unused Apps. Per Apple's guide, the icon stays on the Home Screen with a cloud symbol; tap it to reinstall.
To delete an app, touch and hold it, tap Remove App, tap Delete App, then confirm. Apple says deleting removes the app and its data from the iPhone, so export anything you need first.
Step 3: Clear Safari data
Go to Settings > Apps > Safari and tap Clear History and Website Data. Confirm the timeframe, then tap Clear History. Apple says this does not change your AutoFill information.
To keep your history, tap Advanced, then Website Data, then Remove All Website Data, then Remove Now. Apple says this clears data used for tracking and by websites to save login information, so some sites may ask you to sign in again.
Step 4: Manage Photos and videos
If Photos is a big row on your phone, three levers, easiest first.
Check Optimize iPhone Storage. With iCloud Photos on, Apple says full-resolution originals stay in iCloud while storage-saving versions stay on the iPhone. It is on by default. To turn iCloud Photos on, go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap Photos, then turn on Sync this iPhone.
If you or a previous setup chose Download and Keep Originals, originals sit on the phone. The path is Settings > your name > iCloud > Photos on iOS 26, and Settings > your name > iCloud > Photos > iPhone Storage on iOS 27.
Empty Recently Deleted. Deleted photos and videos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days. In Photos, tap Collections, then Recently Deleted (below Utilities), then View Album and unlock it. Tap Select, choose items, tap the menu, then tap Delete. Apple says permanent removal can happen any time inside the 30 days.
Review videos. In Photos, tap Collections, scroll down, tap Media Types, then pick a video type. Apple's page shows how to browse by type; it does not describe sorting by size. Delete what you do not need.
With iCloud Photos on, a delete removes the item on all your devices signed in to the same Apple Account. Deleting a photo in the Photos app also removes its iCloud copy, so to free space and keep the originals, use Optimize iPhone Storage (above) rather than deleting.
Step 5: Trim Messages attachments
Save anything you want to keep first. Open a conversation, tap the contact or group icon at the top, tap a category such as Photos, tap Edit, then Select. Tap each attachment, tap the delete icon, and confirm.
Deleted messages and attachments stay in Recently Deleted for up to 30 days. To remove them sooner, tap the icon at the top of the conversation list, tap Recently Deleted, select the items and tap Delete. Apple warns this can't be undone.
To do it on a schedule, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Keep Messages. Anything other than Forever removes conversations, attachments included, after the period you pick. With Messages in iCloud on, a delete on one device reaches all of them.
Step 6: Clear Mail, Files and downloads
In Mail, select messages and tap the trash icon. In some categories (Transactions, Updates, Promotions), selecting one message selects all messages from that sender in that category, so check the count before you delete. Deleted mail goes to the Trash mailbox. Apple notes iCloud doesn't keep deleted messages longer than 30 days.
In Files, tap Browse, find the file, touch and hold it, then tap Delete. Apple lists Files, Safari downloads and TV app downloads among things to review. Check that a file is not your only copy first. If you also use OneDrive, see how Microsoft's OneDrive storage change affects Microsoft 365 Family.
System and Other: what to expect
Apple's storage page describes two catch-all categories. System is the space the operating system takes, and Apple says it varies by device and model. Other covers non-removable items such as Siri voices, fonts, dictionaries, logs, caches and the Spotlight index.
Apple says the phone removes cached and temporary files itself when it needs space.
Updating is still useful for one reason. If an update needs room, Apple says a message may offer to temporarily remove apps and reinstall them afterward.
Step 7: Check your iCloud storage and plan
Free iCloud comes with 5 GB. In Photos, Apple says a yellow warning icon means your iCloud storage is almost full, and a red exclamation mark means it is full. Tap your account icon for details.
To change your plan, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > Storage > Change Storage Plan. Apple's US prices, as of October 20, 2026:
- 50 GB: $0.99 a month
- 200 GB: $2.99 a month
- 2 TB: $9.99 a month
Apple also lists 6 TB and 12 TB plans, and says an iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five family members. Prices vary by country. More iCloud space helps your photos and backups; it does not by itself clear space on the phone.
Last resort: back up, then erase
Erasing returns the iPhone to factory settings. Back up first. For an iCloud backup, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup, make sure Back Up This iPhone is on, tap Back Up Now, and wait for it to finish before you erase. You can also back up to a Mac or Windows PC.
Then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. If you have an eSIM, Apple says erasing it means contacting your carrier to reactivate your plan.
Before that, a lighter option: our guide to freeing space without touching your Photos library. After you have room, see iOS 27 features worth turning on.
