iOS Assistant
 
...

How to Free Up Space on iPhone/iPad Without Deleting Apps [7 Possible Ways]

...

Running out of storage on your iPhone can be frustrating, especially when you don't want to delete apps you use regularly. If you're wondering how to free up space on iPhone without deleting apps, don't worry! There are several ways to reclaim storage while keeping your favorite apps intact. This guide will show you how to optimize your iPhone storage with practical and easy-to-follow steps.

how to free up space on iphone without deleting apps

 

Way 1. Enable iCloud Photo Optimization

One of the easiest ways to free up space on iPhone without deleting apps is by using iCloud Photo Optimization. This feature automatically stores your high-resolution photos and videos in iCloud while keeping only smaller, optimized versions on your device. It's a great option if you have a large photo library but want to preserve space on your iPhone.

How do I free up storage without deleting apps? Here are the steps:

Step 1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap on your "Apple ID" at the top, then select "iCloud".

Step 3. Tap "Photos", then turn on "iCloud Photos".

Step 4. Enable "Optimize iPhone Storage" to store full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud.

enable icloud photo optimization to free up space on iphone without deleting apps

Once this is done, your device will manage photos automatically, ensuring that you never run out of storage again while still being able to access all your photos and videos.

Way 2. Clear Safari Browser Cache

Safari stores cached files, such as website data, images, and other resources, to help pages load faster. Over time, these files can accumulate and take up valuable space. Clearing the Safari cache is an easy and effective way to free up space on your iPhone without deleting apps.

How do I clear space on my iPhone without deleting apps? Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open "Settings" and scroll down to "Safari".

Step 2. Scroll down again and tap "Clear History and Website Data".

Step 3. Confirm by tapping "Clear History and Data".

clear safari browser cache to free up space on iphone without deleting apps

Way 3. Adjust the Camera's Image Format

Photos taken with the latest iPhone are saved in HEIF format by default. This format offers smaller file sizes than JPEG while preserving image quality. However, it may not be the most universally compatible format. To save space on your iPhone, you can opt for more efficient file formats.

Here is how to free up space on iPhone without deleting apps:

Step 1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Scroll down and tap on "Camera".

Step 3. Tap on the "Formats" option.

Step 4. In the menu that appears, choose "High Efficiency".

adjust the camera's image format to free up space on iphone without deleting apps

Way 4. Reduce Video Resolution

If you're someone who loves recording videos on your iPhone, you may be generating large video files that take up a lot of space. Lowering the resolution of the videos you record can significantly reduce their file size, freeing up more storage space.

Here are the steps:

Step 1. Open "Settings" on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap "Camera" and then "Record Video".

Step 3. Choose a lower resolution, such as 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 30 fps.

reduce video resolution to free up space on iphone without deleting apps

By lowering the video resolution, you can still capture quality videos without taking up as much storage space.

Way 5. Change Message History

iPhone's Messages app stores a lot of media, including photos, videos, and conversations, which can accumulate and take up storage space. If you don't need to keep every single message, adjusting your message history settings will help free up space without having to delete apps.

Here is how to do it:

Step 1. Open "Settings" and scroll down to "Messages".

Step 2. Tap "Keep Messages" under the "Message History" section.

Step 3. Choose either "30 Days" or "1 Year".

change message history to free up space on iphone without deleting apps

By selecting a shorter period to keep messages, your iPhone will automatically delete older messages, helping you free up storage.

Way 6. Back Up iPhone Data to iCloud/iTunes/Computer

If you need more storage on your iPad or iPhone but don't want to delete apps or lose your important data, you can back it up to iTunes, iCloud, your computer, or any other secure location. We have detailed guides on how to back up iPhone data to iCloud and sync files to iTunes. If you prefer using a computer for storage, Coolmuster iOS Assistant allows you to easily back up your iPhone or iPad data—such as contacts, messages, notes, calendars, bookmarks, music, videos, photos, books, and more—to your PC or Mac with just one click.

Here is how to use iOS Assistant to back up your iPhone to the computer:

01Connect your iDevice to your computer and launch the software. Once the program detects your device, navigate to the "Super Toolkit" section.

the main interface of ios assistant

02On the main screen, click "iTunes Backup & Restore" and then select the "Backup" button.

03Choose a location to save your backup files. You can either use the default iTunes backup location or select a custom folder on your PC. To choose a different location, click the "Browse" icon, then hit "OK" to start the backup process.

how to back up entire iphone to computer using ios assistant

If you prefer to selectively back up specific iPhone data, once the software detects your device, select a file type from the left panel, preview the data in the right panel, choose what you want to back up, and then click the "Export" button to transfer the files to your PC or Mac.

how to selectively back up iphone to computer using ios assistant

Video Tutorial:

Way 7. Clean Up Junk Files on iPhone with Coolmuster iOS Cleaner

After using your iPhone for a long time, the system may accumulate many temporary files, cache files, and log files. While these files don't directly affect the device's performance, they can take up a significant amount of storage space. Coolmuster iOS Cleaner is a professional tool that can help you scan and clean these junk files, quickly freeing up space.

Key features of Coolmuster iOS Cleaner:

* Effortlessly delete unnecessary files, such as app caches, cookies, crash logs, temporary downloads, photo caches, user storage files, and more.

* Preview all junk and private data before removal, giving you complete control over what gets deleted.

* Fully compatible with the latest iOS 26 and iPhone 17 series.

* A safe, read-only cleaning tool that doesn't require jailbreaking.

* No risk of harming your device or altering data without your permission.

Here is how to free up space on iPhone without deleting apps using Coolmuster iOS Cleaner:

01First, open the installed software on your computer and connect your iPhone using a USB cable. The program will then automatically detect the connected iPhone and display its information on the interface. Select the "Quick Clean" mode to begin.

connect iphone to computer to clear caches on iphone

02A new window will pop up displaying all removable file types, such as app caches, cookies, temporary files, crash logs, downloaded temp files, photo caches, and user storage files. Select the file types you wish to remove, then click the "Start Scan" button in the top-right corner.

scan to clear caches on iphone

03Once the scan is complete, review the detected junk files. Select the ones you wish to delete, then click the "Clean" button in the top-right corner. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you're sure about removing the selected files. Click "OK" to proceed with the cleanup.

start to clear caches on iphone

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for an efficient and safe way to clean up junk files and unnecessary content on your iPhone, Coolmuster iOS Cleaner is an excellent choice. It not only helps you remove unnecessary files but also effectively frees up storage space, making your iPhone run more smoothly. With the methods outlined above, you can easily free up storage space on your iPhone without deleting any apps. These tips are simple to follow and will help keep your iPhone running smoothly.

Related Articles:

How to Clear Storage on iPhone 17/17 Pro: Tips and Tricks

How to Reduce System Data on iPhone? [9 Powerful Strategies]

iPhone Says Not Enough Storage But There Is? What to Do Next?

How to Delete Documents and Data on iPhone/iPad [Verified Tips]

    Phone Eraser & Cleaner     How to Free Up Space on iPhone/iPad Without Deleting Apps [7 Possible Ways]
iOS Assistant
Back up and restore everything on iPhone/iPad/iPod with one click.
Freely manage iOS data and iTunes backup files on the computer.
Preview and selectively transfer files between iDevice and computer.
Widely support contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, notes, etc.
Terms & Conditions Privacy (UPDATED) License Agreement Uninstall Copyright © 2026 Coolmuster. All Rights Reserved.
feedbackFeedback