"My iPhone storage is constantly full, and I'm tired of manually deleting stuff. Got a message 'iPhone Storage Full'. Is there a way to free up space automatically without going through every app and photo? Looking for something simple that actually works! Any recommendations? Thanks a lot guys."
-from reddit
If your iPhone keeps warning you that your storage is almost full, you're not alone. With daily use, photos, videos, apps, and system files can quickly eat up storage, slowing down your device and preventing new downloads or updates. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to clear space and keep your iPhone running smoothly.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to check what's taking up your iPhone storage and show you how to free up space on iPhone with seven practical methods. Let's get started.
Before you think of maximizing your storage space, you must know what is occupying your iPhone. To know where to start, you must look at what is consuming your storage space:
Open the "Settings" app, click "General", and then select "iPhone Storage". You will see a list of all the kinds of media and files consuming space on the iPhone. Apple may also recommend some ways to empty space, for example, reviewing the videos saved on the iPhone, as discussed below. (iPhone storage not loading?)
After checking the available space and what is consuming most of it, you can now go ahead to learn what to do when an iPhone's storage is full.
Photos and videos are often the main reason your iPhone storage fills up quickly. Especially high-resolution videos and burst photos can take up gigabytes of space in just days. Regularly cleaning out unnecessary photos and videos can instantly reclaim storage.
Here is how to delete photos to free up space on iPhone:
Step 1. Open the "Photos" app on your iPhone.
Step 2. Select the photos or videos you don't need.
Step 3. Tap the "trash" icon and confirm deletion.
Step 4. Go to "Albums" > "Recently Deleted", then tap "Delete All" to permanently remove them.
Many users install apps and forget about them, yet these apps still occupy valuable space. Games and social media apps, in particular, can store large amounts of cache and data. Removing unused apps is one of the quickest ways to free up space.
Here is how to delete apps to free up space on iPhone:
Step 1. Open "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage".
Step 2. Review the list of apps sorted by storage size.
Step 3. Select the app you no longer use and tap "Delete App". (Can't delete apps on iPhone?)
If you want the system to clean up automatically, you can enable the "Offload Unused Apps" feature. This will allow the system to automatically remove apps that haven't been used in a long time when space is low, but it will keep the app data, making it easy to reinstall the app later.
Over time, Safari accumulates browsing history, cookies, and cached data, which can quietly consume storage space. Clearing Safari's cache not only frees up space but also enhances browser performance.
Here is how to free up space on iPhone without deleting apps:
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Safari".
Step 2. Scroll down and tap "Clear History and Website Data".
Step 3. Confirm when prompted.
It is not just apps, videos, and photos that could take up space on your iPhone. Deleting old SMS messages can free up some space as well. Below is the procedure you can use to set your device to automatically remove your old messages:
Step 1. Open "Settings" and select "Messages".
Step 2. Hit the "Keep Messages" tab.
Step 3. From here, choose "30 Days" or "1 Year" instead of "Forever".
Your iPhone will now automatically delete messages older than the selected period, keeping your storage usage in check without manual effort.
How to use iCloud to free up space on iPhone? If you use iCloud Photos, you can save space by storing full-resolution images in iCloud while keeping smaller, optimized versions on your device. This is one of the smartest ways to free up storage without deleting photos.
Here is how to move photos to iCloud to free up space on iPhone:
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Photos".
Step 2. Enable "iCloud Photos".
Step 3. Select "Optimize iPhone Storage".
Your iPhone will automatically manage storage, keeping only lightweight thumbnails locally while retaining original photos in iCloud for on-demand access.
In addition to photos, iCloud can store documents, backups, and app data, reducing the load on your iPhone's local storage. It's a convenient, built-in way to expand your space virtually.
Here are the steps to store data in iCloud:
Step 1. Open "Settings" > [Your Name] > "iCloud".
Step 2. Turn on the categories you want to sync, such as "Photos", "Files", or "Contacts".
Note: If you're running out of cloud space, tap Manage Account Storage to upgrade your plan.
If you prefer not to rely solely on iCloud, or your iCloud storage is full, a great alternative is to transfer your iPhone data to your computer. Coolmuster iOS Assistant is a professional tool designed for iOS data management. It lets you back up photos, videos, contacts, messages, and more to your computer safely, freeing up significant space on your iPhone.
Key features of iOS Assistant:
* One-click to back up an iPhone to a computer to free up iPhone space.
* Easily transfer iOS files after previewing and selecting them.
* Fully manage iTunes backups and iOS data directly on your computer.
* Edit, add, or delete data on your iOS device directly from your PC/Mac.
* Backup and restore all your iPhone/iPad/iPod data with a single click.
* Support the latest iOS 26, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 models.
How do I back up an iPhone to a computer using iOS Assistant? Follow the steps below:
01Install the software on your PC and launch it. Connect the iPhone to the computer through your USB cable.
02Tap the "Trust" option to allow USB debugging when prompted. Click "Continue" as prompted. Once a connection is created successfully, your iPhone's info will be seen on the computer.
03Preview your files' info, and choose the file type you wish to transfer to the PC. Next, check the files you want, and hit the "Export" tab to transfer the files to your PC. Then, you can remove them from your iPhone to save memory.
To back up your entire iPhone, go to "Super Toolkit" > "iTunes Backup & Restore" > "Backup". Select your device from the drop-down menu, choose a location to save the backup, and click "OK" to start backing up your iPhone to your PC/Mac.
Video Tutorial:
Freeing up space on your iPhone is not complicated. By regularly checking storage usage and using the right methods, you can keep your device in optimal condition. Whether it's cleaning up photos, deleting cache, or using cloud backups, these actions can effectively address storage issues.
Among them, Coolmuster iOS Assistant is highly recommended. It not only helps you securely back up all your iPhone data but also allows you to easily manage files like photos, contacts, and messages, making it an ideal choice for keeping your iPhone's storage organized.
Related Articles:
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iPhone Says Not Enough Storage But There Is? What to Do Next?
[Answered] Why Is My iPhone Storage Full After Deleting Everything?
How to Get More Storage on iPhone? Some Crucial Tips You Can Try
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