A “Storage Almost Full” warning usually shows up at the worst moment, like right before you want to record a video. The good news is that most of the space is usually taken by a few big items, and iOS will show you exactly which ones.
These steps follow Apple’s own iPhone User Guide for iOS 27; menu names may differ slightly on older versions.
Step 1: See What’s Using the Space
Open Settings, tap General, then tap iPhone Storage. The bar at the top shows how much space is left, followed by suggestions and a list of apps sorted by how much they use. Tap any app to see its size and the data it holds.
Under the suggestions, tap Show All to review every recommendation and tap Enable on the ones you want.
Step 2: Offload Apps You Rarely Use
Offloading removes an app but keeps its documents and data, so nothing is lost when you reinstall it. In iPhone Storage, tap the app, then tap Offload App. Tap Delete App instead if you want it and its data gone for good.
To have your iPhone do this automatically when space runs low, go to Settings > Apps > App Store and turn on Offload Unused Apps. Offloaded apps keep their Home Screen icon with a small cloud symbol; tap it to download the app again.
Step 3: Trim Old Messages
Years of photos and videos in group chats add up. To clear old conversations automatically, go to Settings > Apps > Messages, scroll down and tap Keep Messages, then choose 30 Days or 1 Year instead of Forever.
Be careful: Apple warns that anything older than the period you choose, attachments included, is removed for good. If you use Messages in iCloud, it’s deleted from your other devices too. Save any photos you want to keep first.
Step 4: Let iCloud Hold Your Full-Size Photos
If you use iCloud Photos, you can keep the originals in iCloud and smaller versions on the phone. Go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then tap Photos under Saved to iCloud. Tap iPhone Storage and choose Optimize Storage. (On iOS 26 or earlier, Optimize iPhone Storage appears directly on the Photos screen.) This only helps if your iCloud plan has room for your library.
Deleting photos doesn’t free space right away: they sit in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days. Empty it once you’re sure.
Step 5: Clear Downloads and Files
- Remove shows and movies you’ve already watched from the TV app and other streaming apps.
- Open the Files app and delete documents and downloads you no longer need.
Before a big cleanup, it’s worth making a fresh backup so nothing important disappears by accident.
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