Guides: free up space on iPhone and iCloud
Short answers first, then the steps: with the tools built into iOS, and with Spaceclear where it helps.
Storage basics8
Why your iPhone storage didn't change after deleting photos
Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days and keep using storage. How to empty Recently Deleted on iPhone and get the space back immediately.
ReadHow to free up iPhone storage without deleting anything
Free up iPhone storage without deleting photos or apps: Optimize iPhone Storage, offload apps, compress videos, convert to HEIC and move files to a computer.
ReadHow to free up storage on iPhone (2026 guide)
Free up iPhone storage fast: what to check in iPhone Storage, how to clear photos, videos, Messages and apps, and why to empty Recently Deleted.
ReadHow much iPhone storage do I need? 256GB vs 512GB (2026)
How much iPhone storage you need in 2026: 256GB vs 512GB vs 1TB by how you use your phone, how to measure your usage, and when iCloud changes the answer.
ReadiPad storage full? How to free up space on iPad
iPad storage full? Check Settings › General › iPad Storage, then clear downloaded videos, big apps, Photos, Messages and Files downloads to get space back.
ReadiPhone storage full but nothing on it? 7 reasons why
iPhone says storage is full but you have nothing on it? The usual causes: Recently Deleted, System Data, Messages, an unfinished update, or iCloud storage.
ReadNot enough storage to update iPhone? 5 ways to fix it
Not enough storage to update your iPhone? Free space for the iOS update, let iOS remove apps temporarily, or update from a Mac or PC with less free space.
ReadWhat is System Data on iPhone, and how to reduce it
System Data on iPhone is caches, logs and temporary files iOS manages. Why it grows to 20–50 GB and 6 safe ways to reduce it without erasing your iPhone.
ReadPhotos & videos10
How to compress a video on iPhone (and keep it watchable)
Make iPhone videos smaller without uploading them: video sizes, camera settings that save space, and compressing videos while keeping date and location.
ReadHow to delete burst photos on iPhone (keep the best)
Find burst photos on iPhone in Media Types › Bursts, keep only your favorite frames and delete the rest, and stop taking bursts by accident.
ReadHow to delete duplicate photos on iPhone
Find and delete duplicate photos on iPhone with the built-in Duplicates album, and how to also catch similar shots, bursts and re-saved copies that Photos misses.
ReadHow to delete all screenshots on iPhone at once
Find every screenshot on iPhone in the Screenshots album, delete them in bulk, and keep them from piling up again.
ReadDo Live Photos take up more space? (and how to save it)
Yes: a Live Photo is a still plus a 3-second video, about twice the size of a photo. How to turn Live Photos off and convert old ones to stills on iPhone.
ReadHEIC vs JPEG on iPhone: which is better, which is smaller?
HEIC vs JPEG on iPhone: HEIC is about half the size at the same quality. When to switch to JPEG, how to convert, and which camera setting to choose.
ReadHow much storage does 4K video take on iPhone?
A minute of 4K video on iPhone takes about 170 MB at 30 fps and 400 MB at 60 fps. Sizes per minute and per hour for 4K, 1080p, slo-mo and ProRes.
ReadApple ProRAW file size: how big, and how to save space
Apple ProRAW photos are about 25 MB at 12MP and 75 MB at 48MP, up to 25 times a HEIC. How to find RAW photos, turn ProRAW off and convert them to HEIC.
ReadHow to see which videos take the most storage on iPhone
The Photos app can't sort by file size. How to find the biggest videos and photos on iPhone anyway, check a video's size, and free the most space first.
ReadHow to move photos from iPhone to PC or Mac to free up space
Move photos from iPhone to a Windows PC or Mac with a cable, check the copies, then delete them from the iPhone safely, including with iCloud Photos on.
ReadiCloud5
iCloud storage full? How to free up iCloud space (without paying more)
What fills iCloud storage, how to see it, and how to free iCloud space by cleaning iCloud Photos, backups and messages, before upgrading your iCloud+ plan.
ReadiCloud storage plans and prices explained (2026)
iCloud+ plans in 2026: 50 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB, 6 TB and 12 TB, US prices, what each holds, family sharing, and how to pick or downgrade a plan.
ReadiPhone storage vs iCloud storage: what's the difference?
iPhone storage is the space on your phone; iCloud storage is online space in your Apple Account. What each holds and why one can be full when the other isn't.
ReadOptimize iPhone Storage: what it does and when to use it
Optimize iPhone Storage keeps full-size photos in iCloud and smaller ones on your iPhone. What it means, when to keep originals instead, and its limits.
ReadHow to turn off iCloud Photos without deleting photos
Turn off iCloud Photos on iPhone without losing photos: download the originals first, choose Download Photos & Videos, and what happens to iCloud copies.
ReadContacts & calendar5
How to clean up contacts on iPhone after switching phones
Duplicate or messy contacts after switching phones? Pick one account, merge duplicates, remove empty entries and back up your iPhone contacts first.
ReadHow to delete multiple contacts on iPhone at once
Delete multiple contacts on iPhone at once with a two-finger drag, delete all contacts with iCloud.com or account settings, and back up your contacts first.
ReadHow to delete old calendar events on iPhone
iPhone can't bulk delete old calendar events. How to hide past events, delete repeating ones, mass delete on a Mac, and clear duplicates and old reminders.
ReadHow to remove calendar spam on iPhone (the calendar "virus")
Spam events in your iPhone calendar come from a subscribed calendar or junk invites, not a virus. How to unsubscribe, report junk and stop calendar spam.
ReadHow to merge duplicate contacts on iPhone
Merge duplicate contacts on iPhone with the built-in tool, plus how to find same-phone or same-email duplicates and back up contacts first.
ReadMessages & apps6
How to cancel a cleaner app subscription on iPhone
Cancel a cleaner app subscription in Settings › [your name] › Subscriptions. Deleting the app doesn't stop billing: how to cancel and ask for a refund.
ReadHow to clear cache on iPhone (Safari, Chrome and apps)
Clear cache on iPhone: Safari history and website data, Chrome browsing data, and app caches in TikTok or Spotify, plus what clearing cache really frees.
ReadHow to clear WhatsApp storage on iPhone without losing chats
Clear WhatsApp storage on iPhone without losing chats: Manage Storage, files larger than 5 MB, auto-download, Save to Photos copies and iCloud chat backups.
ReadMessages taking up storage on iPhone? How to reduce it
Messages can take 5–50 GB on iPhone. Review large attachments, delete big conversations and set Keep Messages to 1 year to get the space back.
ReadOffload vs delete app on iPhone: what's the difference?
Offloading an iPhone app removes the app but keeps its data; deleting removes both. When to offload, when to delete, and how Offload Unused Apps works.
ReadHow to unsubscribe from emails on iPhone (in bulk)
Unsubscribe from emails on iPhone with Mail's Unsubscribe banner, Gmail and Outlook, block senders, and clear whole senders at once to stop newsletters.
ReadPrivacy & security3
How to hide photos on iPhone (and lock them with Face ID)
Hide photos on iPhone with the Hidden album, lock it with Face ID, hide the album itself, and when a private vault with its own PIN is the better choice.
Read"iCloud storage full" email: scam or real? How to tell
Got an "iCloud storage full" email saying your photos will be deleted? How to spot the scam, check your real iCloud storage safely, and report it to Apple.
ReadIs the Cleanup app safe? Is it free, and is it worth it?
Is Cleanup: Phone Storage Cleaner safe, free and worth it? What it does, its App Store privacy label, weekly pricing, and how to judge any iPhone cleaner app.
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