Short answer: deleted photos and videos go to Recently Deleted and keep using space for 30 days. Open Photos › Collections › Utilities › Recently Deleted (on iOS 18: Albums › Utilities), unlock with Face ID, tap Select › Delete All. The space comes back within minutes (restart if "System Data" stays high).
Steps
- Open Photos and scroll to Utilities › Recently Deleted.
- Unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Tap Select, then Delete All, and confirm.
- Check Settings › General › iPhone Storage after a few minutes.
FAQ
Can I recover photos after emptying Recently Deleted?
No. Make sure everything there can go before you empty it.
Does Spaceclear empty Recently Deleted for me?
No app can: iOS reserves that for you. Spaceclear reminds you after each cleanup, because it's the step that actually frees the space.
Updated 2026-11-13