Short answer: open Settings › General › iPhone Storage to see what takes the most space (usually Photos, Messages and a few apps). Delete duplicate and lookalike photos, big videos and old screenshots, then empty Photos › Recently Deleted; until you do, deleted photos still use space for 30 days.
Steps
- Open Settings › General › iPhone Storage and wait for the bar to load. Note the biggest categories.
- Tap the recommendations iOS shows (for example Review Large Attachments in Messages, or Offload Unused Apps).
- Clean your photo library: exact copies, retakes and bursts, blurry shots, screenshots and long videos usually free the most space.
- Shrink the videos you keep: a 4K video takes roughly four times the space of the same video in 1080p.
- Open Photos › Collections › Utilities › Recently Deleted (on iOS 18: Albums), tap Select › Delete All. This is the step most people miss.
- In Messages, set Keep Messages to 1 year if you don't need older threads, and review large attachments.
- Restart the iPhone if the "System Data" number doesn't drop right away.
What usually takes the most space
| Category | Typical share | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Photos & videos | 40–70% | Duplicates, similar shots, screenshots, big videos, Live Photos |
| Messages | 5–20% | Large attachments, old threads |
| Apps | 10–30% | Offload apps you rarely use |
| System Data | 5–15% | Restart; it shrinks on its own |
Doing it with Spaceclear
Spaceclear scans your library on the iPhone and groups everything you can clear: duplicates, similar photos (best shot kept), bursts, screenshots, blurry photos, big and lookalike videos, screen recordings. Clean safely removes every extra copy and lookalike in one review, keeping the best of each set. It can also compress videos and photos, turn Live Photos into stills and convert RAW photos to HEIC. Scanning is free; nothing leaves your iPhone.
FAQ
Why is my iPhone still full after deleting photos?
Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days and still use space. Empty that album to get the space back now.
Does offloading an app delete my data?
No. Offloading removes the app but keeps its documents and data; reinstalling brings everything back.
Is it safe to use a cleaner app?
It is when the app works on your device, shows you everything before deleting and sends deleted photos to Recently Deleted. Spaceclear does all three and collects no data.
Updated 2026-11-13