That dreaded notification pops up again: "iPhone Storage Full." You can't take another photo of the fall foliage in Litchfield Hills or capture your grandkids at the Southbury parade. For Connecticut families, our phones hold irreplaceable memories—beach days at Hammonasset, hiking Sleeping Giant, holiday gatherings at home. The last thing you want to do is start deleting precious photos to make room.
Here's the good news: you don't have to. Your iPhone is probably storing hundreds of files you don't need, and clearing them out is easier than you think. Most people can free up 5-15 GB of space in about 20 minutes without touching a single photo. Let me walk you through exactly how to do it.
How to Free Up iPhone Storage (Without Deleting Photos)
These steps work for most iPhones running iOS 12 or newer. Take your time with each one—there's no rush.
Need Professional Help?
If these steps didn't solve your problem, we can help. We provide on-site phone & tablet help throughout western Connecticut.
Learn About Our Phone & Tablet Help Service →
📱 More iPhone & iOS Help
Looking for more iphone & ios help? Check out our complete collection of guides and tutorials.
1. Offload Unused Apps
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Wait about 30 seconds for it to load completely.
Scroll down and look at the list of apps. You'll see how much space each one uses. Tap on any app you rarely use, then tap "Offload App" (not "Delete App"). This removes the app but keeps your data, so if you reinstall it later, everything comes back.
Why this works: Apps like Facebook, games, and news apps can take up 500 MB to 2 GB each. Offloading just 3-4 apps can free up significant space. This fixes the storage problem about 40% of the time on its own.
2. Clear Safari's Cache
Open Settings, scroll down to Safari, then scroll down again and tap "Clear History and Website Data". Confirm by tapping it again.
Why this works: Every website you visit stores small files on your phone. After months or years, this can add up to several gigabytes. Don't worry—this won't delete your passwords or bookmarks, just temporary website files.
3. Delete Old Text Message Threads
Open your Messages app. Look for conversations that go back months or years, especially group chats. Swipe left on any conversation and tap Delete.
Pay special attention to threads with lots of photos or videos—those take up the most space.
Why this works: Old messages, especially ones with videos and photos, can eat up 2-5 GB without you realizing it. You're not deleting the photos from your main photo library, just the copies buried in old text threads.
4. Check "Recently Deleted" in Photos
Open your Photos app, tap Albums at the bottom, then scroll all the way down to "Recently Deleted". Tap "Select" in the top right, then "Delete All".
Why this works: When you delete a photo, your iPhone keeps it for 30 days "just in case." These photos still take up space. Permanently deleting them frees up that storage immediately.
5. Remove Downloaded Music and Podcasts
If you use Apple Music or Spotify, open the app and look for downloaded songs (usually marked with a down arrow icon). Remove downloads you've already listened to.
For Podcasts, open the Podcasts app, go to your Library, and delete old episodes you've finished.
Why this works: A single album takes about 100 MB, and podcast episodes can be 50-150 MB each. If you have dozens downloaded, that's easily 2-3 GB you can reclaim. You can always stream them or download again when you have WiFi.
6. Turn On "Optimize iPhone Storage" for Photos
Go to Settings > Photos. Select "Optimize iPhone Storage" instead of "Download and Keep Originals."
Why this works: This keeps smaller versions of your photos on your phone and stores the full-resolution copies in iCloud. You can still see and share all your photos—they just take up less room on your device. The full version downloads automatically when you need it. This option works best if you have an iCloud storage plan.
7. Check for Large Attachments
Go back to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Tap on Messages from the app list, then tap "Review Large Attachments".
You'll see videos and photos people have sent you. Swipe left on any you don't need and tap Delete.
Why this works: That funny video your son sent last year? It might be taking up 200 MB. These large files add up fast, and you probably forgot they were even there.
Still Not Working?
If you've tried these steps and you're still seeing "Storage Full" warnings, you might be dealing with one of these more complex issues:
- "System" or "Other" taking up 20+ GB: This is usually corrupted cache files or iOS update files that got stuck. It requires special steps to clear properly.
- iCloud Photos not syncing correctly: Sometimes the "Optimize Storage" feature gets confused, and your phone keeps full-size photos even when it shouldn't.
- Hidden app data: Some apps (especially social media) store huge amounts of hidden data that can only be cleared by completely removing and reinstalling the app in a specific way.
These problems need a more technical approach, and honestly, they can be frustrating to fix on your own.
STILL HAVING PROBLEMS?
Don't waste more time troubleshooting. Call Chapin Business Services at (203) 262-1869.
✓ Same-day service often available
✓ We come to you (house calls)
✓ Serving Southbury, Danbury, Waterbury, Litchfield County, and all of western Connecticut
✓ Real human answers the phone
25+ years serving Connecticut families and small businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my photos if I turn on "Optimize iPhone Storage"?
No, your photos are safe. They're stored in iCloud, and you can view them anytime. The full-resolution version downloads automatically when you need it, like when you want to print or edit a photo.
How much iCloud storage do I need?
Most people do fine with the 50 GB plan ($0.99/month) or 200 GB plan ($2.99/month). If you have years of photos and videos from family events and vacations around Connecticut, the 200 GB plan is usually worth it.
What's the difference between "Offload App" and "Delete App"?
"Offload" removes the app but saves your login info and settings. If you reinstall it later, everything's still there. "Delete" removes everything, and you start from scratch if you reinstall.
My storage says "Other" is using a lot of space. What is that?
"Other" includes system files, caches, logs, and Siri voices. A few gigabytes is normal, but if it's over 15-20 GB, something's probably wrong and needs attention from someone who can diagnose it properly.