How to free up storage on your iPhone

1. See what is using the space

1. Open Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
2. Wait for the bar to fill in: it shows Photos, Apps, Messages, iOS and System Data.
3. Read the recommendations under the bar. Each one says how much it would free.

2. Clear photos and videos you don't need

Duplicates, bursts, screenshots and long videos are usually the quickest wins. The guides below cover each one. Whatever you delete stays in Recently Deleted for 30 days, so the space comes back only when you empty it: in Photos, open Recently Deleted (under Utilities), tap Select, then Delete All.

3. Trim Messages

1. In Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Messages, tap Review Large Attachments and delete what you don't need.
2. In Settings → Apps → Messages (Settings → Messages on iOS 17), set Keep Messages to 1 Year.

4. Offload apps you rarely use

Offloading removes an app but keeps its documents and data, so it comes back as it was. Tap an app in iPhone Storage and choose Offload App, or let iOS do it: Settings → Apps → App Store → Offload Unused Apps (Settings → App Store on iOS 17).

5. Stop it filling up again

• If you use iCloud Photos, turn on Optimise iPhone Storage: Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Photos.
• Keep the camera format on High Efficiency: Settings → Apps → Camera → Formats.
• Record video in 1080p rather than 4K unless you need it: Settings → Apps → Camera → Record Video.