Your “system Data” and “iPhone” are quite high. Some of these are collected from apps and websites caching a lot of data/downloads. If you don’t need browser history and know your login passwords, you could try by clearing your browser history and cookies. Sometimes, if you’ve Restored the same backup onto multiple phones, there’s simply too much data and diagnostics on board and the best solution is to back up all your apps, photos, contacts, music et cetera in the cloud, completely erase the phone, and set it up as new. Be sure everything in iCloud you care about is turned and has had at least a full overnight charge on Wi-Fi to upload and sync before erasing. Then turn them all back on once the phone has been set up as new and it’ll redownload it without the extra fluff. Answer from Deleted User on reddit.com
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254416398
My IPhone storage is full even after deleting photos and apps
For additional information, check out this link: Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support · These steps will help ensure your device is working with ease and can fix common issues like the ones you’re experiencing. Kindest regards! ... If restarting the phone a number of times does not help, please see Clear Other storage on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support ... NOT SEEING IPHONE RECLAIM DELETED STORAGE WITHIN IPHONE STORAGE (I tried clearing Safarie cashe, turning off iphone for a while, using utility apps to reclaim storage....to NO avail) – WHAT WORKED FOR ME: I RE-DOWNLOAD THE APPLE MUSIC APP AND MY IPHONE STORAGE WAS ACCURATELY UPDATED LESS THE 50GB PREVIOUSLY DELETED.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/iphonehelp › storage stays full for days after deleting thousands of pictures
r/iphonehelp on Reddit: Storage stays full for days after deleting thousands of pictures
December 4, 2023 -
Hi guys!
My IPhone 8 says the storage is full even though I keep deleting apps and pictures. This has been going on for 2 weeks.
When I connect it to iTunes, it shows that I have 8GB available. When I try to save the phone on iTunes, it’s says the storage is too full to sync, though.
I keep deleting pictures and nothing changes. I emptied the deleted pictures section. I deleted my browser history.
It says I have around 18Gb of system data and every time I delete something the number just gets bigger instead of the available storage.
I still have ICloud storage available. I’ve turned on/off the phone a few times, doesn’t change anything.
Do you have any idea what i could do ? I can’t even open WhatsApp so it’s been really hard :( thanks !
I’m under iOS 16.3.1 btw.
Top answer 1 of 19
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Your “system Data” and “iPhone” are quite high. Some of these are collected from apps and websites caching a lot of data/downloads. If you don’t need browser history and know your login passwords, you could try by clearing your browser history and cookies. Sometimes, if you’ve Restored the same backup onto multiple phones, there’s simply too much data and diagnostics on board and the best solution is to back up all your apps, photos, contacts, music et cetera in the cloud, completely erase the phone, and set it up as new. Be sure everything in iCloud you care about is turned and has had at least a full overnight charge on Wi-Fi to upload and sync before erasing. Then turn them all back on once the phone has been set up as new and it’ll redownload it without the extra fluff.
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It’s possible videos are taking the majority of that space, it’s also possible they are in recently deleted
InsanelyMac
insanelymac.com › blog › iphone-storage-still-full-after-deleting-photos
iPhone Storage Still Full After Deleting Photos? Here Are 8 Ways fo Fix It
Ready to turn the tables on your iPhone storage? Think you’ve cleared out photos but found your storage unchanged? Here’s a first step many miss: Open Photos: Tap on the Photos app to get started. Hit Albums: At the bottom, you’ll see ‘Albums’. Give that a tap. Scroll to Recently Deleted: It’s tucked away under ‘Other Albums’. Found it?
Published February 27, 2025
Why does my iPhone say storage is full when I have iCloud storage available?
iCloud storage is separate from your iPhone’s internal storage. While iCloud stores your data in the cloud, your iPhone might still be full due to local files, apps, and cached data. Freeing up iCloud space won’t affect the storage capacity on your device itself.
insanelymac.com
insanelymac.com › blog › iphone-storage-still-full-after-deleting-photos
iPhone Storage Still Full After Deleting Photos? Here Are 8 Ways ...
Do deleted photos take up storage?
Yes, Photos in the Recently Deleted folder do count towards your iPhone storage space. You can permanently delete these items as described above to free up more space.
news.macgasm.net
news.macgasm.net › tips › why is iphone storage full after deleting everything
Why is iPhone Storage Full After Deleting Everything (13 Fixes)
How do I reset my iPhone to clear system storage?
You can reset your iPhone to clear the system storage by opening Settings, selecting General, and choosing Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Reset and then choose Reset All Settings.
news.macgasm.net
news.macgasm.net › tips › why is iphone storage full after deleting everything
Why is iPhone Storage Full After Deleting Everything (13 Fixes)
iBoysoft
handyrecovery.com › iphone-storage-full-after-deleting-photos
How to Fix 'iPhone Storage Full After Deleting Photos' Issue
February 27, 2025 - Normally, when iCloud Photos is on, deleting a photo removes it from all your devices. But sometimes, sync bugs can cause deleted files to come back, creating a confusing loop that makes your iPhone storage still full even after deleting photos.
Macgasm
news.macgasm.net › tips › why is iphone storage full after deleting everything
Why is iPhone Storage Full After Deleting Everything (13 Fixes)
May 16, 2025 - You may have deleted most or all of the photos on your iPhone but still see the Photos app consuming space.
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › pulse › iphone-storage-still-full-after-deleting-photos-handy-recovery-wjpxf
Is Your iPhone Storage Still Full After Deleting Photos?
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Stellar Info
stellarinfo.com › home › how to fix: iphone photos deleted but storage still full?
How to Fix iPhone Storage is Still Full After Deleting Photos ?
May 29, 2025 - To fix the iPhone storage full after deleting photos issue, clear the Recently Deleted folder, delete the cache, disable iCloud Photos, or factory reset the device.
Quora
quora.com › I-deleted-every-image-in-my-camera-roll-but-it-is-still-taking-up-over-90GB-of-my-phone-storage-Does-anyone-know-how-to-fix-this
I deleted every image in my camera roll, but it is still taking up over 90GB of my phone storage. Does anyone know how to fix this? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): It's very likely that the photos and video that you deleted in your Photo Gallery app still is inside the “Trash” folder (might be called something else like “Recently Deleted" on iPhones).
AppleToolBox
appletoolbox.com › home › no space on iphone even after deleting photos and videos? how-to fix
No Space on iPhone Even After Deleting Photos and Videos? How-To Fix - AppleToolBox
February 22, 2024 - If you’re still battling a “storage full” message even after deleting photos and videos, it’s likely your iPhone is keeping the high-resolution originals of those files on your device.
SimplyMac
simplymac.com › icloud › why-is-my-icloud-storage-still-full-after-deleting-photos
Why Is My iCloud Storage Still Full After Deleting Photos? - SimplyMac
September 5, 2024 - Remember, your phone combines local iPhone storage with iCloud storage. If you delete something from your device, it might still be stored in the cloud, so your phone’s storage doesn’t change as you’d expect.
MakeUseOf
makeuseof.com › home › iphone › iphone photos using space even after deleting them? 8 fixes
iPhone Photos Using Space Even After Deleting Them? 8 Fixes
October 14, 2023 - If you've tried all the above steps and your storage is still taken up by photos that don't exist, you should next opt for a full iPhone reset. This is a drastic measure, but it will hopefully clear out any persistent issues causing the storage glitch.
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › smartphones › i85de-deleted-several-apps-iphone-says-storage.html
Resolve iPhone Storage Issues: Expert Q&A on Deleted Apps and Full Storage
I have deleted several apps and my iPhone still says storage full. 6S plus. About 1 month. I think that is everything
MobileTrans
mobiletrans.wondershare.com › iphone-tips › why-is-my-iphone-storage-full-after-deleting-everything.html
Why is My iPhone Storage Full After Deleting Everything
October 27, 2025 - Hold the Power button until the screen goes blank and displays the Apple logo. Then release the side button. Another method to fix iPhone storage full after deleting everything is to remove the photos in your recently deleted folder.
CopyTrans
copytrans.net › support › why-is-my-icloud-storage-full-after-deleting-photos
Why is my iCloud storage full after deleting photos?
September 22, 2025 - Well, that’s a bit obvious but still worth checking. If you wanted to free up iCloud space by deleting iPhone photos, check if they were actually synced.
iMyFone
imyfone.com › ios-data-erase › iphone-storage-full-after-deleting-photos
[Fixed] Free Up Storage Space After Deleting Photos - iOS 15
Previously deleted data is actually still saved on the device.
TunesKit
tuneskit.com › ios-repair › why-is-my-iphone-storage-full-after-deleting-everything.html
iPhone Storage Full After Deleting Everything [Reasons & Solutions]
... For these old iPhone models, ... it to shut down your iPhone. You're not allowed to update the iOS version on your iPhone when iPhone says full storage even if you delete all the files....
Reddit
reddit.com › r/iphone › iphone storage space not going down even when deleting lots of photos and videos?
r/iphone on Reddit: iPhone storage space not going down even when deleting lots of photos and videos?
August 5, 2023 -
So, I have a huge dilemma. No matter how many GB of photos and videos I delete, it won’t change my storage space. It’s at like 252GB used out of 256GB.
I need to update my phone to fix the bug or whatever but I need more storage space to do that and I can’t do it.
On top of that, my iCloud backup is failing so it won’t back up my June and July photos but it’s done august ones and the rest of them.
I have an appointment tomorrow at Apple Store but does anyone else here know what to do?
It’s almost my birthday and I’ll want to take photos.
I also can’t really upload them to Dropbox either because it takes so much time and I may need more storage space to do that too.
Any tips??
Edit: I did delete everything in recently deleted, so don’t comment that I should do that like I’m dumb or something
Top answer 1 of 20
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It appears that instead of actually deleting the content, the iPhone puts it back right after the deletion under 'other.' I suppose this is a way of prompting people to pay for more storage space. I tried the following solution, and it worked: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250002774
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…empty the Recently Deleted folder
Quora
quora.com › Ive-already-deleted-all-my-photos-and-videos-in-my-iPhone-and-it-still-says-that-Im-low-on-storage-My-photos-is-the-1-app-that-is-taking-all-of-it-What-should-I-do
I've already deleted all my photos and videos in my iPhone and it still says that I'm low on storage. My photos is the #1 app that is taking all of it. What should I do? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): Q: I've already ... A: There is a technique that has worked for many people, as odd as it sounds * Perform a backup to your ......
Top answer 1 of 4
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I had this problem for a long time with my 16gb iPhone. After a lot of looking I discovered iExplore and this tip:
http://iexplorer-support.macroplant.com/customer/portal/articles/1325738-how-to-delete-all-photos-from-an-iphone-or-ipad
Essentially, Photos caches lots of files and due iOS bugs, the caches don't always get cleared up.
I used the solution on the above page and cleared up 2GB of space.
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I have resolved my problem using iExplorer (mentioned by @billyork23). In my case, it is the thumbnail data of old photos. You can locate it under:
Media/PhotoData/Thumbnails
and delete all .ithumb files. It saves me 1.5GB.
P.S. The iExplorer does not require jailbreak or anything.
MultCloud
multcloud.com › multcloud questions › why is my icloud storage full after deleting photos?
Why is My iCloud Storage Full after Deleting Photos?
September 1, 2025 - Recently Deleted Album: When you ... from your iCloud storage. So, if you have deleted a large number of photos recently, they might still be taking up space in the Recently Deleted album....