General and system
iPhone Storage
Most people call this what is filling up your phone.
This screen breaks down what is using your storage, app by app, and offers specific recommendations for freeing space.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 11 and later
- Settings
- General
- iPhone Storage
What it does
A bar at the top shows the split between photos, apps, media and system data. Below it, apps are listed largest first, and each can be offloaded, which removes the app but keeps its data, or deleted entirely.
What changes
When it is on
Not applicable. This is a report with actions.
When it is off
Not applicable.
Should you turn it on?
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
Depends how you use it
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
Helps
Out of the box: Always available.
Questions people actually ask
- Why is my iPhone storage full?
- Open Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. Photos and video are almost always the largest part.
- What is System Data?
- Caches, logs and temporary files. It fluctuates by itself and cannot be cleared directly.
If it is not working
- System Data grows and shrinks on its own. It is mostly caches and usually not worth chasing.
- Offload Unused Apps frees space without losing app data.
- Optimise iPhone Storage in Photos usually frees more than anything else.