Free storage

This screen breaks down what is using your storage, app by app, and offers specific recommendations for freeing space.

Settings > General > iPhone Storage

iCloud Photos keeps one library in sync across every device signed into your Apple Account, which means a change on one device happens everywhere.

Settings > Apps > Photos > Sync this iPhone

Full resolution photos stay in iCloud and your iPhone keeps smaller versions, downloading the original only when you need it.

Settings > Apps > Photos > Optimise iPhone Storage

Manage Storage shows what is using your iCloud allowance, which is almost always backups and photos, and lets you delete or upgrade.

Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Manage Account Storage

Apple Intelligence adds writing tools, image and notification summaries and a more capable Siri on models with the required hardware, and it can be switched off entirely.

Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri

Deleted photos stay in a Recently Deleted album for 30 days before they are removed permanently, and they still count against your storage until then.

Photos > Albums > Utilities > Recently Deleted

Family Sharing lets up to six people share an iCloud storage plan, subscriptions and purchases, and gives a parent the controls needed for a child account.

Settings > Apple Account > Family Sharing

A Live Photo captures a second and a half of video either side of the shutter, which lets you choose a better frame later or turn it into a short loop.

Settings > Apps > Camera > Preserve Settings > Live Photo

High Efficiency saves photos as HEIF and video as HEVC, which halves the file size, while Most Compatible uses JPEG and H.264 for wider support.

Settings > Apps > Camera > Formats

When storage runs low, apps you have not opened in a while are removed but their icons and data stay, so tapping the icon reinstalls them.

Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps

Messages can be kept forever, for one year, or for 30 days, after which they are deleted automatically.

Settings > Apps > Messages > Keep Messages

A Shared Album lets chosen people view, comment on and optionally add photos, without using your iCloud storage allowance.

Settings > Apps > Photos > Shared Albums

Apps, books and music bought on one device can download automatically to your other devices, and a separate switch controls whether that happens over cellular.

Settings > App Store > Automatic Downloads