FixPhones and Tablets

Phone storage full: how to free up space

Your Android phone or iPhone says storage is full. See what uses the space, then free it safely: back up photos first, then clear apps, downloads and old messages.

  • Updated
  • 15 min
  • Beginner
Applies to
  • Android
  • iPhone / iPad

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When a phone is nearly full, it can fail to take photos, install updates or save messages. Find what is using the space and free it up, starting with the safest steps, on Android phones and iPhones.

Before you start

Most space is taken by photos and videos, then apps, then downloads and message attachments. Set aside about 15 minutes.

Back up before you delete

Deleting photos, videos or app data can be permanent. First make sure the items are saved somewhere else: on a computer (see how to transfer photos from your phone to a computer) or in a photo service you have checked online. Open a few saved copies to be sure they work.

Free up space, safest firstA top-to-bottom flow chart with 7 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Free up space, safest firstNo1See what is using thespace2Back up photos andvideos3Clear downloads andunused apps4Enough space now?Yes: You are done5Clear app caches and oldmessages6Delete photos you havebacked upStill short? Move files to acomputer or cloud.
Stop when you have enough free space.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: See what is using the space
  2. Step 2: Back up photos and videos
  3. Step 3: Clear downloads and unused apps
  4. Question 4: Enough space now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  5. Step 5: Clear app caches and old messages
  6. Step 6: Delete photos you have backed up
  7. If nothing worked: Still short? Move files to a computer or cloud.

Step 1: See what is using the space

Android

Menu names vary by maker (Samsung, Google Pixel and others). Open Settings, go to Storage and tap a category to see what is taking up space. You can also search for the word Storage inside Settings.

iPhone

Open Settings then General then iPhone Storage. The space left is shown at the top, and below is a list of apps with the most space first. Apple may also show recommendations. Tap Show All to see them and choose which to turn on.

Step 2: Clear the safe things first

On Android

Google's own steps are these. Google says some of them need Android 14 or later, so older phones may look different.

  1. Open Settings then Storage then Free up space.
  2. Choose a category. If the one you want is not listed, tap Browse.
  3. Tap Select files, and choose the items, or select all.
  4. Tap Move files to Trash. You should see the free space number rise.

On this screen you can open the menu and turn on Smart Storage. Google says it clears photos and videos that are already backed up when space runs low. Leave it off if you have not checked that your photos are backed up.

Other things to try:

  • Uninstall unused apps. You can reinstall them later, and paid apps do not need to be bought again.
  • Automatically archive apps. In the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then General, and turn on Automatically archive apps. Archived apps keep their data and icon.
  • Clear an app's cache. In the app's info page choose Storage, then Clear cache. This removes temporary data and may make the app a little slower the next time it opens.
  • Delete downloads you no longer need. Delete music and video downloads from the app that saved them.

Do not choose Clear storage or Clear data casually

Google warns that Clear storage permanently deletes all of an app's data, such as settings and saved games. Try deleting items inside the app first. Choose Clear cache, not Clear storage.

The Files by Google app has a Clean section that suggests junk files, large files and unused apps. It deletes for good, so read each list before you confirm.

On iPhone

  1. Open Settings then General then iPhone Storage and wait for the list to load.
  2. Tap an app that uses a lot of space to see its size and choices.
  3. To remove the app but keep its documents and data, tap Offload App. The icon stays on the Home Screen with a cloud symbol. Tap it to download the app again.
  4. To remove the app and its data, tap Delete App, and only if you will not need that data.

Apple says an iPhone can also offload unused apps by itself when space is low. To turn it on, open Settings then Apps then App Store and switch on Offload Unused Apps. On older iOS versions the setting is elsewhere, so search Settings for Offload.

  • Messages: large photos and videos in texts add up. Delete old conversations and attachments you do not need, from inside Messages.
  • Photos: after photos are backed up, delete extras and duplicates. Deleted photos usually go to a Recently Deleted album first, and they free no space until you empty it there.
  • Files: open the Files app and delete downloads you do not need.

Step 3: Photos and videos

These are usually the biggest items. Pick one safe route.

  • Copy to a computer with a cable, check the copies, then delete from the phone. See how to connect a phone to a computer with USB.
  • Use a photo service. On an iPhone with iCloud Photos, Optimize iPhone Storage keeps smaller versions on the phone and the full versions online. This needs enough iCloud space and an internet connection to see full-size photos. On Android, Google Photos can remove copies it has already backed up. In both cases, check online first that the photos are really there.

Videos use the most space

A few long videos can fill more space than hundreds of photos. Sort by size where the app allows it, and start with the largest videos you have already saved.

If space does not come back

  • Restart the phone. Some space appears only after a restart.
  • Check for an operating system update, because updates need free space of their own. If an update will not install, free more space first.
  • Check the phone's storage screen again. Items marked System or Other cannot be deleted directly, but they often shrink after a restart or an update.
  • If you need more room long term, consider a memory card if your Android model has a slot, an online storage plan, or a phone with more storage.

If the phone also has battery trouble, see phone won't charge: what to check. For a full computer, see free up disk space in Windows or Mac storage full.

Frequently asked questions

Is clearing the cache safe?

Yes, for most apps. It removes temporary files and the app rebuilds them. Do not confuse it with clearing all data.

Will offloading an app delete my data?

On iPhone, offloading removes the app but keeps its documents and data. Deleting the app removes both.

Why is storage full when I have few photos?

Apps, downloaded videos and music, and message attachments can use a lot of space. The storage screen shows which ones.

Do cleaner apps help?

You do not need them. The tools built into the phone, and Google's Files app on Android, do the job. Many cleaner apps in app stores show ads or push scare messages.

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