Wiedzmin478
Level 1 (4 points)
iPhone

Q: iPhone not enough storage

Hi!
I have iPhone 5S with 16Gb. After upgrading to iOS 9 storage amount decreased dramatically: I have only ~100-200Mb free. I have only 33 apps, no games, no movies, etc. Total amount of used storage (due to list of apps in Settings) is ~3Gb. In the same time line at above of this list says that I have 11,5Gb used.
Most 'heavy' apps are Photos (400Mb), Podcasts (260Mb) and Music (150Mb). Other apps are 10-80Mb each. Totally, as I already said, about 3Gb.
iTunes says that I have 141Mb used by Audio, 350Mb used by Photo, 1,15Gb used by Apps, 2,9Gb used by Documents and 2,15Gb used by Other. And that I have 5,45Gb Free. iTunes metrics seems to be close to reality. But why iPhone itself says that I have 11,5Gb used? Used by what? How to clear it?
I already tried to wipe all caches, histories and swaps inside all apps. That didn't help. Yes, I've free some space, but it quickly become used again. I decided to solve problem in straight way: wiped iPhone and installed iOS and apps from fresh (not restoring from backup). It helped, I've got ~5Gb free and that seems to be right, but after a couple of month I again have only 170Mb free. With same amount of apps.
Who faced with same problem? Could you please tell me if you have any ideas why this happening?
Thanks.

 

IMG_0830.PNG1.png

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on May 10, 2016 2:57 AM

by Wiedzmin478,Solvedanswer
Wiedzmin478 Wiedzmin478
Level 1 (4 points)
iPhone
A:

So, it's surely Apple Music.
Turning off/on iCloud Music free up ~5-6Gb. I don't have any songs saved on device, so it seems to be some kind of cache, which Apple Music app doesn't clean itself.
There is no need in wiping or restoring your iPhone, just turn iCloud Music off, make sure that all your playlists and songs disappeared, and than turn iCloud Music on again. Don't worry, all playlists and other stuff will be synced back. And this procedure will clean all garbage from Apple Music app (for me it was about 5-6Gb).
Hope my hint will help someone. And strongly hope Apple will fix this bug. And many others.
To be honest, current situation with iOS is awful. Hey, Apple, pull yourself together, what the **** is going on? Why iOS becomes more buggy than Android?

Posted on Jun 6, 2016 11:43 PM

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Wiedzmin478

Q: iPhone not enough storage

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  • by D.Cohen,

    D.Cohen D.Cohen May 10, 2016 3:02 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 6 (8,424 points)
    Desktops
    May 10, 2016 3:02 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    You can save space on your device using iCloud photo library. You can see more information here: iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support

  • by Wiedzmin478,

    Wiedzmin478 Wiedzmin478 May 10, 2016 3:12 AM in response to D.Cohen
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 3:12 AM in response to D.Cohen

    I already use iCloud Photo Library. And Apple Music. Main problem is not how save space (I already tried almost everything) but why my storage space leaks.
    Once again: total amount of space used by all apps, photos, songs, etc is only 3Gb. I get 3Gb if I manually count numbers in iPhone Settings. I get 3Gb in iTunes status bar. But iPhone itself says that 11.5Gb used instead of 3Gb.

  • by Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall May 10, 2016 3:15 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 6 (8,753 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 10, 2016 3:15 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    Hi

    The only thing to do is sell your iPhone and buy one with 32G/64G

    Cheers

    Brian

  • by Wiedzmin478,

    Wiedzmin478 Wiedzmin478 May 10, 2016 3:22 AM in response to Briansyddall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 3:22 AM in response to Briansyddall

    Your answer is as useful as 'google it'.
    I have 16Gb iPhones since 2009 and it always was enough for me. I don't play games or watch movies on it. Just some apps, some music and some photos. 16Gb is more than enough for it: I have almost 5Gb free. Even in times when there was no iCloud, Apple Music and all stuff was stored on device itself.
    Now, with iCloud I don't have space. Why? Why iTunes shows amount of free space right? Why iPhone shows and counts it wrong? What invisible thing wastes almost 5Gb of space?

  • by RockstarKB,

    RockstarKB RockstarKB May 10, 2016 4:37 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 3 (767 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 4:37 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    Then Only way to Get Back Storage is

    Create a Full iCloud Backup & the Restore via iTunes !!

     

    Hope this will Fix your Issues

  • by Wiedzmin478,

    Wiedzmin478 Wiedzmin478 May 10, 2016 4:41 AM in response to RockstarKB
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 4:41 AM in response to RockstarKB

    Oh, people... Do you read my post carefully? Or my English is so bad that hard to understand?
    I already done Backup&Restore. And I even wiped iPhone completely and reinstalled all apps from scratch, without restoring from backup (because that 'invisible' stuff could be in backup too). After a couple of month there is no space on iPhone again.

  • by Todd1914,

    Todd1914 Todd1914 May 10, 2016 4:55 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 1 (25 points)
    iPad
    May 10, 2016 4:55 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    I Understand you perfectly and I can't believe how unhelpful all these posts have been. My only advice is to call apple support, there number is 1-800-my-apple. try to explain everything as best you can once you get to talk to a representative.

  • by ag0527,

    ag0527 ag0527 May 10, 2016 6:12 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 10, 2016 6:12 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    hi   Wiedzmin478

     

    I have the same problome.

    just now I came back from the customers service of my phone's company, and they told me they can't help me except to format my iphone, action that probably would'nt solve the problem.

    so, i will be happy if you write here the solution when you find it.

    sory on my mistakes in the English, I am not perfect in English yet but I am working now on improving it.

  • by deggie,Helpful

    deggie deggie May 10, 2016 7:14 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 9 (54,612 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 7:14 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    I can't read the amount but it seems you have an inordinate amount of "Other". I'm guessing that this bar goes way down after you Restore the iPhone as new and after some use it goes high again which would indicate that there is a corrupt file(s) on your iPhone. There is no easy solution to finding this, you just need to get into the habit of monitoring your usage until you notice the spike. Whatever you used last is causing it. In my experience this is quite often a corrupt audio file.

  • by Wiedzmin478,

    Wiedzmin478 Wiedzmin478 May 10, 2016 6:37 AM in response to ag0527
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 6:37 AM in response to ag0527

    Hi.
    I tried that solution (format iPhone, then reinstall all from scratch), and it solves the problem, but only temporary. After some time there is no storage again. Seems like one of the apps or system services generates a lot of cache/trash, that couldn't be seen by iTunes, but have not been cleared by iPhone itself. It growth bigger and bigger until eats all available storage.

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie May 10, 2016 6:41 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 9 (54,612 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 6:41 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    There was a problem with WhatsApp that was doing exactly that, are you updated to the latest version?

     

    I would also remove all your audio files by syncing and see if this also reduces "Other".

  • by Wiedzmin478,

    Wiedzmin478 Wiedzmin478 May 10, 2016 6:45 AM in response to deggie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 6:45 AM in response to deggie

    Well, according to iTunes 'Other' takes only 2Gb. And iTunes shows that 5Gb is free. But iPhone itself says that only 100-150Mb is free. So, that something invisible for iTunes, not 'Other'. Or iTunes and iPhone counts amount of 'Other' differently. Anyway, I agree that it is corrupted files or something like this. Unfortunately, I cant say what app generates them, but I hope that's not iOS itself.
    You said that it could be audio file: I don't store any music on device, I use Apple Music. Maybe it is corrupted Apple Music Cache? This app have some flaws anyway...
    I don't use WatsApp, the only one message app I have is Telegram and it has an option to clear its cache – I do it regulary.

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie May 10, 2016 6:47 AM in response to Wiedzmin478
    Level 9 (54,612 points)
    iPhone
    May 10, 2016 6:47 AM in response to Wiedzmin478

    2GB of Other is too big and would indicate a problem. Your original post says you have 141MB in audio files, are these ring tones? There is no Apple Music cache so that would not be an issue. And are you using WhatsApp?

     

    As a test Restore it as new and don't add any other apps for a couple of days and see if the storage creep continues. If it does not then it is going to be one of your apps or files that is causing this. Since you don't use many apps it is then a tedious process of adding one back at a time, using it, and seeing if the problem returns.

  • by Todd1914,

    Todd1914 Todd1914 May 10, 2016 6:50 AM in response to deggie
    Level 1 (25 points)
    iPad
    May 10, 2016 6:50 AM in response to deggie

    Your really good at diagnosing problelms deggie. I wish I could get that good

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