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System data is taking up most of my iPhone storage

How do I free up the area that says system data. It’s taking up most of my storage


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 12

Posted on Feb 20, 2022 5:23 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 31, 2022 10:46 AM

Hi The_Behemoth, just want to know eventually did the problem solved?


I am having the same problem. So far I did the following steps

1). Iphone hard reset x 3 times. Result system data still there a lot.

2). Erase Iphone to a factory setting x 2 times (by using the phone itself ) and every time I did restore data from icloud which was taking 2 days each time. Result system data still there a lot.

3). Another erase Iphone to a factory setting x 2 times (by using Apple Store's Mcbook and my own Mcbook) and every time I did restore data from icloud which was taking 2 days each time. Result system data still there a lot.

4). Bought an icloud space for 2T

5). Went to Apple store multiple times to ask for the assistance.

6). Chat + Call with the Apple support multiple times.


still didn't work for me .... I am so so so so desperate

20 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 31, 2022 10:46 AM in response to The_Behemoth

Hi The_Behemoth, just want to know eventually did the problem solved?


I am having the same problem. So far I did the following steps

1). Iphone hard reset x 3 times. Result system data still there a lot.

2). Erase Iphone to a factory setting x 2 times (by using the phone itself ) and every time I did restore data from icloud which was taking 2 days each time. Result system data still there a lot.

3). Another erase Iphone to a factory setting x 2 times (by using Apple Store's Mcbook and my own Mcbook) and every time I did restore data from icloud which was taking 2 days each time. Result system data still there a lot.

4). Bought an icloud space for 2T

5). Went to Apple store multiple times to ask for the assistance.

6). Chat + Call with the Apple support multiple times.


still didn't work for me .... I am so so so so desperate

Feb 20, 2022 5:26 PM in response to The_Behemoth

System data is just that; it is data needed by iOS. It would be unusual for it to take up post of your storage; perhaps your phone has storage corruption; if that is the reason you can restore your phone to a backup.


  1. How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
  2. Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support - follow the instructions to restore using your computer, do not using Settings/General/Reset (which is not included in those instructions)
  3. Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


Mar 21, 2022 1:06 PM in response to razorapp

Well, I’m now stumped. You can try Apple Support (Get Support at the top of this page), but they will probably tell you the same thing I’m about to post.


Go to Settings/[your name]/iCloud and turn on switches to sync everything, and wait a while connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in for everything to sync. Then restore your phone to factory settings, don’t restore a backup, turn those switches back on, and reinstall all of your 3rd party apps from the App Store. Set up mail anew. This will recover most all data, except app data local on your iPhone only.

System data is taking up most of my iPhone storage

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