iOS system files vs. System Data
Why is my iphone storage suddenly full with the new iOS stuff at the bottom with system data? What's their difference?
iPhone 11, iOS 15
User profile for user:
SnickZ.
User level:
Community Specialist
Hey eleishia,
It appears that you have some questions regarding the storage on your iPhone, and we're glad to provide assistance.
How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support -- We're unsure of where you're seeing "System Files", but we're assuming these are the files cached in the "Other" category. Under "Content categories" you'll find the explanation:
Other: Non-removable mobile assets, like Siri voices, fonts, dictionaries, non-removable logs and caches, Spotlight index, and system data, such as Keychain and CloudKit Database. Cached files can't be deleted by the system.
System: Space taken by the operating system. This can vary based on your device and model.
If it's taking up too much of your storage space, see if restarting your iPhone lessens it a bit: Restart your iPhone - Apple Support
If you have any further questions or issues, feel free to reach back out. If you do, also include the answers to the following questions:
- Which iPhone are you using, and which iOS is it currently on (Settings > General > About)?
- How much storage does your iPhone have and how much storage space is being taken by "System Files", "Other", and "System Data"?
All the best.