My iPhone storage is full even after deleting files

I have only about 3 GB of storage left but nothing seems to effectively get rid of storage other than deleting apps. It is already hard considering around 40 GB (Of the 64 GB I have) is taken up by iOS and System Data. I deleted about over a thousand pictures and videos (out of the seven thousand(also not exaggeration I deleted about 1,400 photos and videos I had since January when i downloaded most of my saved tiktoks) I had and my photo’s storage go from 7.36 GB to 7.14 GB. All of those photos and videos I went to recently deleted and permanently deleted them. I deleted everything from mail including trash and spam, barely any change. I’ve cleared my Spotify cache my Spotify cache and downloads at least three times this week, only now has it been successful and not shown and data used for downloads or the cache but it still takes up 1.18 GB, I, not sure what else to do as nothing seems to be efficient or permanent. Is there someway I can move storage strictly to iCloud or my iPad with much more storage?




[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: How to effectively get rid of storage

iPhone SE, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 9, 2025 8:04 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 9, 2025 8:31 PM

s4g3 wrote:

I have only about 3 GB of storage left but nothing seems to effectively get rid of storage other than deleting apps. It is already hard considering around 40 GB (Of the 64 GB I have) is taken up by iOS and System Data. I deleted about over a thousand pictures and videos (out of the seven thousand(also not exaggeration I deleted about 1,400 photos and videos I had since January when i downloaded most of my saved tiktoks) I had and my photo’s storage go from 7.36 GB to 7.14 GB. All of those photos and videos I went to recently deleted and permanently deleted them. I deleted everything from mail including trash and spam, barely any change. I’ve cleared my Spotify cache my Spotify cache and downloads at least three times this week, only now has it been successful and not shown and data used for downloads or the cache but it still takes up 1.18 GB, I, not sure what else to do as nothing seems to be efficient or permanent. Is there someway I can move storage strictly to iCloud or my iPad with much more storage?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: How to effectively get rid of storage

iCloud is not a true archive. It is s syncing service, so what you delete from your iPhone will be deleted from iCloud in real-time. You suggest your phone is using 40GB for iOS and System. You can in the short term clear system data, by backing up your iPhone, then restoring from backup (preferably using your computer if you can). This will reduce your system storage to more normal levels. But it will grow again, so the reality is, you don't own an iPhone with enough memory to meet your storage needs. Apple announced all new iPhones today, with iPhone 17. None of them come with less than 256GB of memory. You should give strong consideration to upgrading your phone to a newer higher memory model.


Here is how you can restore your iPhone from backup --> Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 9, 2025 8:31 PM in response to s4g3

s4g3 wrote:

I have only about 3 GB of storage left but nothing seems to effectively get rid of storage other than deleting apps. It is already hard considering around 40 GB (Of the 64 GB I have) is taken up by iOS and System Data. I deleted about over a thousand pictures and videos (out of the seven thousand(also not exaggeration I deleted about 1,400 photos and videos I had since January when i downloaded most of my saved tiktoks) I had and my photo’s storage go from 7.36 GB to 7.14 GB. All of those photos and videos I went to recently deleted and permanently deleted them. I deleted everything from mail including trash and spam, barely any change. I’ve cleared my Spotify cache my Spotify cache and downloads at least three times this week, only now has it been successful and not shown and data used for downloads or the cache but it still takes up 1.18 GB, I, not sure what else to do as nothing seems to be efficient or permanent. Is there someway I can move storage strictly to iCloud or my iPad with much more storage?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: How to effectively get rid of storage

iCloud is not a true archive. It is s syncing service, so what you delete from your iPhone will be deleted from iCloud in real-time. You suggest your phone is using 40GB for iOS and System. You can in the short term clear system data, by backing up your iPhone, then restoring from backup (preferably using your computer if you can). This will reduce your system storage to more normal levels. But it will grow again, so the reality is, you don't own an iPhone with enough memory to meet your storage needs. Apple announced all new iPhones today, with iPhone 17. None of them come with less than 256GB of memory. You should give strong consideration to upgrading your phone to a newer higher memory model.


Here is how you can restore your iPhone from backup --> Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


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My iPhone storage is full even after deleting files

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