iPhone storage not updating after deleting photos and videos

Question

iPhone storage not updating after deleting photos and videos

I have deleted around 8k total of pictures/ live pictures/ videos

i didnt do it all in one go, rather bit by bit. And my storage won’t update. I’ve deleted it from my recently deleted too. It’s gone. I’ve restarted my phone, it’s been around half an hour. I have deleted videos that are half an hour long taking up a lot of storage just by itself. Why is my storage not updating

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Storage problem

iPhone 16, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 20, 2025 1:24 AM

Reply

Answer 1

LD150

Level 10

103,410 points

Sep 20, 2025 2:53 AM in response to Nath_sterling

If you can't answer a simple question about iCloud Photos I can't help, Except to say, Pay for at least 200GB of iCloud, turn on iCloud Photos, Wait a few days then

Back up the phone

Erase all content & settings

Set up the phone again, restoring the backup. there is some risk so ensure you learn how to perform this.

Back up iPhone - Apple Support

Erase iPhone - Apple Support

Set up your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)

Reply

Answer 2

LD150

Level 10

103,410 points

Sep 20, 2025 1:47 AM in response to Nath_sterling

Are you using iCloud Photos, what are the largest apps shown in Settings, General, Iphone Storage?

eg

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 20, 2025 2:57 AM in response to Nath_sterling

have you tried doing a soft reset/power cycle?

Reply

Answer 4

LD150

Level 10

103,410 points

Sep 20, 2025 4:54 AM in response to Nath_sterling

I know, just answering your question!

you still seemd to ignore my advice, I will repeat….

If you can't answer a simple question about iCloud Photos I can't help, Except to say, Pay for at least 200GB of iCloud, turn on iCloud Photos, Wait a few days then

Back up the phone

Erase all content & settings

Set up the phone again, restoring the backup. there is some risk so ensure you learn how to perform this.

Back up iPhone - Apple Support

Erase iPhone - Apple Support

Set up your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)

Reply

Answer 5

LD150

Level 10

103,410 points

Sep 20, 2025 2:23 AM in response to Nath_sterling

Are you using iCloud Photos?

Can you clean up Shapchat?

Reply

Answer 6

LD150

Level 10

103,410 points

Sep 20, 2025 4:12 AM in response to Nath_sterling

Nath_sterling

not sure what a power cycle is?

turn it off then on again

Reply

Answer 7

Sep 20, 2025 2:46 AM in response to LD150

See the problem is I keep deleting thousands of items from my photos app. Recently deleted too and my storage just goes up. This morning I deleted 8k and since then my storage has went from 58.92gb to 66.3gb in the photos app. It makes no sense at all

Reply

Answer 8

Sep 20, 2025 5:13 AM in response to LD150

My bad, I thought I replied. My iCloud Photos won’t work. It was full a while ago and since I deleted everything in my iCloud Photos I havnt been able to sync again. I pay for the 200gb already and can’t even use it now. This morning after I deleted the 8k items, i tried again. It said it was trying to sync 2k items. I let it do its thing and come back to it about an hour later and it said 5k items trying to sync. Yet to this time still nothing has synced

Reply