How to resolve 'Error cleaning up photos' on iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Question

Level 1

5 points

How to resolve 'Error cleaning up photos' on iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Hi, this was working fine not even an hour ago and now this error message is displaying when I try to use clean up. I am using a iphone 17 pro max, phone is charged, updated to latest software and I have already force restarted my iPhone (up, down hold power), also turned off my iPhone in general just to be extra and I am also connected to WiFi. There should be no issues on my end, is anyone else experiencing this and has found a solution?

[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: Error cleaning up photos

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 27

Posted on Sep 23, 2026 4:28 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 23, 2026 7:26 AM in response to bxbbiiee

You've done some good troubleshooting! Could you tell us, what is your storage on this iPhone? At Settings>General>iPhone Storage, my phone says 50.5 GB of 128 GB used. What does yours say?

Also, are you using iCloud Photos to synchronize your devices? If so

…Do you have “Optimize Storage” checked in Settings>[name]>iCloud>Photos>

…Do you see all your iPhone pictures at iCloud.com?

…What is your storage in iCloud? At Settings>[name]>iCloud>Storage, mine says 166.6 GB of 200 GB used. What does yours say?

Are you using a VPN, or are you using any "cleaner" apps or "anti-virus" apps?

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Answer 2

Sep 28, 2026 6:40 AM in response to bxbbiiee

That's good--224GB, 90%, is the maximum that you should allow as used.

A number of people seem to be reporting problems with Clean Up right now, apparently from overloaded Apple servers that are dealing with millions of upgrades right now. The general suggestion seems to be, "wait a week."

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Answer 3

Sep 24, 2026 8:46 AM in response to bxbbiiee

bxbbiiee wrote: hi, I have 40 GB of storage left and I don’t have iCloud photos turned on

At Settings>General>iPhone Storage, my phone says 50.5 GB of 128 GB used. What does yours say?

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Answer 4

0927nan

Level 1

4 points

Oct 9, 2026 11:59 AM in response to bxbbiiee

I just bought an iPhone 17 now. I’m getting the same error message when I try to clean up a photo. Spent over an hour on the phone. Nobody at Apple could figure out why this is happening. Very frustrating.

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