iPhone Photo Library "Ghost" Space

My iPhone shows 2.3 GB of data in my photo library but I just cleaned out all my photos? I already synced to iTunes and rebooted the device. I have updated to iOS8.

iPhone 4S, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 25, 2014 7:25 AM

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toddg333

Level 1

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Posted on Feb 20, 2015 6:05 PM

In TouchCopy, select the Files folder on the left-hand side. Then select DCIM. You may see several sub-folders beginning with 100APPLE, then 101APPLE, 102APPLE, etc. That's where my ghost files were. They appeared to be the very first photos and videos I took after purchasing the phone, since they were numbered 0001, 0002, etc. The videos obviously took up the most space. (My guess is that they got cached there automatically the first time I synced the new phone with iTunes, because I wasn't quick enough to turn off Photo syncing in iTunes. After that first sync, I turned off Photo syncing, and the later photos weren't cached. Instead of photo syncing through iTunes, I use Photo Capture on my MacBook Air to download them with more control.) In the trial version of TouchCopy, I could select all of the files, but the Delete Selection button was grayed out. Once I activated the full version of TouchCopy, the Delete button became available, and I deleted the old files in each of those 10xAPPLE sub-folders. I didn't delete the folders themselves, just the files. After that, eject/disconnect your phone safely. Power off your phone, then power it back on and check your usage/free space.

You must have the full version of TouchCopy to delete the files. Rather than pay $25 for the full version, there's an offer to try another piece of software or service. When you sign up for the other trial (I selected stamps.com), you get an authentication code for TouchCopy. You just have to remember to cancel your trial of the other software or service before you get charged for it. Do so at your own risk.

Hope this works for everyone!

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94 replies

kkmama

Level 1

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Dec 19, 2015 3:57 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I sincerely appreciate your offering very helpful information on this problem, but I couldn't agree that suspecting Apple intentionally doing this is non-sense.

For those reading this thread, they know what's going on. But for those don't, they begin to come up with the idea that oh... my current 16G/32G/... iPhone/iPad couldn't afford my usage pattern. And when it's time for upgrade, I may have to consider choose a model with larger space (and at higher price). This bug at least has the potential to mis-guide the users.

Further, this bug is so ugly in a way that it can block upgrading OS! Yes. Apple fixed the bug, but you couldn't upgrade your iOS with the fix if there is not enough space, which is what the bug is causing. This becomes a Paradox! Again for those not reading the thread, they may come up with an idea that "Oh no, next time I may have to buy a larger model since my poor 16G couldn't even afford an upgrade while I have removed most of my photos -- and the rest are so important that I don't want to delete."

Suspecting Apple could be regarded as non-sense only after Apple takes enough care to break the Paradox. One thing Apple could do is in latest iTunes, when upgrading devices fails due to space problem, users will get informed of this problem, offered enough details for users to work-around, or even iTunes automatically delete "deleted" files for me to free up spaces. But Apple hasn't done so.

Therefore, I still incline to the idea that Apple at least is not active in clarifying some facts which will change users' mind buying larger models.

Dec 15, 2014 7:23 AM in response to Z001

That's correct; you cannot delete synced photos locally. You need to connect the phone to iTunes and "unsync" them. Connect the phone, click on its name or icon, click on Photos.

Mar 30, 2015 2:09 AM in response to gail from maine

Sorry, I miss it. I reply him right after read his comment without go to the end.

Already get 1.6GB ghost space back. So good that I do not need to buy a new phone 🙂

Sep 14, 2017 1:55 AM in response to pastorjake10

I pulled all the strings and bells as other fellow users, with zero change. Photo stubbornly kept showing 4gb. Next morning it was suddenly solved :)...... back to business

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iPhone Photo Library "Ghost" Space