iPhone 5c - used space does not equal total storage (even after factory reset)

Question

iPhone 5c - used space does not equal total storage (even after factory reset)

I haven't seen a discussion yet that quite describes my issue. I have tried factory resetting my phone which worked for a month, but now I'm back in the same spot. I have an 8 GB iPhone 5c, currently on Version 9.2.1 (13D15). I understand that 3 of the 8 GB are allocated to my operating system. However, under Settings>General>Storage & iCloud Usage>Manage Storage I have apparently used 5.0/5.0 GB, 0 GB available, within a month of my phone reset. This doesn't make sense because my individual used items only add up to 2.937 GB, see images below. Further, I should point out that just after my reset, the detail of space used actually added up to total space used/available. It started to go funky again though with time.

I'm not sure what to do. As you can see from my apps, I need very little storage on my phone. The 8 GB model is more than enough space, provided I'm actually allocated the 5 GB. Does anybody have any ideas. Is there one of the apps below that is using space, or does iOS 9 take up unreported data. Been Apple fanboy since 2008, but they starting to fall back to Earth these days. Don't have time for a phone that gives me 38% of the storage reported on the box. I can understand a bit of a haircut, but this is extreme. I don't want planned obsolescence forcing an upgrade on me 🙂 Might start looking at other cellphone companies. Anybody want to help out this grumpy Apple fanboy? 🙂

Posted on Jan 30, 2016 6:34 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 30, 2016 9:55 PM in response to James B. Moore

What you've listed here is whats in your icloud storage, not on your actual phone. Backup one more screen and see if you still have another backup there from before your last reset.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 30, 2016 10:00 PM in response to bryan.vance

This is one menu back. I have never used iCloud storage, nor do I want to. My actual memory needs are 3 or 4 GB max. That is 0/5 GB available on my phone's storage.

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 26, 2016 8:55 PM in response to James B. Moore

Bit the bullet and just bought a new MacBook. Was getting owned by my smaller hard drive on the Air, so couldn't load photos. Now I got a 512 GB 12" MacBook 🙂 Not cheating out on hardware upgrades from now on. Should have got the 256 GB MacBook air back in 2011. As long as my MacBook doesn't fail, I should be able to get a good 5-10 years out of this one.

As for the iPhone 5c. No need to upgrade. I can upload my pics now and have a solid 1.5 GB on my phone at any given time, which is enough for what I need it for.

I think that the newer OS's needed more storage space and more hidden memory is going to the OS on my phone. Not exactly sure, but meh. Problem solved. You win again this time, Apple, you win again.

Was at a Best Buy looking at a PC laptop and felt sick. Some of the Dell's and HP's looked good, but I just stared at the thing like I knew I'd be having issues in 2-4 years. Couldn't do it.

#appleslavelol

Reply

Answer 4

arocho7

Level 1

55 points

Feb 26, 2016 9:02 PM in response to James B. Moore

When you restored your phone, did you go and check the photos that were deleted? If you, for instance, deleted 1000 photos to try and make room for storage, the amount of storage will not change because the deleted photos are still on phone. Until you delete those photos, then, and only then, will you gain that additional storage. Create a backup from that point. Otherwise, if you don't and restore your phone, it will restore those photos again, and you will be back at square one.

Reply

Answer 5

Feb 27, 2016 9:56 AM in response to arocho7

I didn't have space on my MacBook to delete the photos. But still, if you look at the screens above, even with the photos in, my total used space was 3 GB when you added up each line item, whereas the phone said total used = 5 GB. So 2 GB was unaccounted for. 3 GB of the original 8 GB was for the iOS. However, there was (and still is) another 2 GB that is just gone. Like if the iOS takes more room now, why not just say I have used 3 GB of a total 3 GB. Instead, it says I've used 3 GB when I add up my usage and that this totals 5 GB somehow in the screens above.

Anyway, part of the problem wasn't that my phone had no space, but also that I had nowhere to upload my pics to because my computer was also out of space. I ended up buying a new MacBook because I needed more space somewhere, and I'd rather upgrade the comp than the phone. I still have the same issue, except now, with no pics on, the line items add up to a gig or so and it says I've used 3 or 4 GB. However, I don't really care anymore because even having 1 GB free on my phone is more space than I will need.

Thanks though!

Reply

Answer 6

arocho7

Level 1

55 points

Feb 27, 2016 11:30 AM in response to James B. Moore

What I was trying to get at is that a lot of times there are photos in the "Recently Deleted" Albumn. Go check and delete all those. Just wasted space if you in fact don't need them. Should frer up some space if there are a lot.

Ejoy your new Mac!!

Reply

Answer 7

Feb 27, 2016 11:45 AM in response to arocho7

Ah, gotcha! Yeah, I did. Been trying to solve this one for a few months. Moral of the story, I shouldn't have been cheap on the upgrades. Bought a maxed out MacBook, hoping to get a lot of years out of this one.

Cheers m8

Reply