storage full iPhone 5, 16GB

There must be caches or other junk that's not accounted for.

Here is what I suggest, restore your iPhone, it should clear up all that unaccounted storage:

• Backup of your device to iCloud or iTunes: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT203977
• Erase your device: Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings
• Then restore your device: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204184

The backup will have all of those.

In the future I recommend you also sync that data with iCloud: Settings → iCloud

Yes, after backup erase your iPhone.

Instructions for iTunes backup below:

• Backup of your device to iCloud or iTunes: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT203977
• Erase your device: Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings
• Then restore your device: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204184

Definitely update to the latest version of iTunes first!!

Current version is 12.5.5, if your iTunes is older then download the new one:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

If you do a encrypted back up no data will be deleted. Follow these steps:

1. You would backup your iPhone (this saves all your data) About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support
2. Restore your device with iTunes (this deletes everything and reinstalls iOS) Erasing in settings does not do this. I recommend this way. Restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to factory settings - Apple Support
3. You then set up your iPhone from a restore (step 5) you will click restore from iTunes backup Set up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
4. Restoring from a backup puts all your data back on your iPhone. No contacts pictures etc will be lost. Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Can you please provide screenshot of Settings → General → Storage and iCloud Usage → STORAGE / Manage Storage (let the spinning cog wheel finish spinning).

How to take a screenshot on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT200289

Hello,

Do you have a lot of "other" taking up storage?

About cached files in "Other" iOS storage

Cached files are created when streaming or viewing content like music, videos, and photos. When you stream music or video, that content is stored as cached files on your iOS device so you can quickly access it again. iTunes categorizes cached music, videos, and photos as Other instead of actual songs, videos, or photos.

Your iOS device automatically removes cached files and temporary files when your device needs more space.

Please read this article:

Check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Restore it from a backup:

Backup of your device to iCloud or iTunes: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT203977

Erase your device: Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings

Then restore your device: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204184

Okay we found out the problem. According to Apple's website:

About cached files in "Other" iOS storage

Cached files are created when streaming or viewing content like music, videos, and photos. When you stream music or video, that content is stored as cached files on your iOS device so you can quickly access it again. iTunes categorizes cached music, videos, and photos as Other instead of actual songs, videos, or photos.

Your iOS device automatically removes cached files and temporary files when your device needs more space.

Try deleting some of this data. Also go to iTunes > File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from [device name]

This sometimes clears up storage for me.

If your iPhone doesn't start making some space I will suggest the following:

Make an encrypted iTunes back up. This backs up some extra data such as health data.

About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

Restore your iPhone with iTunes. What this does is reinstalls the latest iOS release. This can help and your situation. Erasing in settings does not do this.

Restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to factory settings - Apple Support

Restore from backup.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Okay have you tried plugging into iTunes and see if it is the same?

It's under "use iTunes to check the storage of your iOS device"

With iTunes it could give you a more detailed explanation. And you could see what is using the most storage.

Hi

Go to settings iCloud back now

Then restore iPhone back to factory settings

Set back up over your WiFi when it asks if you want to use iCloud back up

Say yes .

This will get rid of any bugs .

But really 16G is not enough upgrade when you can to 32/64/128G

Cheers

Brian

When you delete photos/vids they don't actually get removed from storage, they are moved to an album called Recently Deleted. Open the Photos app, touch the Albums icon, and delete them from that folder (then they are truly deleted.)

I don't know for sure but I suspect that album gets backed up along with the rest of it, if you've gone through the exercise they suggested, maybe you can tell me?

Good Luck,

Mark McGinty

(Just another loyal iPhone user, though at this moment I couldn't say why)