Why does the system use more than a half of my storage?

I'm currently clearing my iPhone 6 for my dad to use as a secondary device to his iPhone 6s Plus. I've basically logged out of everything and deleted all my data. Did a reinstall in apps I thought he may use to clear data and as I check the storage, I was surprised to see that 'other' has taken almost triple the storage of everything else. I'm currently sitting on 9.2GB used with "System" taking up 6.93GB. That's ridiculous, I'm glad that I chose to upgrade to the Galaxy S9 over a newer iPhone.

Always been an advocate for the iPhone over Android simply because I think when it comes to smartphones, simplicity is key where as where laptops and desktops, more control with Windows is necessary. But I've been ignorant, Apple is playing it customers by giving them so little control. Can't believe all these years I backed them up by using the fact its more 'secure' as an excuse.

I just need the solve this issue to fully be out of the Apple eco-system. Would anyone know if doing a hard reset would clear up anything?

Hello,

I've been having the same problem for a while. I have a 16G iphone 5s and I'm on the 11.4 ios. My "SYSTEM" is using almost half of my storage - 7.5G!

I did what you recommended above (plugging it into itunes and checking the storage) and it shows me the same thing except it doesn't show system files there.

So here is my question - I can't update any of my apps due to not having enough space. I'm NOT paying Apple more money to buy icloud storage when I'm only using 8G of my 16G phone! Can I do a factory reset to get this storage back? I know the operating system has to use some space but 7.5G (1/2) is ridiculous!

Or if the 11.4ios is too heavy for my old 5s, can I revert back to a simpler, less GB ios? And please don't tell me to upgrade my phone.

I’ve seen you’ve sent a response to the problem but I don’t think it’s any bit of a a solution , first things first , iTunes is showing something totally different from what the iPhone is showing . iTunes sometimes shows me that the device is more than 2 gig free even when the iPhone is saying my storage is full. Now let’s get to the “others” file where it’s showing me on the “iPhone” that I have more than half the full storage copacity of the device being used up in . Look guys I don’t care about the name of this file I just need to know what are these “others” files so I can delete them manually from the iPhone , if your saying that they are catched data and that the iPhone automatically deletes them, then it’s not making sense because we wouldn’t have had this problem from the inception if the iPhone was really deleting the cached data , so let’s clear that up and I’ll say from my perspective i don’t really think that this “others” file is any bit of cached data . Because I normally see the device in action when it’s cleaning catched data .e.g you would normally see the apps on the screen getting dark and name of the apps changed to the word “cleaning” so yes I believe that the device does indeed cleans cached data however I don’t think that had ANYTHING to do with this “others” storage file . I feel like its a vírus limiting the phone’s storage capacity . . So far all I can say from my studies of this file is that . When I download an app or when I upgrade to the lates iOS I notice that it always goes up . And when I delete a few apps I see that it goes down slightly . So I’m thinking it’s probably some info about these apps are being stored there or some amount of data from each IOS upgrades in the past are being stored there .. like I said I don’t care about the name of the file I just wanna know what’s inside and where can I manually delete these data because it’s redicous to have a 16gb iPhone that is only giving free access to half its storage capacity , and the worst part is you can’t even store your apps in iCloud and retrieve them in offline mode . To me that’s a big rip off . I really like Apple products and I don’t intend to switch to Android but it seems to me like im running out of options . Please just tell us the solution or tell us what’s the real problem . Because it’s evident that there is a common problem with these devices that you guys don’t know how to resolve but you don’t wanna say it , just be straight with me . Don’t waste my time talking to me like a robot programmed to answer a particular question , and all I get is useless tutorials.

in my 64gb iphone 8 phone its showing 48gb as system file !!! what the heck going on with apple... couldnt delete those files too.. deleted all apps & backups and still its showing... going to throw this iphone 8 plus in trash...

Pathetic and Worst customer service by Apple. Not a single answer when thousands of people are facing the issue for more than a year.

I can't click additional videos as 'other' has blocked up over 60% of phone storage.

Anyone from Apple reading these threads????????????

Man the SAME thing is happening to me! I came here looking for help, when I found this thread.. It’s been happening for the last few months! I have a 6S with only 16GB, But it shows I am using 15.9GB and I have Deleted Everything from my phone. SYSTEM IS TAKING UP 12.55GB?! ***?!! I have No photos, No music and everytime I delete Apps, Hoping for more space It goes UP!! I have NO PHOTOS Yet my system shows I have 855MBI’m losing my **** mind, and have spent Numerous Hours on this! I’ve been with apple a Long Time, This is Ridiculous! APPLE—S.O.S!

I have the same problem, came here for help. My setting takes up 8.62GB. This is ridiculous. Last year, i lost most of my memorable pictures from a trip to London. About 70% of my pictures were blacked out. I had no way of knowing as there was no indication of a problem at the time, my storage was not full. At the Apple store back here in the States, I was told it was due to the fact that i did not have at least 1 GB left on my phone while or for taking pictures. Am sorry but in all iPhone advertisements i did not see or hear where Apple started "make sure you have 1GB left on your phone for taking pictures", that's right blame the customer. I made a promise to myself right there and then, I will never purchase another Apple product. To think i was once so proud of all my Apple gadgets. I came here for support but all i see are unhappy customers with no resolution for your grievances. Instead Apple chooses to ignore or walk us through the same motion over and over (is this not the definition for insanity?). Going through the same ridiculous motion but yet expecting a different result. The biggest insult is when they flat out say without shame "you need to update your phone that why". Ha ha the joke is on us my friends. The Androidas are laughing at us. This problem is not fixable and Apple knows this. To make a full disclosure would mean defeat and/or loss of income revenue! It is not going to happen especially when they are still losing money from the battery lawsuit. It is my belief Apple died along with Steve Jobs RIP. So I am going to plan a funeral sometime soon to bury this piece of worthless metal. Signed, so disappointed!

Shame on you fckin Apple support!

More than a thousand of your customers noticing this flaw and yet for TWO YEARS no progress, no solution!

clearly another way to have honest people ditch their aging devices in this race to ever consume more, more, more And buy a bigger storage, newer device.

You really suck big time and should be ashamed because this is what you are: shameful.

Act and do something!

I have put my iPhone 8 for sale because I have a nice credit of about 1500$ to be used for my next phone. I use iPhones since the iPhone... 1.

You know what? If they haven’t fixed this **** by Xmas I will be buying a Pixel3 with that money and I guess I will be advocating people and businesses that actually do not sit on their hands watching their customer complain about real problems.

Shame!

This was such a useless response. It answered no questions in this thread. Apple knows about this. This was programmed into their IOS to MAKE people buy their new products and the ever harassing iCloud storage. I have loved using Apple products up until the past few years when it became an endless cycle of trying to “free space” and I am not using that much, but the system is using over 8GB of my 16GB.

Frankly, it’s a pathetic ploy by a $trillion company to keep their loyal customers coming back and buying more and more. I am sure they know how to fix it, but they do not want to because it’s the goose that lays the golden eggs. “Buy more iCloud storage” or “lets go buy the new iPhone because ours is outdated and doesn’t have much storage.” I am definitely going to be switching to a different company here soon. I know you are reading these threads Apple, and you are a spineless and ridiculous company for not responding to anyone.

This thread has been useless, this has been happening to my iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 8 Plus, next month I will be switching to a Samsung Note 8 , this has been happening to not maybe thousands but maybe millions of people and here you are not doing jacksh*t about it, I don’t know the reason about this problem maybe it’s a scheme to get people to buy the new iPhone or to get iCloud Storage, but by now i don’t care, i’ve done 2 of those things and nothing had been fixed, you’re gonna lose loyal customers that have been using Apple from probably the iPhone 1, stop being silent, own up and fix your sh*t.

I am also having this problem. The storage for the system according to the phone measurements oscillates between 7.61GB and 8.8GB that it takes up on my phone becky_s22 the community specialist who has responded to this thread said to check itunes, when I did that there was a wild discrepancy between what my computer says the storage of my phone looks like and what my phone says the storage looks like. Why would my phone say I have 1.2 GB free and my computer say 6.27GB???? The system should not take up this much space, and as far as I remember did not until I updated to iOS 11.

Not helpful at all Becky, is ridiculous for an iphone to have half of storage used on cached files, wth, that's why Mac never beat PC, my Windows has and always has had used no more than 5% - 10 %for System.

I know this is old but I’m wondering what ever happened with this issue. I’ve had this problem for months now on my iPhone 7plus. I’ve consistently updated iOS (only started for me after 11) and no fix. I spoke to Apple, they escalated it, they finally get back to me and just tell me to update and that should fix it.

Well, I learned that my phone is lying to me storage wise. It would constantly say full, even though I’d have over 10GB free, the other would go from 5GB to 16GB in a matter of minutes. My apps would crash, nothing would work or save, it was a nightmare. So I started assuming when my phone said storage full, even if it didn’t show storage full only the warning, that I’d listen and delete what I could.

I thought that’s just how things would be for the remainder of this phone. I’m not looking forward to no home button so I’m holding on as long as I can. Well, months later here we are, and my phone which has been fine is now back to the same thing. Screenshots aren’t saving. I’m deleting a ton of stuff and stay full. My FB messenger every time I open it starts with the initial setup like I just reinstalled.

Its a nightmare. Nothings working. I even got rid of 495 tabs, which I know could contribute, and nothing. Just as bad. I’m at a loss. I thought I’d it became unbearable I’d just upgrade. But I’m reading this isn’t phone specific. So what gives!!!?

somewhy the iTunes screenshot didn't attach at first, so here it is