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The Tech Grandkid · thetechgrandkid.com/guides/iphone-storage-full/

Your iPhone or iPad says it's full. Here's how to make room.

For: iPhone or iPad

Last checked October 14, 2026 against official help from Apple. Written for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.

When an iPhone or iPad runs out of room, it can stop taking pictures or installing updates. You can see what's taking up the space and clear some of it in a few taps.

This page is for you if

  • A message says Storage Almost Full
  • The camera won't take pictures
  • An update won't download because there's no room

Before you start

Deleting photos, videos or apps can't always be undone. Make sure your iPhone or iPad is backed up first. Open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. Stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes. Apple's backup steps

Do these steps

  1. Open Settings

    Tap the Settings app. It's the gray gear.

  2. Tap General

    Scroll a little and tap General.

  3. Tap iPhone Storage

    Tap iPhone Storage. On an iPad, it's called iPad Storage. You'll see some suggestions and a list of your apps with how much space each one uses.

  4. Look at the suggestions

    Tap Show All to see every suggestion. Read each one. Tap Enable to turn one on, or tap the suggestion to see what you could delete.

  5. Pick an app you don't use

    Scroll down to the list of apps. Tap the name of one you don't use.

  6. Offload or delete it

    Choose Offload App to free the app's space but keep its documents and data. Choose Delete App to remove the app and its data for good.

Good to know

  • Apple says videos and apps are good things to remove first when the device is full.
  • Your iPhone or iPad also cleans up some temporary files by itself when space runs low.

Check it with the source

We wrote these steps from these official pages. If your screen looks different, the official page is always right.

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