PicButler / Guides
How to free up iPhone storage from photos and videos
Quick answer: check how much space Photos takes in Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. Then clear it biggest first: empty Recently Deleted, review your longest videos, merge duplicates, keep only the best of each burst and each set of similar shots, and delete old screenshots. If you use iCloud Photos, turn on Optimize iPhone Storage.
See how much space your photos take
- Open Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage.
- Wait for the list to load. It shows each app and the space it uses, with Photos among them, plus recommendations from iOS.
By default, Apple says, your photos and videos are stored on the iPhone in their original, high-resolution version, which is why they use so much space.
Seven ways to free up space, biggest first
1. Empty Recently Deleted
Everything you delete stays in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days, and keeps using space until then. Open Photos, tap Collections, swipe up and tap Recently Deleted under Utilities. Unlock it with Face ID or Touch ID, tap Select, then use the More button to Delete All. Only do this once you're sure you don't need anything in it: this step can't be undone.
2. Review your longest videos
Video is usually what fills a library. The Record Video screen in Settings, then Camera, lists about 60 MB per minute at the default 1080p and 30 fps, and about 400 MB per minute at 4K and 60 fps. A ten-minute 4K video can take as much space as hundreds of photos. Photos doesn't sort videos by size, but each video shows its length: open the Videos album under Media Types and start with the long ones.
3. Merge duplicates
In Photos, tap Collections, then Duplicates under Utilities, and tap Merge on each set. Apple keeps the highest quality version with the relevant data from all the copies. Step by step, for every iOS version: How to find duplicate and similar photos on iPhone.
4. Keep only the best of each burst and each set of similar shots
Apple's Duplicates album doesn't group photos that are similar but different, like a burst or five takes of the same pose. For bursts, open the Bursts album under Media Types, open a burst, tap Select, pick your favorites, then choose to keep only those. For similar shots, compare the photos taken seconds apart and keep the sharpest one.
5. Delete old screenshots
Screenshots pile up without anyone noticing. Open the Screenshots album under Media Types, tap Select, and clear the ones you no longer need.
6. Turn on Optimize iPhone Storage
If you use iCloud Photos, go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then Photos, and make sure Optimize iPhone Storage is on. According to Apple, the full-resolution photos and videos are then stored in iCloud, and the iPhone keeps space-saving copies when needed. It deletes nothing, but you need enough iCloud storage for your whole library: the free plan is 5 GB.
7. Move what you want to keep somewhere else
If you'd rather not keep some photos in iCloud, Apple suggests transferring them to your computer before deleting them from the iPhone.
What takes the space, and where to find it
| What it is | Where it is in Photos | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Things you already deleted | Collections, Utilities, Recently Deleted | Empty it when you're sure |
| Long videos | Media Types, Videos | Keep the ones you'll watch again |
| Exact copies | Collections, Utilities, Duplicates | Merge them |
| Bursts and repeated takes | Media Types, Bursts | Keep only the best |
| Old screenshots | Media Types, Screenshots | Delete the ones you don't need |
Keep it from filling up again
Cleaning once frees space for a few months. What keeps it free is the habit: going through new photos while you still remember them, keeping the best of each moment and letting the rest go. A month at a time is enough, and it takes minutes instead of a lost weekend.
That's what we built PicButler to do. It's a personal photo butler for iPhone that goes through your camera roll with you, month by month: it clears the duplicates and near-identical shots, helps you keep only the photos you love from every trip and event, and saves them as albums in Apple Photos. Its Cleanup tab shows similar and duplicate photos, your largest videos first, Live Photos you can convert, and old screenshots. Everything stays on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my iPhone storage still full after deleting photos?
Deleted photos and videos go to the Recently Deleted album and keep using space for 30 days. Empty that album to get the space back right away.
Does Optimize iPhone Storage delete my photos?
No. With iCloud Photos and Optimize iPhone Storage on, the full-resolution originals are stored in iCloud and your iPhone keeps space-saving copies when needed. You need enough iCloud storage for your whole library.
If I delete photos on my iPhone, are they deleted from iCloud too?
Yes, if iCloud Photos is on. Apple says a photo or video deleted on one device is deleted on every device signed in to the same Apple Account.
How much space does a minute of iPhone video take?
The Record Video screen in Settings, then Camera, lists about 60 MB per minute at 1080p and 30 fps, and about 400 MB per minute at 4K and 60 fps. Long 4K videos are usually the biggest files in a library.
Want to see how much space you could get back? PicButler has no ads, you can try a whole month free, and it shows you what's taking the space before you decide anything.
Sources
- Apple, Manage your photo and video storage
- Apple, Delete photos on your iPhone or iPad
- Apple, Merge duplicate photos and videos on iPhone
- Video sizes per minute as listed in the iPhone's Settings, Camera, Record Video screen; also reported by TechRadar