iPhone storage full? What to delete first
Open Settings → General → iPhone Storage to see what is using space. On most iPhones the largest category is Photos, so the biggest wins are large videos, duplicates and similar shots, followed by message attachments and apps you no longer use. Empty Recently Deleted afterwards — the space is freed only then.
1. See what is actually using space
Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage. The bar at the top splits usage into Apps, Photos, Media, Messages, iOS and System Data. Below it, iOS lists recommendations (such as reviewing large attachments) and every app sorted by size.
2. The checklist, biggest wins first
| What to clear | Where | Typical impact |
|---|---|---|
| Large videos and screen recordings | Photos → Media Types → Videos; or a size-sorted list in Puri | High — a few minutes of 4K video can take gigabytes |
| Duplicates and similar shots | Photos → Utilities → Duplicates; similar shots via an app | Medium to high |
| Screenshots | Photos → Media Types → Screenshots | Low to medium, but there are usually hundreds |
| Message attachments | Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Messages → Review Large Attachments | Medium |
| Unused apps | Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Offload Unused Apps | Medium; app data is kept |
| Downloaded music, podcasts, maps | Inside each app | Varies |
| Recently Deleted | Photos → Utilities → Recently Deleted → Delete All | Frees everything you deleted above |
3. Shrink instead of deleting
Some videos are worth keeping but not at full size. You can compress videos on iPhone to a smaller file and keep the moment. For the future, Settings → Camera → Formats → High Efficiency saves photos as HEIF and videos as HEVC, which take noticeably less space than Most Compatible.
4. Do it in one pass with Puri
Puri scans the library once and shows every category in one place — duplicates, similar photos, screenshots, screen recordings, large videos, large photos, bursts and Live Photos — each with the space it takes. You review each list and confirm what goes; Puri never deletes on its own. Photo and video analysis happens on your iPhone. Puri does not upload your photo library, contacts or calendar to its servers.
What a cleaner app can’t do
iOS keeps every app sandboxed. No App Store app — Puri included — can clear other apps’ caches, System Data or iOS itself. Be wary of any app that claims to “boost” or “clean junk” on iPhone; what a legitimate app can do is help you review your own photos, videos, contacts and calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my iPhone storage full when I have iCloud?
iCloud Photos keeps full-size originals on the phone unless “Optimize iPhone Storage” is turned on in Settings → Photos. With it on, iOS swaps originals for smaller versions when space runs low.
What should I delete first when iPhone storage is full?
Start with large videos and screen recordings, then duplicates and similar photos, then large message attachments and unused apps. Empty Recently Deleted at the end.
Does offloading an app delete my data?
No. Offloading removes the app but keeps its documents and data; reinstalling brings them back.
Can Puri clear System Data?
No. System Data is managed by iOS and no App Store app can clear it. Puri works on your photos, videos, contacts and calendar events.
Sources: Apple Support: How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad