Free up iPhone space without deleting photos
Keep every photo and still get space back. Let iCloud hold the originals, shrink videos with HEVC, drop unused Live Photo motion and clear what is not a photo.
Storage
Not enough storage to update your iPhone? Fix it
When an iOS update will not fit, let iOS remove apps temporarily, delete a stuck download, update from a computer, or free a few gigabytes from your photo library.
Short answer: If an iOS update will not fit, you have four ways out. Let iOS remove some apps temporarily when it offers to, delete an old or stuck update download, update from a computer instead, or free a few gigabytes yourself. Your photo library is usually the fastest place to find them.
1. Let iOS make room for you
When there is not enough space, iOS may ask to remove some apps temporarily. Tap Continue. After the update, the apps reinstall automatically, and your data in them is kept. This is the quickest way through if the gap is small.
2. Delete a stuck or old update
A half-downloaded update keeps taking space. Open Settings › General › iPhone Storage, find the iOS update in the list, tap it and choose Delete Update. Then download it again from Settings › General › Software Update.
3. Update from a computer
Connect the iPhone to a Mac and use Finder, or to a Windows PC and use the Apple Devices app. The computer downloads and prepares the update, so the phone needs far less free space. Back up before you start.
4. Free a few gigabytes yourself
Apple does not publish how much free space an update needs; the download alone is several gigabytes, and iOS needs room to unpack it. Features count too: Apple Intelligence on iOS 27 needs up to 8 GB, and up to 14 GB on some models. The fastest places to find the space:
- Recently Deleted: photos you deleted keep taking space for 30 days. Empty Recently Deleted first.
- Large videos: a few long 4K videos can take gigabytes.
- Streaming downloads and message attachments.
- Apps you do not use: offload them from iPhone Storage; their data stays.
Do not expect System Data to help here. iOS manages it and trims it on its own; see what System Data is.
What does DustFox do differently?
Tell DustFox how much space you need, for example 6 GB for the update, and it builds the plan to get there with the least regret: byte-identical copies and burst extras first, then old screenshots, lossless conversions last. You see every step with its size, iOS asks once to confirm all deletions, and DustFox reminds you to empty Recently Deleted, because until then the update still will not fit. Everything runs on the phone.
Questions and answers
How much free space does an iOS update need?
Apple does not publish a figure, and it varies by model and version. The download is several gigabytes and iOS needs extra room to unpack it, so aim for comfortably more than the size shown on the update screen.
Is it safe to let iOS remove apps for an update?
Yes. iOS removes some apps temporarily and reinstalls them automatically after the update. Your data in those apps is kept.
Does updating through a computer need less space on the iPhone?
Yes. When you update with Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows, the computer downloads and prepares the update, so the phone needs much less free space.
Will updating delete my photos?
A normal update does not delete photos or data. Still, back up first, especially when storage is almost full.
Do it in one pass with DustFox
Free to download. Everything runs on your device, and Pro is yours once or by the year.
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