Likely fix
Fix: Phone cannot update because storage is full
Phones need free space to download, unpack, and install updates. Even a small update may need several gigabytes temporarily.
Quick answer
Free more space than the update size, delete large videos and downloads, remove unused apps, then restart and try the update again.
Important warning
An update may need more temporary space than the download size shown.
Try this
- 1 Check how much free storage the phone has.
- 2 Delete or move large videos first.
- 3 Remove offline movies, music, podcasts, and maps.
- 4 Delete unused apps or offload them on iPhone.
- 5 Empty Recently Deleted or Trash.
- 6 Restart the phone.
- 7 Try the update again.
- 8 If still short on space, update using a computer if your phone supports it.
Common causes
Not enough temporary space.
Large videos.
Apps and games.
Recently Deleted still full.
Offline downloads.
System Data too large.
What to check next
- Check free storage.
- Check update size.
- Check Recently Deleted or Trash.
- Check offline downloads.
- Check whether computer update is available.