Likely fix
Fix: Photos and videos take too much phone storage
Photos and videos often take the most phone storage, especially 4K videos, screen recordings, duplicate shots, downloaded images, and chat media.
Quick answer
Delete large videos first, empty recently deleted/trash, back up photos, and use optimized storage or free up space features.
Important warning
Recently Deleted or Trash still uses storage until it is emptied.
Try this
- 1 Sort photos and videos by size if your phone or gallery app allows it.
- 2 Delete large videos you no longer need.
- 3 Delete old screen recordings.
- 4 Remove duplicate or blurry photos.
- 5 Back up important photos before deleting local copies.
- 6 Use iCloud Optimize iPhone Storage or Google Photos Free up space if appropriate.
- 7 Empty Recently Deleted or Trash after confirming you do not need the files.
- 8 Review chat apps that save photos and videos separately.
Common causes
4K videos.
Screen recordings.
Duplicate photos.
Recently Deleted not emptied.
Chat media.
Downloaded images and videos.
Offline cloud files.
What to check next
- Check largest videos.
- Check Recently Deleted or Trash.
- Check cloud backup status.
- Check chat app media.
- Check screen recordings.