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PrayerWarrior71
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Constantly being told that my iPhone storage is full and I have just about every app offloaded and I just don’t understand

why does every image i send or recieve in messages and iMessage take up phone storage. I sent the image or video etc I don’t need it saved because it is already saved

if someone sends me pictures and I want to save them I will save them myself


how do I get more things to go into the cloud and off of my phone

how do I make it stop


how do I clear my iOS data and how do I clear my system data because that’s what it’s taking out the majority of my storage on my phone

Posted on Sep 15, 2026 4:59 AM

4 replies

Jeff Donald
User level: Level 9 (64,078 points)

Sep 15, 2026 6:58 AM in response to PrayerWarrior71

The best way to reduce system data is to backup your device to a Mac or PC, erase to factory settings, and then do a restore from the backup on the computer. There are workarounds, but in my experience, the same problem resurfaces. The data has some corruption, and the computer backup is the only way to be assured you're not reinstalling the corrupt data.


Back up iPhone-Apple Support


Erase iPhone-Apple Support


Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup

Servant of Cats
User level: Level 9 (55,707 points)

Sep 15, 2026 7:26 AM in response to PrayerWarrior71

For the most part, things that go into iCloud take up space both in iCloud and on your phone.


If you are making an iCloud backup, that is so you can restore data later if something happens to the phone. It does not get rid of the need to store data on the phone.


If you are using iCloud for synchronization, the data will exist both in iCloud (for synchronization with other devices) and on your device (where you can access it even if you do not have an Internet connection). Exceptions:

  • If you are using iCloud Photos, you can turn on "Optimize iPhone Storage" to give your phone permission to keep lower-quality, space-saving local copies of your photos. This does not let you delete photos from your phone and keep them in iCloud, but may reduce the amount of space photos take on your phone by quite a bit – if the phone decides it needs the space.
  • With files in iCloud Drive, you can select which ones to download to your iPhone and which to leave in the cloud.
Allan Jones
User level: Level 10 (85,896 points)

Sep 15, 2026 7:47 AM in response to PrayerWarrior71

What capacity is your iPhone? An iPhone 14 Plus should have a minimum of 128GB.


What are the values of iOS and System Data In Settings > General > iPhone Storage? Example:


LD150
User level: Level 10 (107,674 points)

Sep 15, 2026 7:51 AM in response to PrayerWarrior71

...and offloading apps saves a tiny amount of storage as all the data remains .

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256357188