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5 Fixes for iPhone Photos Taking Up Space Even After Deleting Them

Quick Tips
  • Ensure you clear the Recently Deleted album in Photos.
  • Delete downloaded photos inside the Files app.
  • Turn on Optimize iPhone Storage (in Settings > Photos) to store low-quality versions of photos that are otherwise backed up on iCloud.

Fix 1: Delete the Recently Deleted Folder

Step 1: Open the Photos app, and go to the Recently Deleted folder.

Step 2: Tap on Select at the top right corner. Tap on Delete All, and confirm your action.

Also Read: How to fix iPhone Recently Deleted photos won’t delete

Fix 2: Change the Date and Time to Access Old Photos

Sometimes, deleted photos exist as hidden files on your iPhone. They are linked to the date they were deleted.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select General > Date & Time.

Step 2: Turn off Set Automatically. This enables you to change the date on your iPhone.

Step 3: Tap on the date to change it, and change it back to an older date.

Once you do that, you can go back to the Photos app and get rid of a few photos if anything pops up.

Fix 3: Turn off iCloud Sync

Due to a bug or a glitch, syncing photos to iCloud ends up accumulating massive space on the Photos app.

Note: Once you turn off sync, photos won’t be backed up to iCloud. However, this won’t delete existing photos on iCloud.

Step 1: Open the Settings app, and tap on your username. Go to iCloud > Photos.

Step 5: Turn off the toggle for Sync this iPhone.

Also Read: How to clear iCloud storage

Fix 4: Turn on Optimized Storage

Using the Optimized Storage feature on the Photos app helps you locally store low-quality photos to save space. Whereas the photos in their original quality will be synced to iCloud.

Open the Settings app, go to Photos, and check the Optimize iPhone Storage option.

Fix 5: Delete Photos from the Files App

The Files app on iPhone consists of a few photos that have been downloaded from Safari which do not reflect in the Photos app. However, they might reflect in the amount of storage occupied by the Photos app when you look at the Storage menu in Settings.

Tap and hold on a photo in the Files app, and use the Delete option.

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Last updated on 30 June, 2024

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