iPhone storage full even with iCloud Photos? Here is why

Many people turn on iCloud Photos expecting it to move their photos off their phone. That is not quite how it works, and misunderstanding it can lead to deleting photos you meant to keep.

iCloud Photos is sync, not storage transfer

With iCloud Photos on, your whole library is kept in sync across your devices and iCloud. Every photo you take is uploaded, and deleting a photo on any device deletes it everywhere, after it spends 30 days in Recently Deleted.

So deleting photos from your iPhone to make space also removes them from iCloud and your other devices. If you want to keep them, do not delete them.

Optimize iPhone Storage

The option that actually saves space is Optimize iPhone Storage:

1. Open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud.
2. Tap Photos.
3. Choose Optimize iPhone Storage.

With this on, your iPhone keeps full-resolution originals in iCloud and stores smaller versions on the device. When you open a photo or video, the original downloads if needed.

The alternative, Download and Keep Originals, keeps every full-resolution original on your iPhone, which uses much more space.

Why storage might still be full

• Optimisation is gradual. Your iPhone replaces originals with smaller versions as it needs space, not all at once.
• Your iCloud storage may be full. If iCloud is full, new photos cannot upload, so they cannot be optimised. Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud. You will need to free iCloud space or upgrade your plan.
• Uploads may not have finished. Check the status at the bottom of the Photos library. Uploads progress fastest on Wi-Fi while charging.
• Other things are using the space. Messages attachments, apps and System Data are not affected by Photos settings. See freeing up iPhone storage.

Freeing iCloud space

If iCloud is full, the Photos library is usually the largest item. Reducing it means deleting from everywhere, so be selective:

• Merge Duplicates (see deleting duplicate photos).
• Delete blurry shots, screenshots and failed bursts.
• Make smaller copies of large videos you want to keep (see reducing video size).
• Remove old device backups in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups.

Want photos off your iPhone, but not deleted?

If you want a copy that is not tied to iCloud sync, import photos to a Mac or external drive first. On a Mac, import with Image Capture or Photos using a cable, check the copies, and keep them backed up before removing anything from your synced library.