How to free up iPhone storage used by photos (without a subscription)

Open Settings, tap General, then tap iPhone Storage to see how much space Photos uses. You can free most of it at no cost: merge duplicates, delete screenshots and videos you don't need, and empty Recently Deleted once you're sure. Optimize iPhone Storage in iCloud Photos also helps, but your whole library has to fit in iCloud, and anything over the free 5 GB needs a paid iCloud+ plan.

Updated 17 October 2026. Menu paths checked against Apple Support for iOS 27.

How do I see how much space my photos use?

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General, then tap iPhone Storage.
  3. Look at the Photos row. Apple says it covers photos and videos stored in the Photos app.
  4. If you see recommendations, tap Show All. Read each one, then tap Enable or tap the recommendation to review what you can delete.

Source: How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad (Apple Support).

What can I delete for free?

  1. Merge duplicates. In Photos, tap Collections, tap Utilities, then tap Duplicates, and tap Merge. Full steps are in our duplicate photos guide.
  2. Clear old screenshots. In Photos, tap Collections, scroll down, tap Media Types, then tap Screenshots. Tap Select, pick the ones you don't need, and tap the Trash button.
  3. Review videos. Open Media Types, then Videos. When storage is almost full, Apple suggests removing content "such as videos and apps".
  4. Trim bursts. If you shoot in burst mode, open a burst and keep only the frames you want (Apple Support).
  5. Empty Recently Deleted. Apple keeps deleted photos there for 30 days "before being permanently removed from your iPhone". To free the space now, tap Collections, tap Recently Deleted (below Utilities), tap View Album and unlock. Tap Select, choose photos, tap the More button, then tap Delete. This can't be undone.

Before you delete: if iCloud Photos is on, deleting a photo on your iPhone deletes it on all your devices. If you want to keep a copy, move photos to a Mac or PC first. Sources: Delete or hide photos and videos on iPhone and Locate photos and videos by media type.

Should I turn on Optimize iPhone Storage?

If you use iCloud Photos, Apple turns Optimize Storage on by default. Full-resolution photos and videos are stored in iCloud, and your iPhone keeps space-saving copies when it needs room. To check it:

  1. Open Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  2. Tap Photos and make sure Sync this iPhone is on.
  3. On iOS 27 or later, tap iPhone Storage.
  4. Make sure Optimize iPhone Storage is turned on.

The catch: your whole library lives in iCloud, so it has to fit in your iCloud storage. Every account gets 5 GB free. Beyond that you need iCloud+, which is a paid plan. If you'd rather not pay for storage, importing photos to a computer is the free alternative. Source: Manage your photo and video storage (Apple Support).

Where does PhotoSlimmer fit?

The built-in tools handle copies, screenshots and videos well. What they don't sort out are photos you have to judge one by one: retakes taken moments apart, blurry shots, and photos where someone blinked. PhotoSlimmer finds those, along with duplicates, and groups screenshots and documents. All analysis runs on your iPhone using an AI model built into the app, and nothing is uploaded.

  1. Install PhotoSlimmer (iPhone, iOS 18.0 or later) and allow photo access.
  2. Start a scan. No account is needed.
  3. Review Similar Photos, then the blurry and closed-eye categories. Candidates are suggestions, so look before you select.
  4. Select what you want gone and tap Delete. iOS asks you to confirm, and deleted photos go to Recently Deleted for 30 days.
  5. When you're done, empty Recently Deleted to get the space back right away.

Scanning and reviewing are free and unlimited. You can delete up to 50 photos a day for free, and the limit resets at local midnight. A one-time in-app purchase called Unlimited removes the limit ($9.99 in the US). There is no subscription, no ads and no tracking, and the App Store privacy label reads Data Not Collected. More on the About page and in the Privacy Policy.

Get PhotoSlimmer on the App Store

On Android? Get PhotoSlimmer on Google Play.

Frequently asked questions

Why didn't my free storage go up after I deleted photos?

Deleted photos are kept in Recently Deleted for 30 days before they are permanently removed from your iPhone. To get the space back sooner, open Recently Deleted, select the photos, and delete them there. That can't be undone.

Does Optimize iPhone Storage delete my photos?

No. Full-resolution photos and videos are stored in iCloud, and your iPhone keeps space-saving copies when it needs room. Your library has to fit in your iCloud storage: 5 GB is free, and more needs a paid iCloud+ plan.

Can I free up photo storage without paying for anything?

Yes. Merging duplicates, deleting screenshots and videos, trimming bursts, and emptying Recently Deleted are all built into iOS and free. PhotoSlimmer is also free for up to 50 deletions a day.

What does iPhone Storage count as Photos?

Apple says the Photos category covers photos and videos stored in the Photos app. To see it, open Settings, tap General, then tap iPhone Storage.

Related