iPhone storage full? How to manage videos and iCloud
ADHZ · Published and updated
When iPhone storage is full, start in Settings → General → iPhone Storage to see what uses it. If videos are a large part, smaller copies can help you reorganize the library. Keeping both the original and compressed copy will not immediately free space.
Check whether Photos or another app uses the space
Review storage by app and the recommendations shown in Settings. Offloading an app keeps its documents and data; deleting an app removes its related data too. Start with downloads you can replace before considering important recordings.
nyanbyte is a video compressor. It does not clear system data or other apps' caches. Consider compression when video files are part of your storage problem.
iCloud storage and iPhone storage are different
Buying more iCloud storage does not increase your iPhone's physical capacity. With iCloud Photos, Optimize iPhone Storage can keep full-resolution originals in iCloud and smaller versions on the device.
Deleting an item in iCloud Photos also affects other devices synced to that account. Check that you have a separate archival copy before removing an original from the library.
Why compression does not immediately free space
Compression creates a new file. If you keep the original as well, both files occupy space. nyanbyte saves the compressed copy first and lets you decide whether to remove the original.
For example, a 1 GB original stored on the device plus a 300 MB copy uses 1.3 GB together. Removing that original would eventually save 700 MB compared with the starting point. This is an illustrative calculation, not a promised compression rate.
Check these before removing an original
Deleted photos and videos normally remain in Recently Deleted for 30 days. Manually deleting them permanently cannot be undone. Check your copies before taking that step to reclaim space.
- Open the saved compressed copy in Photos.
- Check picture and sound at the beginning, middle, and end, plus any capture details you need.
- Copy irreplaceable originals to a separate location and open those copies too.
- Review iCloud syncing before deciding whether to delete the original.