Manage your photo and video storage

Learn how photos and videos use your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch storage, ways to save space, and how to upgrade your iCloud storage if you’re running out.

The photos, music, apps, and other content that you use and enjoy on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch take up space on your device’s storage capacity. And your device can fill up quickly depending on the size of its storage capacity and how much content you have. If you see a message that your storage is full, you can free up space by managing your photo and video storage.

Check to see how much storage you have

See how much storage you have left on your device and in iCloud, and which apps use the most space.

Device storage

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap iPhone Storage.

You might see recommendations for optimizing your storage, a list of your apps, and the amount of space each one uses.

iCloud storage

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap [your name].
  3. Tap iCloud.

You'll see how much space you have left in iCloud, the apps using your storage, and if you need to upgrade your storage plan.

If you're using iOS 10 or earlier, you'll see your device and iCloud storage in the same place. Go to Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage.


Store your photos and videos in iCloud

Your photos and videos are stored on your device in their original, high-resolution version. This means that they use a lot of space on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. With iCloud Photo Library, you can make more space available on your device and have your entire collection, everywhere you go.

Get started with iCloud Photo Library:

  2. Turn on iCloud Photo Library.
  3. Select Optimize iPhone Storage to make more space on your device.

With Optimize Storage, smaller, space-saving photos and videos are kept on your device while all of your original, full-resolution versions are stored in iCloud. And as long as you have enough space in iCloud, you can store as many photos and videos as you want.

If you need more storage

When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage. If you need more iCloud storage, you can buy more starting at $0.99 (USD) a month. If you choose a 200GB or 2TB plan, you can share your storage with familyLearn more about iCloud storage prices in your country or region.

If you need more storage on your device, you can transfer the photos and videos that you don't want to store in iCloud to your computer.

If you need more help with your storage plan—for example, if you bought more storage but you don't see it in your account—contact Apple Support.

Learn more

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