How to check storage on iPhone

Complete guide with multiple methods and troubleshooting

7-10 min read
Expert Verified
Last Updated: August 2025

Quick Answer

To check storage on your iPhone, navigate to 'Settings', tap on 'General', and then select 'iPhone Storage'. This will display a detailed breakdown of your storage usage by app and other categories.

Easy⏱ 7-10 min read

Prerequisites & Requirements

Before checking your iPhone's storage, ensure you have the following:
  • •An iPhone running iOS 10 or later.
  • •Sufficient battery life or connected to a power source.
  • •Access to the device's Settings app.
  • •No restrictions enabled that prevent access to storage settings.

Method 1: Using iPhone Settings

This is the primary method to check storage directly on your iPhone. It is straightforward and provides detailed information about storage usage.
  • •Step 1: Open the 'Settings' app on your iPhone (the gear icon).
  • •Step 2: Scroll down and tap on 'General'.
  • •Step 3: Select 'iPhone Storage'. You will see a bar graph indicating your storage usage.
  • •Step 4: To verify, check the list of apps and their storage usage below the graph. Tap on any app to see more details.
  • •Step 5: If it doesn't work, ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version by going to 'Settings' > 'General' > 'Software Update'.

For iOS 15 and later

iOS 15 introduced a more user-friendly interface for storage management.
  • •Tap on 'Recommendations' at the top of the iPhone Storage page for suggestions on optimizing storage.
  • •You can also see a list of apps with the option to offload or delete directly from this screen.

For iOS 14 and earlier

The interface is slightly different but still accessible.
  • •You may not see the 'Recommendations' section, but you can still view storage usage by app.
  • •The layout may be less visually intuitive, but the information is the same.

Method 2: Using iTunes or Finder

This method is useful for users who prefer managing their iPhone storage through a computer.
  • •Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
  • •Step 2: Open iTunes (on Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later).
  • •Step 3: Select your device from the list in iTunes or Finder.
  • •Step 4: In the 'Summary' tab, you will see a bar indicating your storage usage.
  • •Step 5: To verify, hover over the bar to see a breakdown of storage by category (Apps, Photos, etc.).

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues while checking storage, consider the following solutions:
  • •Error: 'Storage Not Available' - Solution: Restart your iPhone and try again.
  • •Issue: 'Settings Crashes' - Fix: Update your iOS version or reset settings by going to 'Settings' > 'General' > 'Reset' > 'Reset All Settings'.
  • •Problem: 'Storage Usage Not Updating' - Workaround: Force close the Settings app and reopen it.

Advanced Tips & Shortcuts

Enhance your experience with these tips:
  • •Keyboard shortcut: No specific keyboard shortcuts for iPhone, but use 'AssistiveTouch' for easier navigation.
  • •Hidden feature: Enable 'Optimize Storage' in 'Settings' > 'Photos' to automatically manage photo storage.
  • •Use third-party apps like 'PhoneClean' or 'Gemini Photos' for deeper storage management.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common pitfalls:

Expert Tips

Regularly monitoring your iPhone's storage can prevent performance issues and ensure you have enough space for new apps and updates.