The Other section of your iPhone's storage is comprised of anything that Apple hasn’t sorted into one of its assigned categories. Common files that go into Other storage include system files, application caches—especially your Safari browser cache—and update files.
In this article, we'll explain what might be taking up your Other storage and give you some easy ways to clear some of it out, so you can free up additional space on your iPhone.
In the meantime, if you want to check out how much of your phone's storage is being taken up by "Other" stuff, open Settings> General> iPhone Storage.
Trying to make room on your iPhone? Be sure to also check out our guide on how to free up space on your iPhone.
You can see a breakdown of your phone’s storage by following these steps:
Step 1: Under Settings > General > iPhone Storage, your phone will likely provide a few simple recommendations like offloading unused apps, and you can enable a setting that will automatically offload apps you’re not using.
Step 2: You can also opt to automatically delete old text conversations that were sent or received longer than a year ago.
Step 3: If you scroll to the bottom, you’ll find Other storage. Now you're ready to clear the Other storage out on your iPhone.
It can be frustrating to stare down the Other category in the iPhone Storage screen. While Apple labels space taken up by installed apps, system files, multimedia, and messages, the Other category presents a mystery. Put simply, the Other section is comprised of anything that Apple hasn’t sorted into one of its assigned categories. Common files categorized within the Other section include system files, application caches, and update files.
It can be challenging to determine precisely what is categorized as Other storage. Here are some of the most common culprits that could be stealing your iPhone’s storage and detailed instructions on how to clear them.
Safari is the default web browser on iOS devices. To load webpages with increased speed, it may store files on your device for later use. If left unchecked, Safari cache files and website data may grow out of control. Here’s how to clear Safari’s cache on your iPhone:
Step 2: Scroll down and select Safari.
Step 3: Tap Clear History and Website Data.
Despite having a dedicated Message category, old messages on your device can take up space under the Other category. If you don’t feel the need to keep your iMessages and text messages forever, you can set them to automatically delete after a set amount of time.
Step 2: Scroll and select Messages.
Step 3: Find and click on Keep Messages under Message History.
Step 4: Select whether to automatically delete messages after either 30 Days or 1 Year.
As mentioned above, you may also find an option under Settings>General>iPhone storage where you can automatically delete messages and attachments sent more than a year ago. But going under messages allows you to specify the time period.
Another application that stores a local cache on your device is the iOS Mail app. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to clear the cache and all associated files. Our recommendation for tackling this category is merely removing your email account from your iPhone and then re-adding it.
You can manage all current email accounts by opening the Settings app and navigating to the Passwords & Accounts section, then tapping the account and choosing to delete it. If you need further assistance after setting up your email again, check out our guide on adding your email account to an iPhone.
Many streaming apps will use a cache to ensure your experience remains smooth, but this can begin to take up space on your device. Streaming apps include options such as Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more.
You can offload these apps individually if you’re not using them a lot.
Step 1: Go to Settings> General > iPhone Storage and select the app.
Step 2: Select Offload on the individual app you want to offload.
Suppose you’ve followed the above instructions and are still finding that the Other storage category is consuming your iPhone. Remember to close your browser windows when you’re not using them. Leaving dozens of windows open is somewhat common, but this can impact your phone’s performance.
If you really want to clear out your phone, you can try resetting your device and restoring it from a backup. Be sure to check out our guide on how to reset your iPhone if you decide to take this route. Remember to take caution when resetting and restoring your iPhone so as not to lose any photos or unrecoverable data.
Other storage on your iPhone includes things like system files, application caches, and update files. Your Safari web browser cache can be one of the things cluttering up your Other storage, and you can delete very it easily by doing the following:
Other storage on an iPhone is, simply put, anything that Apple hasn’t sorted into one of its assigned storage categories. Some of the files that wind up in Other storage include system files, application caches, and update files.
If your iPhone storage is full even after deleting a bunch of files, it could point to one of the following:
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.