PhoneDiet

Storage still full after deleting photos

Photos you delete move to the Recently Deleted album and keep using space for 30 days. To free it now, open Photos › Utilities › Recently Deleted, unlock it with Face ID, tap Select, then Delete All. Storage figures can also take a few minutes, or a restart, to update.

Using iOS's built-in tools

  1. Open Photos, scroll to Utilities and tap Recently Deleted.
  2. Unlock it with Face ID or your passcode.
  3. Tap Select, then Delete All, and confirm.
  4. Wait a minute, then reopen Settings › General › iPhone Storage. If the number hasn't moved, restart your iPhone.

The faster way with PhoneDiet

  1. After deleting in PhoneDiet, the done screen shows exactly how much moved to Recently Deleted.
  2. It lists the three steps above so you can release the space straight away, or leave it as an undo window.

Apps can't empty Recently Deleted for you; iOS keeps that step with you on purpose. PhoneDiet tells you when it's needed instead of pretending the space is already free.

Common questions

Can I recover photos from Recently Deleted?

Yes, for 30 days. Open the album, tap Select, choose the photos and tap Recover.

Why does Messages or Mail also keep using space?

Some apps keep their own Recently Deleted folders and attachments. Check Settings › General › iPhone Storage › Messages for large attachments.

Updated October 2026 for iOS 26. Menu names can differ slightly between iOS versions.