What is "Other" storage and how to tame it

You check your iPhone storage, and there it is — a big gray bar labeled "Other" taking up gigabytes. No explanation, no clear way to delete it. Just… other. What is this mysterious category, and why does it seem to grow no matter what you do?

If you've ever felt frustrated by "Other" stealing your precious storage, you're not alone. It's one of the most confusing aspects of iOS. But once you understand what actually lives there, you can take steps to shrink it — and keep it under control.

First, let's bust a myth

"Other" is not a single thing. It's not a hidden cache of junk that iOS is hiding from you. It's simply the category for anything that doesn't fit neatly into Photos, Apps, Media, or System. Think of it as the catch‑all drawer in your kitchen — a little bit of everything ends up there.

What actually lives in "Other"

Let's open that drawer and look inside. Here are the usual suspects:

📁 System caches

Every app creates temporary files to run smoothly. Safari stores your browsing history, website data, and cached images. Other apps do the same. Over time, these caches can grow to several gigabytes. iOS is supposed to manage them automatically, but sometimes it needs a nudge.

📎 Mail attachments

When someone sends you a photo or PDF in an email, your iPhone downloads it so you can view it. Even after you delete the email, that attachment can linger in the system. If you get a lot of emails with attachments, this adds up fast.

🎵 Offline content

Spotify playlists, Netflix downloads, Apple Music tracks saved for offline — all of this lives in "Other". If you're someone who downloads a lot of content for flights or commutes, and forgets to delete it afterward, this can be a huge chunk of space.

📦 Old iOS updates

When you update your iPhone, iOS downloads the update file, installs it, and (usually) deletes the installer. But sometimes that file gets stuck. You can check for it in Settings > General > iPhone Storage — if you see an iOS update sitting there, delete it manually.

💬 iMessage attachments

This is a big one. Every photo, video, and GIF sent to you in Messages is stored on your device. Group chats are especially bad — a single weekend trip can generate dozens of high‑resolution videos that you'll never watch again. They're hidden deep in the system, but they're definitely taking up space.

🗂️ App data and documents

Some apps store a lot of data locally. For example, a note‑taking app might keep all your attachments on the device. A PDF reader might cache every file you open. This all falls under "Other".

🔊 Siri voices

If you use multiple languages or voice options for Siri, those voice files are stored locally. They're not huge individually, but they add up.

How to see what's really taking up space

iOS gives you a breakdown in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Scroll down and you'll see a list of apps with the space they're using. Tap on an app — many show more details, like "Documents & Data" which is part of "Other". This is the closest you can get to peeking inside the "Other" category.

How to shrink "Other" (step by step)

You can't delete "Other" directly — there's no "Clear Other" button. But you can coax iOS into cleaning house with these methods.

1. Restart your iPhone

This is the simplest and often most effective step. A restart clears temporary system caches and forces iOS to flush out unnecessary files. Do this first — you might be surprised how much it helps.

2. Clear Safari cache

Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. This removes all browsing history, cookies, and cached files. You'll stay logged out of websites, but you'll free up space immediately.

3. Offload unused apps

In Settings > General > iPhone Storage, you'll see a list of apps with the option to "Offload App". This removes the app but keeps its documents and data. If you reinstall later, your data comes back. For apps you rarely use, offloading is a great way to free up space without losing anything important.

4. Delete old iMessage conversations

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages and tap "Review Large Attachments". You'll see a list of photos and videos sorted by size. Delete the ones you don't need. Also consider changing how long Messages keeps attachments: Settings > Messages > Keep Messages — choose 30 Days or 1 Year instead of Forever.

5. Check your mail app

Open the Mail app and delete old messages with large attachments. Then go to Settings > Mail > Accounts and consider turning off "Mail" for accounts you no longer use. This can clear cached data.

6. Manage offline content manually

Open your streaming apps — Spotify, Netflix, Apple Music, etc. — and look for downloaded content. Delete anything you've already watched or listened to. These files are often forgotten but can be massive.

7. The nuclear option: backup and restore

If nothing else works, this is the most effective way to completely reset "Other". Back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer, then factory reset the device (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings). Restore from your backup. This rebuilds the entire system from scratch and usually clears out all the hidden junk.

It sounds drastic, but it works. And because you restore from a backup, you don't lose any of your important data.

What Clean Up Storage can (and can't) do

We built Clean Up Storage to tackle the biggest part of "Other": your media files. Duplicate photos, similar shots, large videos, and old screenshots — these all live in your gallery, but they're often counted as part of "Other" when they're embedded in apps or messages. By removing them, you free up space that iOS might otherwise categorize as "Other".

What we can't do: clear system caches, delete mail attachments, or manage offline content from other apps. iOS locks those areas for security reasons. But we make sure your photos and videos aren't contributing to the mess.

Prevention: how to keep "Other" from coming back

Once you've tamed "Other", here's how to keep it under control:

• Restart your iPhone weekly. It's good practice and clears temporary files.
• Clear Safari cache monthly. Make it a habit.
• Review large iMessage attachments regularly. Every few months, check that list.
• Be mindful of offline downloads. Delete them after you're done.
• Use Clean Up Storage monthly. A quick scan will catch duplicates and large videos before they accumulate.

"Other" doesn't have to be a mystery. With a little understanding and regular maintenance, you can keep it in check — and keep your iPhone feeling fast and free.