How much storage does my phone have? Guide for iPhone and Android

💡 Need to know

• Quick check: You can find your phone’s storage in the Settings app under General (iPhone) or Storage (Android).
• Storage types: System data and essential files can’t be deleted—they’re required for your phone to run.
• Free up space: Delete unused apps, photos, or videos—or move them to the cloud for more room.

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You're downloading an app when a message alerts you to insufficient storage. That’s odd—you’ve never had a problem adding a new app. “How much storage does my phone have?” you wonder. And what items on your device take up the most space?

Asurion Experts are always ready to offer tech help. Whether you want to increase iPhone® storage or free up phone storage space, count on us for an easy solution. Here's how to find out how much internal storage your phone has—and what to do if you run out of space.

Check storage on an iPhone

If you're an iPhone owner, here’s how to view storage usage and availability on your device.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General > iPhone Storage.
3. View the visual breakdown of available and used storage.

iPhone displays current storage usage by category. You'll see totals for Apps, Music, Photos, Mail, Messages, iOS, Other, and System Data. Some devices also offer recommendations for freeing up space, like offloading unused apps or photos.

Deleting items from various categories frees up space on your device. However, iOS, Other, and System Data can't be deleted—these are essential for running your phone and include assets like fonts, dictionaries, and system files.

Check storage on an Android phone

Android users can also easily check how much space they have and see which apps or files use the most.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Storage.
3. On Samsung devices, tap Device maintenance or Device care > Storage.
4. View the visual breakdown of available and used storage.

Like iPhone, Android devices sort stored data into categories—Apps, Images, Video, Audio, Miscellaneous/Other, Cached Data, and System Data. You can tap each category for a detailed view of what’s taking up the most space.

Understanding system storage and categories

Not all storage is created equal. Here’s what system folders and categories mean on iPhone and Android.

Both platforms include a System folder, which stores essential operating system files that can’t be deleted.

On Android phones, you may also see a Miscellaneous or Other folder. This holds files that don’t fit standard categories, like cached data, app files, and temporary items. While you can’t remove most of these directly, you can reduce their size by clearing cache or deleting unused apps.

When your phone’s storage runs low—especially below 25% free space—performance can drop. Apps might crash, games may lag, and your device could feel slower.

To pinpoint space hogs, open Storage settings and tap each category. iPhone and Android list the biggest offenders right at the top, making it easy to reclaim storage fast.

How to free up space if your phone is full

Running out of storage? Try these easy ways to clear up space and keep your phone running smoothly.

• Delete unused apps. Start with the ones you rarely open—especially large ones.
• Move files elsewhere. Transfer photos, videos, and documents to a computer, tablet, or external drive.

For iPhone® users:

• Use iCloud® to store photos and files in the cloud and access them from any device.
• Every iPhone comes with some free iCloud storage, and you can upgrade for a small monthly fee.

For Android™ users:

• Save files to cloud apps like Google Drive™ or Dropbox®, which also offer paid upgrades for extra space.
• Many Android phones include an SD card slot for expandable storage. SD cards are affordable—often under $40—and a great option if you prefer not to pay for cloud storage.