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MrSopiler
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Photos app storage not optimizing after iCloud toggle

Photos app still showing 26.93 GB after OptimizHi,


My iPhone on iOS 27 shows the Photos app using 26.93 GB, but the actual photo library doesn’t seem that large.


I’ve already tried:



  • Fully emptied Recently Deleted


  • Enabled “Optimize iPhone Storage”


  • Turned off and on “Sync this iPhone” (chose Remove from iPhone)


  • Force restart


  • Left the phone on Wi-Fi + charging for several hours

The storage number still doesn’t change.


Has anyone else experienced this on iOS 27? Is there a way to force Photos to recalculate storage or clear its cache without losing the photos in iCloud?


Thanks.e Storage + iCloud toggle (iOS 27)

Posted on Sep 18, 2026 4:16 AM

6 replies

Servant of Cats
User level: Level 9 (55,707 points)

Sep 18, 2026 7:44 PM in response to MrSopiler

With "Optimize iPhone Storage", the phone decides when to substitute lower-quality space-saving local copies for full-size ones, and vice versa.


How much free storage is there on your phone? If there is plenty, it is possible that iOS has decided that there isn't a need to substitute space-saving copies for full-size ones yet.

Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)

Sep 18, 2026 7:05 AM in response to MrSopiler

Where are you seeing this number?


At Settings>[name]>icloud, how many items are showing? For instance, mine says 16,372. Yours?

At Settings>[name]>iCloud>Photos>Manage Storage, what does it say? Mine is 125.1 GB. Yours?

At Settings>General>iPhone Storage>Photos, mine shows 6.56 GB. What does yours say?

At Settings>General>iPhone Storage, my iPhone says 82.8GB of 128GB used. What does yours say?


Do you see all your pictures at iCloud.com? How do its numbers compare?


Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)

Sep 19, 2026 6:56 AM in response to MrSopiler

MrSopiler wrote:
At Settings>General>iPhone Storage>Photos 26,93

I asked these questions:

At Settings>[name]>icloud, how many items are showing? For instance, mine says 16,372. Yours?

At Settings>[name]>iCloud>Photos>Manage Storage, what does it say? Mine is 125.1 GB. Yours?

✔️At Settings>General>iPhone Storage>Photos, mine shows 6.56 GB. What does yours say?

At Settings>General>iPhone Storage, my iPhone says 82.8GB of 128GB used. What does yours say?



MrSopiler Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Sep 18, 2026 7:49 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

At Settings>General>iPhone Storage>Photos 26,93

Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)

Sep 18, 2026 7:54 AM in response to MrSopiler

MrSopiler wrote:
At Settings>General>iPhone Storage>Photos 26,93

and?

MrSopiler Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Sep 18, 2026 8:29 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

documents and files

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256359622