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What Is "Other" Storage on iPhone? (And How to Clear It)

You open iPhone Storage and there it is — a big grey bar labeled "Other" or "System Data" eating up gigabytes of space. Here's exactly what it is, what's hiding inside, and 7 ways to reduce it.

By DB Labs  ·  February 26, 2026  ·  8 min read

The Quick Answer

"Other" storage on iPhone — called "System Data" in iOS 16 and later — is a catch-all category that includes Safari caches, app caches, log files, Siri voice packages, streaming buffers, and temporary files that don't fit neatly into Photos, Apps, or Messages categories. It commonly occupies 5–20 GB and is not something you can directly delete. You reduce it indirectly by clearing specific caches.

Note: Apple renamed "Other" to "System Data" in iOS 16. They are the exact same thing. If you see either label in Settings → General → iPhone Storage, you're looking at the same category.

What's Actually Inside "Other" / System Data

Apple groups several types of data under this label. Understanding what's in there helps you target the right sources when you need to reduce it.

  • Safari browser cache and website data — Cached pages, images, cookies, and stored form data from websites you've visited. This can grow to 1–2 GB with heavy browsing.
  • App caches — Mail, Messages, and streaming apps store local data to speed up loading. Your Mail app alone can accumulate several GB of locally cached email content.
  • Siri voice files — Offline Siri voice packages so Siri can respond without an internet connection. Each downloaded voice is 200 MB–1 GB depending on quality.
  • Log files and crash reports — iOS keeps diagnostic logs and crash reports from apps. These are small individually but can add up over time.
  • Streaming buffers — When you play music on Spotify or Apple Music, or watch Netflix, those apps download data locally to prevent buffering. Cached playlists alone can reach 3–5 GB.
  • Font and language files — Downloaded system fonts, keyboard language packs, and accessibility resources.
  • Local app data that doesn't sync — App preferences, offline data, local databases, and other per-app storage that isn't categorized as documents or media.

How Much "Other" Is Normal?

A completely fresh iPhone will show around 4–6 GB of System Data — that's the iOS system itself plus essential files. With normal daily use, 8–12 GB is typical. If you're a heavy streamer or keep many browser tabs open, 15–20 GB is not unusual.

Over 20 GB is worth investigating. At that point, a specific cache has likely grown unusually large — most commonly Mail, Safari, or a streaming app.

To check your current amount: Settings → General → iPhone Storage. Scroll down and look for the System Data bar at the bottom. Tap it to see the exact size.

You can also learn more about reading the storage breakdown in our guide on how to check iPhone storage.

Component Breakdown: Typical Sizes

Component Typical Size Can Be Cleared How to Clear
Safari cache 100 MB – 2 GB Yes Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data
Mail cache 100 MB – 3 GB Yes Delete and re-add Mail account
Streaming buffers 1 – 5 GB Yes Clear app storage or reinstall the app
Siri voice packages 200 MB – 1 GB Partial Remove optional voices in Accessibility settings
App log files 100 – 500 MB Yes (automatic) iOS purges these automatically over time
System files 1 – 3 GB No iOS managed, cannot be removed

7 Ways to Reduce "Other" / System Data

None of these steps is a magic button — you're clearing individual caches that contribute to the total. Work through them in order; the first few are easiest and lowest-risk.

1. Restart Your iPhone

A simple restart clears many temporary caches automatically. iOS flushes RAM and purges short-lived temp files on shutdown. This alone can reclaim 500 MB–1 GB without touching any settings. Hold the Side button + Volume Down until the power slider appears, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, then power back on.

2. Clear Safari Cache

Go to Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data and confirm. This removes cached pages, images, cookies, and browser history. Note: you'll be signed out of websites. This is the single most effective step for most people and can recover 500 MB to 2 GB.

3. Offload Unused Apps

Offloading an app removes it but keeps its documents and data. More relevantly, iOS also purges the app's caches when you offload. Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage, tap any app you don't use regularly, then tap Offload App. The app icon stays on your Home Screen; tap it anytime to reinstall.

4. Clear Streaming App Caches

Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, and Podcasts all cache content locally. In Spotify: tap Home → Settings gear → Storage → Clear Cache. In Apple Music: go to Music settings and reduce your download storage limit, then delete specific downloaded albums. For any stubborn app, deleting and reinstalling it completely wipes its local storage.

5. Delete and Re-Add Mail Accounts

The Mail app can accumulate gigabytes of locally cached message bodies, attachments, and thumbnails. Go to Settings → Mail → Accounts, tap each account, and tap Delete Account. Re-add the account immediately — your emails are safe on the server. This only clears the local cache, not your actual messages.

6. Remove Offline Siri Voice Packages

If you downloaded additional Siri voices for offline use, you can remove the ones you don't need. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices. Find any downloaded voices (shown with a checkmark and download indicator) and swipe to delete the ones you don't use.

7. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If System Data is still unusually large after all the above steps, a factory reset will reduce it to its minimum — typically 4–6 GB. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. Before doing this: back up your iPhone to iCloud or Mac/PC. After restoring from backup, restore apps and data selectively rather than restoring the full backup, which can bring caches back with it.

Why You Can't Just "Delete" Other Storage

Apple intentionally doesn't expose a direct delete button for System Data. The category contains files that iOS needs to operate — you can't simply wipe it the way you'd delete a photo album. Instead, Apple exposes specific controls (Safari settings, app offload, etc.) for the cache types that are safe to clear.

This is by design: some of what's in System Data is actively being used. Blindly deleting it would break running apps or cause system instability. The methods above target the safe-to-clear portions.

Photos are not part of Other storage — they show up in their own category in iPhone Storage. If your camera roll is taking up the most space, that's a separate problem. Swype Photo Cleaner can help you quickly clear duplicates, blurry shots, and unwanted photos from your camera roll.

If you're dealing with a full iPhone in general — not just System Data — see our guide on what to do when iPhone storage is full for a complete walkthrough.

Clean Up Your Camera Roll

System Data isn't the only storage thief. Photos are often the biggest culprit — duplicates, blurry shots, and screenshots add up fast. Swype Photo Cleaner makes it effortless to clear them out.

Download on theApp Store

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ · 100% on-device

For a deeper dive into how iPhone and iCloud storage work together, see our guide: iCloud vs iPhone Storage Explained.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Other storage on iPhone and how do I delete it?

"Other" storage (called System Data in iOS 16+) is a catch-all category for caches, logs, Siri voices, browser data, and streaming buffers. You cannot delete it directly — iOS manages it. However, you can reduce it by restarting your iPhone, clearing Safari cache, offloading apps, and clearing streaming app data. There is no single delete button.

Why is my iPhone System Data so large?

System Data grows when you have large Safari caches, heavy streaming app usage (Spotify, Netflix, Apple Music), large mail caches, or accumulated log files. Streaming apps in particular can cache several gigabytes of audio and video locally. Checking which apps have the most storage in Settings → General → iPhone Storage often reveals the culprit.

How do I clear Other storage on iPhone?

To reduce Other/System Data: restart your iPhone, go to Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data, offload unused apps in Settings → General → iPhone Storage, and clear caches in individual apps like Spotify or Apple Music. Delete and re-add Mail accounts to clear large mail caches. There is no single button to delete it all at once.

Is 10 GB of System Data normal on iPhone?

System Data commonly ranges from 5–20 GB depending on usage. 10 GB is within normal range, especially if you stream a lot of music or video, use Safari heavily, or have large email accounts. Over 15–20 GB is worth investigating and attempting to reduce using the methods above.

Will a factory reset remove Other storage on iPhone?

Yes — a factory reset (Erase All Content and Settings) will eliminate all cached data and reset System Data to its minimum, typically 4–6 GB. This is the most extreme option. Always back up your iPhone before doing this. Restore selectively from backup rather than restoring everything at once, or caches may return along with your data.