Direct answer
Photos storage includes local originals, edited versions, videos, Recently Deleted and sync caches. Confirm whether iCloud Photos is active before deleting anything.
What this covers
- The observed symptom matches this record
- Customer-accessible settings, connections and external components
- Diagnosis before reset, deletion or component replacement
What it does not cover
- ×A model-specific error code with a different documented meaning
- ×Internal electrical, battery-cell, gas, refrigeration or sealed-component repair
- ×A guarantee that every model exposes the same control label
Capture the exact symptom
ReversibleOpen iPhone Storage and Photos settings; note iCloud status, Optimize Storage and large video categories.
Run the smallest isolation test
ReversibleBack up irreplaceable media, empty Recently Deleted only after review, and enable optimization if cloud capacity and upload are sufficient.
Correct only the proven cause
ReversibleRemove known duplicates or exported videos rather than clearing the entire library.
Verify before changing anything else
ReversibleConfirm iCloud upload completes and free space increases after background processing.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.
Exact questions
Common follow-ups
What should I check before resetting anything?+
Open iPhone Storage and Photos settings; note iCloud status, Optimize Storage and large video categories.
What is the safest isolation test?+
Back up irreplaceable media, empty Recently Deleted only after review, and enable optimization if cloud capacity and upload are sufficient.
When should I stop troubleshooting?+
Do not disable sync or mass-delete until another verified copy exists; deletions can propagate to all synced devices.
Answer for the exact device and software version shown above.