Apple iPhone XS Max storage is full or the device cannot install updates

An iPhone XS Max came in 64, 256 and 512 GB sizes, and a 64 GB one that is seven years old is very likely full of photos, videos and app data. Apple's page for checking storage shows how: Settings, General, iPhone Storage lists the biggest apps and gives recommendations such as Offload Unused Apps and Review Large Attachments. Photos and videos are usually the largest consumers, and Apple says you can turn on iCloud Photos with Optimize iPhone Storage so that full-resolution originals live in iCloud and smaller copies stay on the phone. Messages attachments, downloaded videos and old podcasts also pile up. Offload apps you do not use, which keeps their data.

If the phone is full, it cannot install updates, and apps may crash, so free a few gigabytes. System Data can be large; a restart and an update often shrink it. If the phone says Storage Almost Full but the apps and photos look small, System Data and Other may be large, and the cure is a restart, an iOS 18 update and removing downloaded media. Keep at least 10 percent of the storage free, since a nearly full phone slows down and cannot unpack updates. Look in Settings, General, iPhone Storage for the recommendation to Review Downloaded Videos, which finds large offline video and audio files.