iPhone storage still full after deleting photos?

Do recently deleted photos take up iPhone storage?

Yes. A deleted photo or video goes to the Recently Deleted album and stays there for 30 days, so you can get it back (Apple). Until you empty the album, it keeps its space on your iPhone. iCloud works differently:

On this iPhone

You get the space back once you empty Recently Deleted, or after 30 days.

In iCloud

With iCloud Photos, deleting frees iCloud storage straight away, because Recently Deleted doesn't count toward it (Apple).

How to empty Recently Deleted

1. Open Photos, tap Collections, then swipe up. On iOS 18, just swipe up.
2. Under Utilities, tap Recently Deleted.
3. If it's locked, tap View Album and use Face ID or Touch ID.
4. Tap Select, then the More button (…), then Delete All.
5. Confirm Delete from All Devices, or Delete Photos I Added in a Shared Library.

You can't get them back after this, so look through the album first (Apple). With iCloud Photos, they're gone from your other devices too.

Still full after emptying it?

• Your photos may already be in iCloud. With iCloud Photos and Optimize iPhone Storage, the original can be in iCloud while your iPhone keeps a space-saving copy (Apple). Deleting one of those clears only that copy from your iPhone.
• Something else may be using the room. Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage to see what each app uses, along with Apple's recommendations (Apple).

More storage guides

• iPhone storage full, but iCloud has space?
• iCloud storage full? What to delete first

Sources

• Delete photos on your iPhone or iPad
• How to recover deleted photos
• Manage your iCloud storage on your Apple device
• Set up and use iCloud Photos
• How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad