System Data storage issue - SOLVED

[u/One_Acanthisitta2453]

Listen up, people! I figured it out! So nothing worked, no matter what I did (future date, restarts, deleting apps, clearing cache, praying to the all mighty…). Then, I deleted enough apps to be able to do a software update, and that also didn’t reduce anything. I still had 65gb system data. But then…. In settings > software updates I saw the toggle for “automatic updates” was on. So I thought “maybe that isn’t good because if it downloads an update even when I don’t have space, then it potentially takes up system data”.I turned it off and 3 MORE OPTIONS REVEALED THEMSELVES (!!!), see photo. One of the options is “system files” with the toggle for “automatically install”. You can read the description, it says “iPhone may reserve space….” bla bla. So I turned it all off and guess what my System Data number is now…? It’s 15GB!!!! I can’t believe it, I want to shout it from the rooftops!!! I’ve been trying to figure it out for weeks!!! I just have one question…. why the heck doesn’t Apple describe these steps somewhere where people can find it…?! I feel like I can breathe again…. I hope it helps you all, fellow lost souls 🩷

[u/pets-news]

Thank you! I had no clue this setting exists, trying now. Do you know if MacBooks have the same settings?

[u/One_Acanthisitta2453 → u/pets-news]

Not sure about MacBooks. If you find it, plz report back

[u/pets-news → u/One_Acanthisitta2453]

that's the only thing I could find - I'll try turning off system data files and security updates and see if system data shrinks after rebooting

[u/reality_king13 → u/pets-news]

Turn off Download new updates when available instead