Updating to iOS 15.4 can indeed take up a significant amount of storage on your iPhone. I recently purchased the iPhone 13 Pro and went through the process of updating to the latest iOS version. To my surprise, I noticed that my System Data had increased substantially, taking up a whopping 110GB of my 256GB of storage.
It’s worth noting that this issue is not exclusive to older devices. Even brand new iPhones can experience a significant increase in System Data after updating to a new iOS version. In my case, I had just purchased the latest iPhone model, so the device itself was not old or outdated.
The increase in System Data can be attributed to various factors. One of the main reasons is that iOS updates often bring new features, improvements, and bug fixes. These updates require additional files and data to be stored on your device. As a result, the System Data size increases to accommodate these changes.
Additionally, iOS updates may also include cached files, temporary files, and other system-related data that accumulate over time. These files are necessary for the smooth functioning of your device but can contribute to the increase in System Data size.
While it’s frustrating to see a significant portion of your storage being occupied by System Data, there are a few things you can try to free up some space:
1. Delete unnecessary apps and files: Go through your device and remove any apps or files that you no longer need. This can help free up storage space and reduce the overall size of your System Data.
2. Offload unused apps: iOS offers a feature called “Offload Unused Apps,” which allows you to remove apps from your device while keeping their data intact. This can help save storage space and potentially reduce the size of System Data.
3. Clear Safari cache: If you use Safari as your default browser, clearing its cache can help free up some storage space. You can do this by going to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
4. Restart your device: Sometimes, a simple restart can help clear temporary files and cache, which might contribute to the large System Data size. Give it a try and see if it makes any difference.
5. Reset all settings: As a last resort, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will revert your device settings to their default state. To do this, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.
It’s also worth mentioning that Apple is aware of the issue and is continuously working on optimizing iOS to reduce the size of System Data. So, future updates may address this concern and help reclaim some of the storage space.
Updating to iOS 15.4 can indeed result in a significant increase in System Data size, even on brand new devices like the iPhone 13 Pro. This is due to the additional files, data, and system-related information that are required for the updated operating system. However, there are steps you can take to free up storage space and mitigate the impact of the increased System Data size.