iPhone Storage Stuck on Calculating? Try These 6 Fixes

Your iPhone makes it very easy for you to determine how much storage space you have on the device. The option to see the amount of storage space that each app and type of data is taking up on the device is available in the device's settings.

But sometimes, when you try to check, your iPhone storage can get stuck on calculating category sizes. While this isn't a common problem, it can sometimes affect a significant number of iOS devices for several reasons. Here, we will show you what you can do when this happens.

Why is iPhone Storage Stuck on Calculating

Although this is a problem you might typically expect to encounter with older devices, some users have reported experiencing this issue on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models. One user on Reddit indicated that the issue began shortly after updating their device to iOS 15.

This could suggest a bug in the recent iOS update as the primary cause of the problem. In such cases, you may be able to resolve it simply by installing a more recent update released by Apple to fix the bug.

However, there are also a few other users who mention that the issue seemed to occur unexpectedly. This suggests that the problem may stem from various factors, including software issues that may not be immediately diagnosable.

In this article, we have compiled troubleshooting steps you can follow when your iPhone storage is stuck on "Calculating."

Be Patient and Force Quit the Settings App

It is not uncommon for you to see a spinning wheel when you try to determine the amount of storage space on your iPhone. This is typically the case when there is a lot of data on the device and your iPhone understandably needs some time to calculate the amount of data on it.

There are times when this "Calculating" screen can last for up to 3 minutes before you see the results. So, you might want to be a little patient with the process and wait for a while.

If the problem persists, we recommend trying to force quit and then restart the Settings app first. This process is initiated by the Settings app and can help resolve any system errors that may be causing the issue. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the App Switcher on the device. To do that, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle. If your iPhone has a Home Button, double tap on it to open the App Switcher.
2. Locate the Settings app card and swipe it up and off the screen to force close it.
3. Now go back to the Home Screen and tap on the Settings app icon again to relaunch the settings on the iPhone.
4. Then tap on General > iPhone Storage to see if the issue has been resolved.

Free Up Some Space on Your iPhone

Insufficient space on your iPhone can cause your iPhone storage to become stuck on "calculating." It's recommended to have at least 5 GB of free space for a smooth installation process. Here's how you can free up storage on your iPhone:

1. Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
2. From there, identify apps you haven't used recently and delete unwanted ones. Alternatively, you can use the "Offload App" feature to retain documents and data while freeing up storage space.
3. Consider removing excess photos, videos, or downloaded files from your iPhone.

By following these steps, you should be able to free up some space on your iPhone.

Wait for Apple's Update or Update iOS If Available

Since this problem could also be caused by a bug in the iOS system, an update may be one of the best solutions. This is especially true if the problem began soon after you updated the device to the latest version of iOS.

Apple may have released a point update specifically to resolve issues caused by the major update. To check if an update is available, open the Settings app and tap on "General > Software Update."

If an update is available, tap "Download and Install" to update the device. Once the update process is complete, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see if the problem has been resolved.

Restart or Force Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes the simplest solutions can be the most effective. If an update is not available or if you've updated the device but are still unable to check your storage situation, restarting the device might be a good solution.

Restart your iPhone

1. Press the power button (or the Power and one of the Volume buttons for newer iPhone models).
2. When the "Slide to Power Off" screen appears, drag the power icon to turn off the device.
3. Leave the iPhone off for up to a minute, then press the Power button again until the Apple logo appears and the device restarts.

If a simple restart doesn't work, you can try to force restart your iPhone. The process will depend on the iPhone model you have. Here's how to do it:

Force Restart iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2nd Generation), or newer

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and release the Volume Down button, and finally press and hold the Side button. Release the Side button when you see the Apple logo.

Force Restart an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus

Press and hold both the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then release both buttons.

Force Restart iPhone 6s or iPhone SE (1st Generation)

Press and hold both the Power and Home buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then release both buttons.

Reset All Settings

You can also resolve this problem by resetting the settings on the device. This removes any conflicting settings that may affect the function of the Settings app and the device in general.

To reset all settings, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. After the process is complete, your iPhone will restart automatically.

Reset and Restore Your iPhone From Backup

If you're still facing the iPhone storage stuck on calculating issue, the final option is to factory reset your iPhone and then restore it from a backup. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
2. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Erase all Content and Settings, and enter your passcode if prompted.
4. Tap Continue and wait for your iPhone to reset to factory settings.

After resetting, follow these steps to restore from a backup:

1. Set up your language, Wi-Fi network, and passcode.
2. On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.
3. Sign in to iCloud using your Apple ID and select the backup you wish to install.
4. Wait for the restoration process to finish and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup of your iPhone.

Conclusion

Although iPhone storage being stuck on "Calculating" is not a common problem, it can be resolved with the solutions provided above. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.