Free up app storage

Free up Instagram storage

Instagram caches Reels, Stories, and feed media so they play fast. It also keeps unfinished drafts on this phone and can save copies of what you post into Photos or Gallery. Posted photos, Reels, and DMs stay on your account. Clearing cache does not delete them.

See how much space Instagram is using

iPhone

1. Open the iPhone Settings app.
2. Tap General > iPhone Storage.
3. Tap Instagram.

Android

1. Open your phone Settings > Apps (or Apps and notifications).
2. Tap Instagram.
3. Tap Storage or Storage and cache.

Instagram does not have a WhatsApp-style Free up Storage screen. The number you see here is the app plus cache and local drafts, not your whole Instagram account.

Open Storage and data if you have it

1. Open Instagram and tap your profile picture.
2. Tap the menu (three lines) > Settings and activity.
3. Tap Storage and data if it is listed (some versions say Data usage).

Use this for data saver and download quality. It is not a storage cleaner. Do not confuse it with Download your information / Download or transfer information under Your activity or Accounts Center. That is an account export, not a way to free space on the phone.

If you see Data saver or Use less data, turn it on so Instagram keeps smaller copies of feed videos.

Stop Instagram from saving copies to Photos or Gallery

1. Open Settings and activity.
2. Open Media quality (some versions list this under Account as Original posts or Save original photos).
3. Turn off saving original photos and videos to the camera roll, and any toggle that saves posts or Stories you share.

This only stops new copies. Files already in Photos or Gallery stay until you delete them, including Recently Deleted / Trash.

Delete drafts

1. Tap + (create) on the home or profile tab.
2. Open Drafts (posts, Reels, or Stories, depending on what you started).
3. Open a draft you do not need, tap the menu, then Delete. On some versions, tap and hold the draft instead.

Drafts live on this phone. They can disappear if you clear app data or reinstall. Save anything you still want to Photos first: open the draft and use Save if Instagram offers it.

Clear Instagram cache on Android

1. Open your phone Settings > Apps > Instagram.
2. Tap Storage or Storage and cache.
3. Tap Clear cache.

Do not tap Clear storage / Clear data unless you mean to reset Instagram. That signs you out and can delete local drafts.

iPhone does not offer a separate Instagram cache button. Offload or delete the app in iPhone Storage if the system total stays high after you delete drafts.

Reinstall the app if storage is still high

If you already cleaned media and Instagram still looks huge, a fresh install can clear leftover cache and temp files that are hard to reach by hand.

1. Posts, Reels, and DMs stay on your Instagram account. Save any drafts to Photos first. They live on this phone.
2. Delete the app from your phone.
3. Restart your phone.
4. Install Instagram again from the App Store or Google Play.
5. Sign in and restore from backup if the app offers it.

This often frees a lot of space. You may need to download some media again after restore.

What to do next

After Instagram is lighter, check your photo library for duplicates and similar shots. That is what Dedupo is for.

More app guides: Free up app storage.