iPhone users are just discovering a built-in app that's silently stealing their storage space. And the worst part is, it's pretty hard to delete.
It seems not everyone is thrilled with Apple's latest iPhone update, as iOS 26 includes several unpopular features users are scrambling to disable. Less than a month ago, users discovered an app they use daily that drains battery life more than expected, and are turning to expert tips to get the most out of their device's charge.
Now, iPhone owners are noticing that even pre-installed apps come with hidden drawbacks.
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A handful of social media users have flagged a mysterious 'bug' eating storage, so it's worth checking whether your device is affected. The issue is down to Apple Maps, and the worst part is that users can’t even delete the app.
This isn't a new issue either. Reddit complaints dating back several months describe the app occupying over 20GB of space.
“I noticed that my maps app is taking 20gb of storage, so I tried delete or offload the app, didnt work,” one frustrated iPhone owner wrote. “Updated system to see if it would fix."
They added: “Nothing has changed, except now I can’t even delete or offload the app because it asks me to pick another “default app” but due to region thats not an option in settings. Does anyone know how to solve this?”
Similarly, another user shared a screenshot of the 'documents and data' size of Apple Maps, which was valued at 20.22GB.
Meanwhile, TechRadar highlighted the problem again after another user found 13.93GB of their storage was mysteriously consumed. Turns out, the bloated app has made updating to the latest iOS version impossible due to insufficient storage, and the suggested data-clearing methods don't seem to help. That includes the Clear History trick, which typically resolves these situations.
However, some Reddit users have found that clearing the history in Apple Maps does work for them, so either way, it could be worth a go. To do this, simply go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations & Routes > Clear History.
The other option is a pretty drastic one and should probably only be used as a last resort.
Some users have suggested performing a factory reset on the device, just make sure to back everything up first. You can back up your data by going to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup, then tapping Back Up Now.