Ask HN: Why does iOS lie about storage space required for updates?

4 points by whb101 2y ago ↗ HN

I go to my iPhone settings to install an update. It says I can’t install the update because “at least 3.92 GB of storage space required.” I check my storage space. It’s 5.88 GB. Does anyone know what’s going on here?

1 comment

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bell-cot 2y ago ↗

[Preface: No, I don't know.]

> Why does iOS lie...

Especially with no obvious "...(4) Profit!" reason for Apple to intentionally lie, I'd attribute this to incompetence.

There are a number of ways to measure available storage space, before you even get into "GiB vs. GB" sorts of issues. So if it's not too much of a PITA, freeing up more space seems a pretty plausible "First Kludge" to try.