> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/mobile-app/capturing-photos-and-media/free-up-space.md).

# Free Up Space

iPads on a long Project fill up. Codifi stores every photo and video locally so it can survive offline-first workflows — but once the media has uploaded to the server, you don't need to keep carrying it on the device.

**Free Up Space** removes media that's been confirmed-synced, while keeping everything that hasn't.

***

## How to free up space

1. Tap the **cloud sync icon** at the top of the map screen.
2. The sync sheet opens.
3. Find the **Media on Device** section.
4. Tap **Free Up Space**.
5. Confirm the prompt.

Codifi removes media files that match all of these conditions:

* **Already uploaded** to the server (confirmed by sync).
* **Not currently being uploaded** (no in-flight transfer).
* **Not in a draft Record** that hasn't been saved.

Records themselves, field data, and unsynced media are **always kept**. Only confirmed-synced media is removed.

***

## When to free up space

A few good times:

* **End of a busy field day** with hundreds of photos captured — when you know they're synced (cloud icon green for media too).
* **Before a multi-day backcountry deployment** — start with as much free storage as possible.
* **When iPad storage warnings appear** — iOS will tell you when you're low; Free Up Space is the Codifi-side answer.
* **After a Project wraps** — bulk-clear all of the Project's media from the iPad once everything is confirmed-synced and reported.

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## How much space typically comes back

Depends on the iPad's capture volume. Rough orders of magnitude:

| Daily capture                 | Typical daily storage | Recoverable per day   |
| ----------------------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- |
| 50 photos / 0 video           | \~150 MB              | \~150 MB (after sync) |
| 200 photos / 5 short videos   | \~800 MB              | \~800 MB              |
| 500+ photos / multiple videos | 2–4 GB                | 2–4 GB                |

A two-week field deployment without periodic Free Up Space can easily consume 20+ GB of an iPad's storage.

***

## What's safe and what's not

Free Up Space is designed to be safe. It only removes media that:

* Has been **confirmed uploaded** to the server (Codifi tracks each file's sync status individually).
* Has **no in-flight transfer** — files mid-upload are not touched.
* Is **not part of an unsaved draft Record**.

If any condition isn't met, the file stays on-device.

The Records themselves are **never** removed by Free Up Space — only the cached media. Records continue to function normally; if you open a Record whose media has been freed, you'll see a placeholder where the photo was, with an option to re-download from the server if you're online.

***

## What if I need a freed photo back?

Open the Record. The photo's placeholder will offer to **re-download from the server**. You need connectivity for this — Codifi pulls the original from cloud storage.

If you're offline and need a photo that's been freed, you'll have to wait for service.

***

## Common questions

### Will Free Up Space affect my unsynced Records?

No. Records (and their data) are stored separately from media. Free Up Space targets media only, and only confirmed-synced media.

### Does Free Up Space remove media from the server?

**No** — it only removes the local cached copy on your iPad. The server-side copy is untouched. That's the whole point: you can free local storage because the server has the master.

### Should I free up space if I'm uncertain about sync status?

Better to wait until you're sure. The safe move is: confirm cloud icon is fully green (no rotating animation, no pending upload count), then run Free Up Space.

### Can I selectively free media for one Project?

Currently no — Free Up Space is a Project-wide sweep (or sometimes device-wide, depending on app version). If your concern is mixing Projects on one device, run Free Up Space Project-by-Project at the end of each Project.

### What about videos?

Videos work the same way. They're typically the biggest individual files and the biggest space-back wins.

***

## Related

* [**Syncing & the Cloud Icon**](/codifi-docs/mobile-app/getting-in-the-field/syncing-and-the-cloud-icon.md) — confirming media has fully synced before Free Up Space.
* [**Capturing Photos & Media**](/codifi-docs/mobile-app/capturing-photos-and-media.md) — the capture side of what gets stored locally.
* [**Working Offline vs Online**](/codifi-docs/mobile-app/mapping-locations/working-offline-vs-online.md) — broader offline-storage considerations.