Free up space · OnePlus
How to free up space on the OnePlus 12
Short answer
To free up space on the 12, open Settings > About device > Storage to see what is using it, clear duplicates with Google Photos: Free up space on this device, then empty Photos's Recently Deleted. A default 12.5 MP photo is about 3.8 MB, so 5,000 photos take roughly 19 GB of the 256 GB base model.
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Where is the storage screen on the 12?
The 12 launched in February 2024 with Android 14 and OxygenOS 14. On that software the storage screen is Settings > About device > Storage.
Other OxygenOS versions use a different path; the OnePlus guide lists them.
How much space do 12 photos take?
12: 50 MP main sensor, 12.5 MP by default, plus 48 MP ultrawide, 64 MP 3x periscope telephoto. 1,000 default 12 shots take about 3.8 GB.
| File | Typical size | Fits in 10 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Default photo (12.5 MP) | about 3.8 MB | about 2,632 |
| Full-resolution mode (50 MP) | about 12 MB | about 833 |
| RAW / DNG (12.5 MP) | about 24 MB | about 417 |
| One minute of video at 8K 24fps | about 600 MB | about 17 minutes |
Switching the 12 to its 50 MP mode makes each shot about 12 MB, roughly 3 times a default photo, so 200 of them use 2.4 GB. RAW files from the 12 run to about 24 MB each, which is why RAW folders fill a phone faster than anything except video. Recording at 8K 24fps, the 12 writes about 600 MB a minute, so a ten-minute clip takes 6.0 GB, the same as 1,579 default photos. Selfies from the 32 MP front camera are about 7.7 MB each.
What is specific to the 12?
Saves photos as HEIF, JPEG or DNG (RAW). Sold as 12 GB + 256 GB or 16 GB + 512 GB.
Which built-in cleaners did the 12 ship with?
Out of the box on OxygenOS 14, the 12 has Google Photos: Free up space on this device (Google Photos > profile picture > Free up space on this device) and Files by Google cleaning suggestions (Files by Google > Clean). How each works is in the OnePlus guide.
Where do deleted photos go on the 12?
On the 12, Photos's Recently Deleted holds them for 30 days (Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted). It launched on Android 14, so it also has Android's system trash.
How much of each 12 storage option does a big gallery use?
| Storage option | 5,000 default photos | 30 minutes of top-quality video |
|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | 19 GB (7%) | 18 GB (7%) |
| 512 GB | 19 GB (4%) | 18 GB (4%) |
On the 256 GB 12, every 10 GB you free holds about 2,632 more default photos, and a gallery of 20,000 photos would fill 30% of it. On the 512 GB 12, every 10 GB you free holds about 2,632 more default photos, and a gallery of 20,000 photos would fill 15% of it.
How does the 12 compare with other OnePlus phones?
Against the 11 (February 2023), the 12 starts higher, at 256 GB instead of 128 GB. Against the 12R (February 2024), the 12 starts higher, at 256 GB instead of 128 GB. Against the 13 (January 2025), the 12 has the same 256 GB starting storage.
| Model | Launched | Storage options | Default photo | microSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | February 2024 | 256 GB, 512 GB | 12.5 MP (~3.8 MB) | No |
| 11 | February 2023 | 128 GB, 256 GB | 12.5 MP (~3.8 MB) | No |
| 12R | February 2024 | 128 GB, 256 GB | 12.5 MP (~3.8 MB) | No |
| 13 | January 2025 | 256 GB, 512 GB | 12.5 MP (~3.8 MB) | No |
Can you add a memory card to the 12?
No, the 12 has no microSD slot, so its 256 GB and 512 GB is all the space there is.
What will GalleryJury do on the 12?
GalleryJury, coming soon for Android 11 and later, will pick the best shot of each burst. At about 3.8 MB a 12 photo, its $5 pack of 5,000 photos covers roughly 19 GB, after 50 free.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos fit on a 512 GB 12?
In theory about 134,737 default photos if nothing else were stored; in practice apps and Android take a large share.
How much storage does the 12 have?
It was sold with 256 GB and 512 GB and no microSD slot.
Sources
- OnePlus: OnePlus 12 specs (checked 31 October 2026)
- OPPO Support: How to Check OPPO Phone Storage (ColorOS, shared with OxygenOS 13+) (checked 31 October 2026)
- OPPO Support: Why is My Storage Still Full After Deleting Photos (checked 31 October 2026)
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GalleryJury is coming soon to Android
It keeps the best shot from every burst and clears the clutter around it. 50 free photos to try, then $5 for 5,000 photos or $15 for 20,000. Pay once, nothing renews. No subscription.