How to clear storage on an iPhone | Harper29
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How to clear storage on an iPhone

Knowing how to clear storage on your iPhone can save you from the dreaded “Storage Full” notification while enhancing your device's performance. 

It’s only natural for your iPhone’s storage to swell with time, but letting it fill to the brim prevents new downloads and media captures. To help you with that, we’ll demonstrate how to clear your storage in a few simple steps. 

However, if your phone remains slow even after clearing storage, consider upgrading to the best iPhone.  

Tools and requirements

  •  iPhone

Steps for how to clear storage on iPhone

  • Review storage recommendations: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Recommendations > review and delete. 
  • Delete apps: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Select apps > Delete App.
  • Offload apps: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Select apps > Offload App.
  • Delete Music: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music > Edit > Tap the minus icon > Delete.   
  • Delete messages and attachments: Messages > Select message category > Options (three dots) > Select Messages > Choose messages to delete > Delete. 
  • Clear Safari cache: Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. 
  • Clear Chrome cache: Chrome > Options (three dots) > Clear Browsing Data > Select Cached Images and Files > Clear Browsing Data. 
  • Optimized photo storage (iCloud): Settings > Your name > iCloud > Photos > Optimize iPhone Storage. 

Step by step guide to clear storage on iPhone

Before you make any changes, it's always safest to back up your iPhone using iCloud or your computer to avoid losing important information.

1. Review storage recommendations

The first screenshot shows the Settings app on iPhone, with a red arrow pointing at General. The second screenshot shows the General menu in Settings, with a red arrow pointing at iPhone Storage. The third screenshot shows a red arrow pointing at recommendations in the iPhone Storage settings.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to find a color-coded storage breakdown at the top.

Below the breakdown, you’ll find Recommendations to clear out space. Select it to view and delete files (like videos and audio) you no longer need. 

2. Delete or offload apps

The first screenshot shows the Settings app on iPhone, with a red arrow pointing at iPhone Storage. The second screenshot shows the iPhone Storage menu in Settings, with a red arrow pointing at an app. The third screenshot shows two red arrows pointing at the Offload App and Delete App buttons.

Follow the same steps as above (Settings > General > iPhone Storage) and scroll down the iPhone Storage menu to see how much space the apps are taking up. 

Tap the app you want to delete, and then press Delete App at the bottom. 

Alternatively, if you want to keep the app’s documents and data on your device but remove the app for additional storage, tap Offload App

3. Delete music

The first screenshot shows the Settings app on iPhone, with a red arrow pointing at Music under the iPhone Storage menu. The second screenshot shows the Music menu in Settings, with a red arrow pointing at Edit. The third screenshot shows a red arrow pointing at the red minus icon beside the name of an artist in the Music menu.

To delete music, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music. Tap Edit, and red minus icons will appear beside all the listed artists. Tap the minus icon beside the artists you want to remove, and press Delete

You can also delete music directly through the Music app. Once in the app, access Albums, Songs, or Recently Added. Then, long press the tracks/albums you want to delete and tap Delete from Library

4. Delete messages

The first screenshot shows the Messages app on iPhone. The second screenshot shows the Messages app with a red arrow pointing at the three dots at the top right and a red arrow pointing at Select Messages. The third screenshot shows a red arrow pointing at the Delete button at the bottom right corner.

Open the Messages app and tap any message category you want to clear. Then, press the three dots at the top right corner and tap Select Messages. Next, choose the messages you want to delete and tap Delete at the bottom right corner. 

To delete all the messages, repeat the steps above until you tap Select Messages. Then, press Select All at the top left corner and tap Delete at the bottom right corner. 

To automate this process, head to Settings > Messages. Scroll down to find and select Keep Messages, which is under Message History. Choose from the three options on how long to store your messages (30 days, one year, or forever). 

5. Clear Safari cache and history

The first screenshot shows the Settings app on iPhone, with a red arrow pointing at Safari. The second screenshot shows the Safari menu in Settings, with a red arrow pointing at Clear History and Website Data. The third screenshot shows a red arrow pointing at the Clear History button.

Head to Settings and scroll down to select Safari. Navigate down the Safari menu till you find Clear History and Website Data. Tap it to bring up additional options, like the timeframe for clearing the history, and once you’ve selected the duration, tap Clear History

6. Clear Chrome cache and history

The first screenshot shows the Chrome app on iPhone, with a red arrow pointing at the three dots at the bottom right corner. The second screenshot shows the Chrome menu, with a red arrow pointing at Clear Browsing Data. The third screenshot shows two red arrows pointing at Cached Images and Files and Clear Browsing Data.

If you use Google Chrome, open the Chrome app on your phone. Tap the three dots at the bottom right corner, and then tap Clear Browsing Data. Select Cached Images and Files, and then tap Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen. 

7. Backup media files to iCloud and optimize media storage

The first screenshot shows the Settings app on iPhone, with a red arrow pointing at iCloud. The second screenshot shows the iCloud menu in Settings, with a red arrow pointing at Photos. The third screenshot shows a red arrow pointing at the Optimize iPhone Storage option under Photos.

Backing up your photos and videos to iCloud will save you plenty of storage space in the long run. 

Additionally, to optimize your media storage, head to Settings > Your name > iCloud > Photos. Select Optimize iPhone Storage to ensure your device stores smaller versions of your media to save space (the full-resolution file downloads automatically when viewing the optimized file).  

Final Thoughts

Done clearing space on your iPhone? Then it’s time to put that new-found storage to good use! The additional space will keep your phone running fast and not stop you from capturing memorable photos and videos.

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