How to clear storage on an iPhone

How to reclaim some much-needed space on your device

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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 thebest iPhone.

Tools and requirements

Steps for how to clear storage on iPhone

Step by step guide to clear storage on iPhone

Before you make any changes, it’s always safest toback up your iPhoneusingiCloudor your computer to avoid losing important information.

1. Review storage recommendations

Go toSettings>General>iPhone Storageto find a color-coded storage breakdown at the top.

Below the breakdown, you’ll findRecommendationsto clear out space.Selectit to view anddelete files(like videos and audio) you no longer need.

2. Delete or offload apps

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

Taptheappyou want to delete, and thenpress Delete Appat 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

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

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

4. Delete messages

OpentheMessages appandtapany message category you want to clear. Then,pressthethree dotsat the top right corner andtapSelect Messages. Next, choose the messages you want to delete andtap Deleteat the bottom right corner.

To delete all the messages, repeat the steps above until youtap Select Messages. Then,press Select Allat the top left corner andtap Deleteat the bottom right corner.

To automate this process, head toSettings>Messages. Scroll down to find and selectKeep 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

Head toSettingsand scroll down toselect Safari. Navigate down the Safari menu till you findClear History and Website Data. Tapit 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

If you use Google Chrome,open the Chrome appon your phone.Tapthethree dotsat the bottom right corner, and thentap Clear Browsing Data.Select Cached Images and Files, and thentap Clear Browsing Dataat the bottom of the screen.

7. Backup media files to iCloud and optimize media storage

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 toSettings>Your name>iCloud>Photos.Select Optimize iPhone Storageto 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.

If you’re interested, we’ve also coveredfive hidden iOS tricks to help you navigate your iPhone faster,how to setup a new iPhone, andhow to use Find My iPhone.

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Nikshep Myle is a freelance writer covering tech, health, and wellbeing. He has written for popular tech blogs like Tom’s Guide, GadgetReview, SlashGear, and Creative Bloq, and has extensively reviewed consumer gadgets. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him meditating, gaming, discovering new music, and indulging in adventurous and creative pursuits.

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