Step-by-Step Guide to Emptying Trash on Your iPhone

Key Notes

  • Learn how to empty various types of trash stored on your iPhone.
  • Clearing apps’ caches can free up significant storage space.
  • Offloading unused apps preserves their data while freeing up space.

Unlock Storage Space by Emptying Trash on Your iPhone

As your iPhone fills up with photos, emails, notes, and app data, managing stored files becomes essential. This guide provides practical steps to empty trash in various apps, optimizing your storage efficiently.

Step 1: Clear Trash from Photos App

Step 1: Access the Recently Deleted Album

Open the Photos app on your iPhone. Navigate to the Albums tab at the bottom. Scroll down to locate the Recently Deleted album.

Pro Tip: Items in this album stay for 30 days, offering a recovery chance before permanent deletion.

Step 2: Select and Delete Unwanted Photos

Tap on Select, choose all the photos and videos you wish to delete. Then tap the More button in the bottom-right corner and select Delete All.

A confirmation pop-up will appear. Confirm the deletion of your selected items.

Step 2: Remove Trash from Apple Mail

Step 1: Access the Trash Folder in Apple Mail

Open the Mail app on your iPhone. Navigate to the Trash folder to manage deleted emails.

Step 2: Clear Out Your Trash

Tap the Edit button and then select Select All. Next, tap the Delete button to permanently erase all selected emails.

Step 3: Delete Recently Deleted Notes

Step 1: Access Deleted Notes

Open the Notes app, tap on the Recently Deleted folder to review deleted notes.

Step 2: Permanently Erase Notes

Tap Edit at the top right, then select Delete All to erase the notes permanently. Confirm your choice.

Step 4: Clear Recently Deleted Files

Step 1: Access the Files App

Open the Files app on your iPhone. Tap the Browse tab and locate the Recently Deleted folder.

Step 2: Delete Unwanted Files

Tap the three dots icon at the top right, select Select, then tap Delete All at the bottom to confirm.

Step 5: Erase App Cache

Step 1: Clear Safari Cache

Open the Settings app, scroll down to Safari, and tap on it. Choose Clear History and Website Data to remove the cache.

Pro Tip: You may notice slower loading times for websites the first time you visit after this action.

Step 6: Offload Unused Apps

Step 1: Navigate to iPhone Storage Settings

Open Settings, go to General and then iPhone Storage. Scroll to find an app you rarely use.

Step 2: Offload the Selected App

Tap the app and select Offload App. Confirm the decision to keep your data while freeing up valuable storage space.

Summary

Effectively managing storage on your iPhone requires regular clearing of trash in various apps, including Photos, Mail, and Notes. Offloading apps and erasing caches are additional steps that help optimize your device performance.

Conclusion

By following these steps to empty the trash on your iPhone, you can significantly improve storage space and overall device performance. Regular maintenance will keep your iPhone running smoothly and efficiently.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

How often should I clear the trash on my iPhone?

It’s best to regularly clear the trash, ideally once a month. This helps maintain optimal storage space.

Can I recover deleted files after emptying trash?

Once the recently deleted files and folders are cleared, they cannot be recovered directly from your device.