When you use an app on your iOS device, it will save the data on your device, from settings, cache files, and so on, to speed up the loading of the app. If you want to clear up storage space on your device, you may need to clean the files. Unfortunately, Apple makes it difficult for you to do so. The files that can be deleted depend on the application you are using.
Step
Method 1 of 7: Order
Step 1. Download iBackupbot
Your message cache can take up a lot of storage space on your iOS device. The problem is, after the messages are deleted from the iOS device, they are still stored in the device and backup files, and take up storage space. You should use a backup manager like iBackupbot to actually delete messages.
Download iBackupbot from icopybot.com/itunes-backup-manager.htm. To delete messages, you only need a trial version of iBackupbot
Step 2. Backup device with iTunes
To delete messages, you'll need to edit the iTunes backup file, so you'll need to create a new backup file, so you don't lose your settings when you restore the backup.
- Connect your iOS device to your computer, then open iTunes.
- Select your iOS device, then click the Back Up Now button. The backup process may take a few minutes.
Step 3. Open iBackupbot and select your new backup file
Open Multimedia File Manager.
Step 4. Click the Other Multimedia tab, then sort files by name
Step 5. Select all files with the name MediaDomain/Library/SMS/Attachments, then click Delete to delete the selected files
Step 6. Go to the System Files/MediaDomain/Library/SMS/Attachments directory, then select and delete all files
Step 7. Click the Restore… button in iTunes
The backup restore process may take a few minutes.
Step 8. Select the Restore from this backup option, then select your iOS device
The backup file will be restored. Your settings will return, and stubborn messages will be deleted.
Method 2 of 7: Music
Step 1. Open the Settings app, then select General → Usage → Manage Storage from the Storage section
Step 2. Select Music
A list of songs on the device will appear.
Step 3. Tap the Edit button to delete the song from the iOS device
Tap the - button next to a song to delete a specific song.
Step 4. Sync iOS device to computer to clear thumbnail cache
iOS devices will still keep thumbnails for deleted music, and the quickest way to clear cache is to sync your iOS device to your computer. Once synced, the thumbnail cache for unsynced music will be cleared.
Read the guide to syncing iOS devices on the internet
Method 3 of 7: Safari
Step 1. Open Settings, then select "Safari"
Safari stores data from the sites you visit, so the sites will open faster the next time you visit them. If you want to free up storage space, clearing the Safari cache will help.
Step 2. Swipe down, then tap on Clear History and Website Data
Step 3. Tap Clear History and Website Data again to confirm deletion
The Safari cache will be deleted from your iOS storage.
Method 4 of 7: Chrome
Step 1. Open Chrome, then tap the Menu button (⋮)
Chrome stores data from the sites you visit, so the sites will open faster the next time you visit them. You can clear the cache from within the Chrome app (not from the Settings app, like Safari).
Step 2. Select Settings, then select Privacy
Step 3. Tap Clear All, then Clear All again to confirm
The Safari cache will be deleted from your iOS storage.
Method 5 of 7: Mail
Step 1. Open the Settings app
When you receive an email on your iOS device, the message and attachments are saved, taking up storage space. The quickest way to delete old messages and attachments is to delete and re-add the email account from your iOS device.
Step 2. Select Mail, Contacts, Calendars
Step 3. Tap on the account you want to clean
Step 4. Tap Delete Account, then confirm the deletion
Your messages will still be stored on the server.
Step 5. Tap Add New, then re-enter your account
Old emails and attachments won't download to your device until you open them.
Method 6 of 7: Voicemail
Step 1. Open the Phone app
This app will keep old voicemails, even after they are deleted. However, old voicemails can be permanently deleted.
Step 2. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom of the screen
Step 3. Swipe to the bottom of the list, then tap on the Deleted button
A list of voicemails that have been deleted will appear.
Step 4. Tap the Clear All button at the top right corner of the screen to clear all cached voicemails
If the Clear All button is turned off, turn off your data connection by opening the Settings menu, selecting Cellular, then turning off Cellular Data. After cellular data is turned off, try deleting voicemail again
Method 7 of 7: Other Apps
Step 1. Find out how to clear data from within the app
Third-party app data (other than Apple) is handled by the individual app, so it cannot be removed from Settings. Therefore, the availability of the data wipe function will depend on the app maker, and not many apps provide this option.
- Check the Settings or Options menu for data wipe options. The availability of the data wipe feature will depend on the application. For example, Pocket, a web storage app, lets you delete files by pressing the Clear Downloaded Files button in the app, while Facebook doesn't let you delete data.
- Since iOS 8.3, Apple has not allowed access to the app's Documents directory, so you can no longer use apps like iFunBox to clear app data.
Step 2. Consider uninstalling and reinstalling the app
There is no quick way to delete data from the Documents and Data Storage directories while the app is still installed. The methods below will cover how to delete data from certain apps, but the quickest way to delete data is to delete the app and download it again, so that the app's data will be deleted as well.
- Open the Settings app, then select General → Usage → Manage Storage. A list of apps installed on your iOS device will appear.
- Tap the app you want to delete, then tap '" Delete App. Tap Delete App again to confirm and delete the app and its data. You can't delete system apps, such as Safari or Music.
- Re-download the app from the App Store. If the app requires you to have an account, sign in with your account in the app.
