Quick Guide: How to Empty Trash on iPhone Easily

Deleting files and freeing up space on your iPhone is important for smooth performance. One common way to do this is by emptying the Trash or Recently Deleted folders. This helps you permanently remove unwanted photos, emails, or files.

Many users are unsure how to clear trash properly on their iPhone. This guide will walk you through simple and detailed steps to empty the Trash easily. No technical experience is needed.

You can follow these instructions even if you are new to iPhone or iOS. By the end, you will know how to clear trash from different apps and free up storage.

Let’s get started with the basics and then move to more advanced options if needed.

Quick Note Before You Begin

• Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version for the best experience.
• Understand that emptying Trash permanently deletes items—you won’t be able to recover them later.
• Check which app’s Trash you want to empty: Photos, Mail, or Files—all have separate Trash folders.
• Backing up important data before deleting is always a good practice.

How to Empty Trash in the Photos App

The Photos app stores deleted pictures and videos in a “Recently Deleted” album for 30 days. This gives you a chance to recover anything deleted by mistake. To permanently delete these items and free up space, follow these steps:

1. Open the Photos app. Tap on the Photos icon from your home screen.
2. Go to Albums. At the bottom of the screen, tap the “Albums” tab.
3. Scroll down to Recently Deleted. This album contains all photos and videos you deleted in the last 30 days.
4. Tap Recently Deleted. Here you will see the items waiting to be permanently deleted.
5. Tap Select in the top right corner. Then choose “Delete All” to remove everything permanently.
6. Confirm the deletion. A pop-up will ask if you want to delete these items permanently. Tap “Delete X Items” to confirm.

Why is this step important? Photos and videos take up a lot of storage space. If you don’t empty Recently Deleted, these files still occupy space on your device.

How to Empty Trash in the Mail App

The Mail app also has a Trash or Bin folder where deleted emails are stored temporarily. To empty the Trash completely, do the following:

1. Open the Mail app. Tap the Mail icon on your home screen.
2. Go to Mailboxes. Tap the back arrow if you are inside an inbox to see all mailboxes.
3. Find and tap the Trash folder. It may also be labeled as “Bin” depending on your email provider.
4. Tap Edit in the top right corner.
5. Select Delete All. This option removes all emails permanently from the Trash folder.
6. Confirm your choice. A confirmation popup will appear—tap “Delete” to finalize.

Why clear Trash in Mail? Deleted emails can accumulate quickly and take up space, especially if they contain large attachments.

How to Empty Trash in the Files App

The Files app manages documents and downloads. When you delete files here, they move to the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days. To permanently remove them:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Tap Browse. This is usually at the bottom right.
3. Scroll down and tap Recently Deleted.
4. Tap Select. Choose “Delete All” to clear everything.
5. Confirm by tapping Delete.

Note: Clearing Files Trash helps free up space and keeps your file manager tidy.

Alternative Methods and Advanced Options

If you want to automate trash clearing or save time, consider these options:

• Enable “Optimize iPhone Storage” for Photos: This setting automatically manages storage by removing local copies of photos while keeping them in iCloud.
• Use third-party cleanup apps: Some apps help manage junk files and storage, but make sure they are trusted and from the App Store.
• Regularly check storage usage: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see what’s taking up space and delete accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I recover items after emptying Trash?

No. Once you empty Trash or Recently Deleted, the items are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered unless you have a backup.

Q: Why is my iPhone storage still full after emptying Trash?

Sometimes, other data like app caches, messages, or system files take up space. Check Settings > iPhone Storage to identify large files.

Q: Does emptying Trash delete items from iCloud?

Yes, if you use iCloud Photos or Mail, deleting items from Trash on your iPhone also removes them from iCloud.

Q: How often should I empty Trash?

It’s good to empty Trash or Recently Deleted at least once a month, or whenever you need to free up storage quickly.

When Nothing Works

If you face issues emptying Trash or your storage isn’t freeing up, try these final steps:

• Restart your iPhone. Sometimes a reboot can refresh storage calculations.
• Update iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to install any available updates.
• Reset Settings. If problems persist, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete your data but resets system preferences.
• Contact Apple Support. Visit Apple’s official support page for help.

Conclusion

Emptying Trash on your iPhone is a simple yet effective way to free up storage and keep your device running smoothly. Whether it’s photos, emails, or files, each app has its own Trash folder that needs to be cleared regularly.

By following the detailed steps outlined here, you can permanently delete unwanted items safely and efficiently. Remember to back up important data and check your storage often for the best iPhone experience.