How to Clean Junk Files on iPhone to Free Up Storage Fast?

"How do I clean my iPhone of junk files? Hello, I am new to iPhone; before I used an HTC. I've had it for a week only, but anyway, I am quite curious how to clean the phone from all the junk files that are downloaded via mail, web browsing, Facebook, etc., which are stored somewhere and occupy some space which could be cleaned? I don't want to buy any software for this, because I suppose Apple should count on this and create some free programme which the user could use for free... (??)."

- from Apple Community

After using an iPhone for a long time, it often becomes slower and runs low on storage. This usually isn't because the hardware is insufficient, but because the system has accumulated a large amount of junk files. These include app caches, browsing data, system temporary files, duplicate photos in your album, and more. If you're looking for simple methods on how to clean junk files on iPhone, this article will guide you step-by-step to clean them effectively, helping your phone run smoothly again while freeing up additional space.

Part 1. Where to Look for the Junk Files on iPhone?

Even if your iPhone seems tidy, you might be surprised at how much junk can build up—often in places you'd least expect. While third-party iPhone cleaners can help, you can also remove junk manually if you know where to look. Here are key areas to check:

• Storage settings: Your iPhone's storage settings provide a clear overview of what's taking up space, showing which apps and file types occupy the most room.
• App cache: Apps like Instagram, Facebook, or Spotify generate cache files—temporary data meant to speed up performance. Over time, these files accumulate and consume significant storage.
• Messages and attachments: That lively group chat may seem harmless, but photos, GIFs, and videos can quickly take up a large portion of your storage.
• Photos and videos: High-quality photos and videos are fun to capture, but they're large files. Frequent shooting, especially in burst mode, can eat up storage faster than you realize.
• Downloaded files: Documents, PDFs, and other downloaded files often linger forgotten in your Downloads folder, silently taking up space.
• Browser cache: Like apps, your web browser stores temporary files to speed up browsing. While helpful, these files can pile up and occupy unnecessary storage.
• Unused apps: That app you tried once and forgot about? It's still there, quietly using space. A small utility app isn't an issue, but multi-gigabyte games like Genshin Impact or Diablo Immortal can be major storage hogs.

By knowing where to look, you can target these areas when decluttering. In the next section, we'll show you how to clean junk files on your iPhone quickly and effectively.

Part 2. How to Clean Junk Files on iPhone?

Now that you know where junk files tend to hide on your iPhone, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get cleaning.

2.1 Restart the iPhone

Among all the cleaning methods, restarting is the simplest yet most easily overlooked. Every time you restart your iPhone, the system automatically frees up some temporary caches, RAM, and background files. While it can't replace a deep clean, it's enough to make your device run more smoothly for a short time.

For iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, or later:

• Press and hold both the "Volume" button and the "Side" button until the power-off slider appears.
• Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone, then wait about 30 seconds for it to fully shut down.
• To turn it back on, press and hold the "Side" button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE (2nd or 3rd generation):

• Press and hold the "Side" button until the power-off slider appears.
• Drag the slider to power off, then wait around 30 seconds.
• Press and hold the "Side" button to turn your iPhone back on until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, or earlier:

• Press and hold the "Top" button until the power-off slider appears.
• Drag the slider to turn off your device, then wait about 30 seconds.
• Press and hold the "Top" button until the Apple logo appears to turn it back on.

2.2 Clear Safari Cache

If you often browse the web using Safari, it automatically stores a large amount of history, website data, and cookies to help pages load faster the next time you visit. However, over time, these caches can take up considerable storage space. Clearing Safari's cache can effectively free up storage and improve your browser's performance.

Here is how to clear browser cache on iPhone:

Step 1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Scroll down and tap "Safari".

Step 3. In the Safari settings, tap "Clear History and Website Data".

Step 4. When prompted, tap "Clear History and Data" to confirm.

If you prefer to keep your browsing history, you can choose to delete only cookies instead:

Step 1. Go back to the Safari "Settings" section.

Step 2. Scroll down and tap "Advanced", then select "Website Data".

Step 3. Tap "Remove All Website Data", then confirm by tapping "Remove Now". You can also tap "Edit" in the top-right corner to delete website data for specific sites.

2.3 Clear Downloads Folder

Many users download files through browsers, emails, or apps without realizing that these files remain stored locally in the Downloads folder. If you frequently save PDFs, images, or documents, this folder can quickly grow.

Here's how to delete downloaded files on iPhone:

Step 1. Open the Files app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap "Browse" > choose "On My iPhone" or "iCloud Drive".

Step 3. Locate the "Downloads" folder.

Step 4. Long-press or swipe left on files you no longer need, then tap "Delete". You can also select multiple files using the "More" (…) icon > "Select" > "Delete".

2.4 Delete Large Message Attachments

When it comes to removing junk files from your iPhone, message attachments are often overlooked. To remove large message attachments, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the "Settings" app and tap "General".

Step 2. Select "iPhone Storage".

Step 3. Under "Recommendations", tap "Review Large Attachments". If you don't see it there, scroll down, tap "Messages", and you should find the option.

Step 4. Review the list of large attachments. You can tap any item for a detailed view.

Step 5. For a single item, swipe left on it and tap "Delete". For multiple items, tap "Edit" in the top-right corner, select the attachments you want to remove, and tap the "trash can" icon.

2.5 Clean up Duplicate or Unnecessary Photos

One of the best ways to clear junk files from your iPhone is by managing your photo library. Photos and videos typically take up the most storage space. Let's look at two effective methods to help you clean up your photo collection.

Merge Duplicate Photos on iPhone

Apple's Photos app includes a useful feature that can detect duplicate photos and videos in your library. It not only identifies them but also lets you merge them into a single high-quality version. Here's how to merge duplicate photos on iPhone:

Step 1. Open the "Photos" app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap "Albums" at the bottom.

Step 3. Under "Utilities", select "Duplicates".

Step 4. Tap "Merge" next to each photo pair you want to combine

Remove Unnecessary Photos on iPhone

Although the Merge feature is great for managing duplicates, you'll probably need to do some manual cleanup as well. Fortunately, deleting unnecessary photos and videos is simple:

Step 1. Open the "Photos" app and go to your "Library".

Step 2. Tap "Select" in the top-right corner.

Step 3. Choose all the photos and videos you want to delete.

Step 4. Tap the "trash" icon in the bottom-right corner.

Step 5. To empty the Recently Deleted folder, open the "Photos" app, go to "Albums", tap "Recently Deleted", then tap "Delete All".

2.6 Offload or Delete Unused Apps

Some apps remain unused for long periods after installation, yet they continue to generate cache, taking up a large amount of storage space. Deleting these apps not only frees up the app's size but also clears the associated cache files. To do it, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage".

Step 2. Check which apps occupy the most space.

Step 3. Tap an unused app.

Step 4. Select "Delete App" to remove it completely. Alternatively, enable "Offload Unused Apps" for automatic cleanup.

Part 3. One-Stop Solution to Clean All Junk Files on iPhone

While manual cleaning helps reduce some storage usage, these methods cannot reach deeper system caches or hidden app data. If you want a faster, more thorough solution for how to clean junk files on iPhone, a dedicated cleaning tool like Coolmuster iOS Cleaner is highly recommended.

Key features of Coolmuster iOS Cleaner:

• Quickly remove unnecessary files like app caches, cookies, crash logs, temporary downloads, photo caches, and more.
• Preview all junk and private data before deletion, giving you full control over what's removed.
• Fully compatible with iOS 26 and the latest iPhone 17 series.
• A secure, read-only tool that doesn't require jailbreaking.
• No risk of damaging your device or altering data without your consent.

Free Download for Mac

How do I clear junk files from my iPhone? Here are the steps:

Conclusion

Knowing how to clean junk files on an iPhone is essential for maintaining smooth performance, preventing storage issues, and increasing overall device lifespan. While iPhone offers several built-in cleaning options, these methods still leave behind deep system junk. If you want a complete and automated cleanup, Coolmuster iOS Cleaner is the best all-in-one solution. It removes hidden files, optimizes storage, and helps your iPhone run like new again.

If you want your iPhone to run smoothly and have more storage space, start cleaning up your junk files now!

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