How to Delete Files on iPhone: A Complete Guide
This method works for most common file types — including PDFs, text documents, ZIP files, manually saved photos and videos (from the Files app, not Photos), audio files, and folders. In short, if you can see it in the Files app, you can delete it. Just keep in mind that this won’t remove photos from the Photos app or music from the Music app, since those apps have their own deletion methods.
Let’s start with the Files app — Apple’s built-in file manager. It may not be flashy, but it gets the job done.
Files you save from the web, receive via AirDrop, get as email attachments, or download through apps often appear here by default.
Here’s how to delete a file on iPhone:
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Open the Files app on your iPhone.
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Tap around — check On My iPhone, iCloud Drive, or the Downloads folder. These are usually where the files pile up. If you have apps that can save content — like third-party browsers (Chrome, Firefox, DuckDuckGo) or even security and VPN apps — they often create their own folders inside On My iPhone.
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To delete a file, tap and hold on it until a little menu pops up.
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You’ll see Delete right there. Tap it, and poof — gone.
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If yoy want to delete more than one hit the three dots at the top, tap Select, and mark as many files as you want. Then, tap the trash can.
Not sure where a file ended up? Use the search bar at the top of the Files app. You don’t need the exact name — just type part of it, a file type like “PDF,” or even a word you remember from the file. It’s a fast way to track it down.
You can also delete entire folders on your iPhone. Just tap and hold the folder, select Delete, and it’s gone.
One thing to remember: deleted files go into the Recently Deleted folder in the Files app. They stay there for 30 days in case you change your mind. If you want to remove them permanently, open Recently Deleted, select the files, and hit Delete again.
And that’s it — simple and straightforward.
How to Delete Other Data You Might Think of as Files
So far, we’ve covered “traditional” files in the Files app. But your iPhone also stores other file-like data — photos, videos, screenshots, downloaded podcasts, and even app data. They’re all technically files, just living in different corners of your device. The next methods show how to find and delete these “file-ish” items.
Method 1: Delete Media Files With a Cleaning App
If you don’t have a specific file in mind and just want to free up space quickly, a cleaning app can help. These apps can’t touch Files app items — Apple doesn’t allow that — but they work with your Photos app. That means they can target photos, videos, screenshots, duplicates, and other space-hogging media.
For many iPhone users, the largest storage hogs are 4K videos, high-resolution photos, and forgotten Live Photos. Cleaning apps make it easy to remove these in bulk, helping you reclaim space without manually hunting for files.
Even if your main goal was just “delete files and free up storage,” a cleaning app can handle a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
Not long ago, we tested a variety of iPhone cleaning apps while putting together our list of the best options, and a few really stood out. For this section, we’ll show how it works using one of our favorites — Clever Cleaner: Free AI CleanUp App.
This app quickly became our go-to for three reasons:
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Truly free – no paywalls, hidden in-app purchases, or ads (a rare find these days).
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Fast performance – scans usually take only a few seconds, even with a massive media library.
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Powerful features – it includes four tools that handle most of the files people want to clear from the Photos app.
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Similars — Unlike the built-in Duplicates feature in the Photos app, which only merges files that are identical, Clever Cleaner goes further. The app’s AI doesn’t just spot exact duplicate images — it also finds visually similar ones (photos from the same event, or multiple portraits of the same person that aren’t technically duplicates.) In our tests, its AI hit around 95% accuracy, which honestly surprised us. If you want the full breakdown, you can check out our detailed review here.
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Screenshots — It pulls up all your screenshots and lets you delete them all with one tap.
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Lives — This one’s pretty clever (pun intended). It lets you convert Live Photos into regular still images by removing the attached short video. It’s a nice way to free up storage without losing anything important.
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Heavies — It sorts your media library from the biggest files to the smallest (something the native Photos app can’t do.) This is especially handy for videos since they usually take up the most space. One 4K video alone can instantly free up few gigs.
Let’s see how you can quickly find and delete the biggest files first using Clever Cleaner:
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Download Clever Cleanerfrom the App Store.
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Open it up and tap on the Heavies section. You’ll get an instant list of your files, from biggest to smallest, with clear labels showing both file sizes and durations.
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Tap on any file to preview it. You can swipe left or right to browse through other videos, or if you’re ready to go big, you can tap Select All and mark everything at once.
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Once you’ve made your picks, hit Move to Trash.
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After that, tap Empty Trash at the bottom. You’ll see a Slide to Delete bar — go ahead and slide it to confirm. Almost done.
Before you finish, the app will give you one final reminder: open your Photos app, go to Recently Deleted, and permanently remove the files. Until you do this last step, those files still take up space.
We also have a separate guide on iPhone junk file cleaners if you want to explore other options. Just remember — most apps aren’t truly free. They may be free to download, but many lock their useful features behind paywalls. Only a few fully free options are worth recommending, like the Clever Cleaner app we demonstrated. According to its official page, it should remain free as long as it’s installed. And since it takes less than 200 MB of space, it’s worth keeping around for future cleanups.
Method 2: Delete App Files Through Settings
In Settings, you won’t be deleting random files like in the Files app, but you can still free up plenty of space. Here, you can:
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Delete apps you no longer need
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Clear browser cache files
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Remove downloaded content from native apps like Podcasts, TV, and Music
This method is less obvious, but many files and data hide in your iPhone’s Settings — especially if you use a lot of Apple’s native apps. These files aren’t always top of mind, but over time, they can quietly pile up and take significant space.
Here’s where to look and what you can remove:
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Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage. Scroll down to see a list of all your apps sorted by how much space they take up. If you spot apps you barely use, tap on them and hit Delete App. This clears not only the app but also its stored files.
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Go to Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data. This will remove browsing history, cookies, and cache files that Safari has been holding onto. If you browse a lot, this can free up a decent amount of space.
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Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Podcasts. You’ll see a list of downloaded episodes. You can delete individual files or clear entire shows if you don’t need them anymore.
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Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage → TV or Music. These apps often hold downloaded movies, shows, or songs you may have forgotten about. Tap into them, and you’ll find the option to delete downloaded files directly.
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Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Messages. Tap on Review Large Attachments. Here you’ll find big photos, videos, and other files sent through Messages. You can delete attachments one by one or in bulk.
And that’s it. Settings might not seem like the obvious place to clear files on your iPhone, but once you explore it, you’ll see just how much space you can free up — without even touching your Photos or Files apps.
How to Delete All Files on iPhone (The Nuclear Option)
If you want to wipe your iPhone completely — and we mean everything — there’s a built-in option called Erase All Content and Settings. This doesn’t just clear a few files; it resets your device to factory settings, like it’s fresh out of the box.
This method deletes everything: photos, music, files in local storage or the Files app, app data, downloaded podcasts, offline music — everything. It’s perfect if you’re selling your iPhone, giving it away, or just want a total reset.
Important: Before doing this, back up anything you care about. You can use iCloud, Finder (on Mac), iTunes (on Windows), or reliable third-party backup tools. Once you erase, the data is gone for good.
How to erase all files on iPhone:
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Open the Settings app.
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Tap General.
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Scroll all the way down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
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Choose Erase All Content and Settings.
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If asked, enter your passcode or Apple ID password to confirm.
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Follow the on-screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and begin wiping everything.
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Once it finishes, you’ll see the “Hello” setup screen, just like when you first unboxed it.
Tip: Keep your iPhone plugged in during a reset. The process usually finishes quickly, but the last thing you want is the battery dying halfway through and causing unnecessary headaches.
Bonus Method: Automate Deleting Files With Shortcuts
If you regularly clean up certain files, you can automate the process using the Shortcuts app — a favorite trick of many iPhone power users.
For example, if you often delete temporary files from a specific folder or exported videos after editing, you can set up a Shortcut to handle it automatically. The initial setup might take a little time, but once it’s running, it’s a huge time-saver.
You’re not alone, either. Communities like r/shortcuts are full of tips, ready-made shortcuts, and inspiration for real-world solutions.
A quick caveat: Apple limits Shortcuts from deleting just any file on your iPhone. For automation to work, the file must be inside a Scriptable folder. If that restriction is too limiting, third-party apps like Scriptable or Toolbox Pro offer more flexibility.
Here’s a simple example to give you an idea of how one Shortcut could be set up:
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Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
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Tap the + button to create a new Shortcut.
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Tap Add Action.
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Search for Get File and select it.
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Enter path.
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Tap the + again, search for Delete File, and select it.
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Connect the Get File action to Delete File.
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Optional: If you want this to run without asking every time, go to Settings → Shortcuts → Advanced → enable Allow Deleting Without Confirmation.
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Hit Done, name your shortcut something like “Clear Temp Files,” and you’re set.
Next time you run this Shortcut, it will automatically find and delete the targeted file. You can even pin it to your Home Screen or ask Siri to run it with a simple voice command.
A Few Last Words
As you can see, there are several ways to delete files on an iPhone — that’s because iPhones tend to scatter data across different locations. We aimed to cover the full picture here.
For most users — roughly 90% — the Files app will be the main place to focus, which is why we started there before exploring less common methods and special cases.
If you still have questions, check out the FAQ below. There’s a good chance we’ve already answered it. If not, you can contact us directly or join our iPhone forum to start a discussion with other users. Either way, we’re happy to help.