The category of files named "Other" of an iPhone encompasses different types of data that are stored within the device's memory, such as system files, configuration settings, reminders, messages and other data of installed applications. Although it is impossible to completely delete the data concerning the "Other" category of the memory of an iOS device, by following the suggestions contained in this guide, it is possible to limit its size, in order to free up space on the iPhone that you can dedicate to other information.
Steps
Method 1 of 7: Clear Safari Data
Step 1. Launch the iPhone Settings app
It is characterized by a gray gear icon (⚙️) which is normally visible directly on the device Home.
Step 2. Scroll down the menu that appeared to select the Safari item
It features a blue compass icon.
Step 3. Scroll down the newly appeared menu to be able to choose the Clear Website Data and History option
It is visible at the bottom of the menu.
Step 4. Press the Clear Data and History button
The stored data concerning the web browsing history and the data of the pages visited will be deleted from the device.
Method 2 of 7: Clear Chrome Data
Step 1. Launch the Chrome app
It features a multicolored circular icon on a white background.
Chrome is the browser produced by Google and is distributed to iOS devices through the App Store. It is not one of the applications built into the iPhone operating system
Step 2. Press the ⋮ button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Choose the Settings option
It is located at the bottom of the menu that appeared.
Step 4. Select the Privacy item
It is listed in the "Advanced" section of the menu.
Step 5. Tap the Clear Browsing Data option
It is visible at the bottom of the menu.
Step 6. Choose the type of data to be deleted
- Select the check button Browsing history to delete information regarding the websites you have visited;
- Select the check button Cookies, site data to delete the data stored in the device relating to the web pages you have visited;
- Select the check button Cached images and files to clear the Chrome cache of data that allows you to speed up web browsing;
- Select the check button Passwords saved to clear the passwords stored by Chrome on the iPhone;
- Select the check button Autofill data to delete information that Chrome uses to automatically fill in text fields and forms on the web, such as addresses and phone numbers.
Step 7. Press the Clear Browsing Data button
It is red in color and is located below the list of data categories that you can delete from Chrome.
Step 8. Press the Clear Browsing Data button again to confirm your choice
The data stored by Chrome on the device will be deleted.
Method 3 of 7: Delete the Text Messages
Step 1. Launch the Messages app
It features a green speech bubble icon on a white background. Normally, it is visible directly on the Home of the device.
If a specific conversation page is displayed, press the "Back" (<) button in the upper left corner of the screen
Step 2. Press the Edit button
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Select the check button next to the conversations you want to delete
The check buttons are located on the left of the screen and will turn blue when selected.
The conversation data in the Messages app takes up a considerable amount of memory space, as it contains multiple messages and multimedia elements such as images, videos and audio
Step 4. Press the Delete button
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen. All selected conversations will be removed from the device.
Method 4 of 7: Delete Unwanted and Dated Email
Step 1. Launch the Mail app
It features a white envelope on a blue background.
If the main screen of the application is not displayed, tap the "Mailboxes" item in the upper left corner of the screen
Step 2. Tap on the Trash option
It features a small blue basket.
Step 3. Press the Edit button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 4. Select the Delete all item
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Press the Delete All button
All email messages in the Mail app's trash will be permanently deleted from your device, along with all their attachments.
Step 6. Tap Mailboxes
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 7. Choose the Unwanted option
It features a blue container icon with an "X" on it.
Step 8. Press the Edit button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 9. Select the Delete all item
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 10. Press the Delete All button
All spam messages in the Mail app will be permanently deleted from your device along with all attachments.
If you use an e-mail client other than the Mail app, for example the Gmail application, you will have to perform the same procedure to delete from the program all messages deleted, but still present in the trash, and all junk mail
Method 5 of 7: Delete Messages from the Answering Machine
Step 1. Launch the Phone app
It features a white telephone handset icon on a green background. Normally, it is visible directly on the iPhone Home.
Step 2. Go to the Voicemail tab
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Press the Edit button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 4. Select the check button next to all audio messages you want to delete from voicemail
The check buttons are located on the left side of the screen and will turn blue when you select them.
Step 5. Press the Delete button
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen. All selected voice messages will be permanently deleted from the device.
Method 6 of 7: Uninstall and Reinstall Applications
Step 1. Launch the iPhone Settings app
It is characterized by a gray gear icon (⚙️) which is normally visible directly on the device Home.
Step 2. Scroll down the menu that appeared to be able to touch the General item
It is located at the top of the menu and has a gear icon (⚙️).
Step 3. Choose the item Use space and iCloud
It is visible at the bottom of the screen.
Step 4. Select the Manage Space option located in the "Device Space" section
It is visible at the top of the screen. The list of iPhone applications that use the device memory will be displayed. The list is sorted in descending order, starting with the applications that use the most memory.
Step 5. Scroll through the list of apps and note the number on the right of each entry's name
The displayed value indicates how much iPhone memory each app is currently using.
Step 6. Select an application
Choose the program you think is using too much memory.
Step 7. Tap Delete App
This is a red link, located at the bottom of the screen, below the app data list.
Step 8. Press the Delete App button
This will confirm that you want to delete the selected app and all related data from the iPhone.
Repeat these steps for any applications you think are using too much memory
Step 9. Go to the iPhone App Store
It features a white "A" icon placed inside a circle on a blue background.
Step 10. Select the Updates tab
It features a square icon with an arrow pointing down. It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 11. Choose the Purchase option
It is located at the top of the screen.
- Enter your Apple ID and security password if prompted.
- If you have subscribed to the "Family Sharing" service, you will need to select the option My purchases, located at the top of the screen.
Step 12. Tap Not on this iPhone
It is visible in the upper right of the screen. A list of all apps that you have purchased or downloaded for free using the specified Apple ID, but are not currently present on your iPhone, will be displayed.
The list is sorted in chronological order, starting with the most recently purchased or downloaded
Step 13. Tap the "Download" icon
Find the apps you just uninstalled from your iPhone and select their cloud icon with a down arrow to reinstall them on your device.
- All the apps will be installed again on the iPhone, but without the extraneous data that had accumulated in the device's memory over time due to use (ie the data that then feeds the "Other" category of the graph regarding the use iPhone memory).
- You can download multiple applications at the same time.
Method 7 of 7: Back Up and Restore Your Device
Step 1. Launch the iPhone Settings app
It is characterized by a gray gear icon (⚙️) which is normally visible directly on the device Home.
Step 2. Tap your Apple ID
It is displayed at the top of the "Settings" menu, along with your name and the picture you have associated with your profile (if you have chosen one).
- If you are not signed in to your Apple ID, tap the entry Log in to iPhone, then enter the email address associated with the account, its security password and press the button Log in.
- If you are using an older version of iOS, you may not need to perform this step.
Step 3. Choose the iCloud option
It is visible within the second group of items in the "Settings" menu.
Step 4. Scroll down the menu that appeared to select iCloud Backup
It's at the end of the "Apps that use iCloud" section.
Activate the cursor ICloud Backup moving it to the right. It will take on a green color. If the cursor is already active, skip this step.
Step 5. Tap the Back Up Now link
It is located at the bottom of the screen. Wait for the data backup to complete.
The iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network for the device to be backed up
Step 6. Tap the iCloud entry
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. You will return to the "iCloud" menu.
Step 7. Select the Apple ID option
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. You will return to the "Settings" menu of your Apple ID.
Step 8. Tap the Settings item
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. The iPhone "Settings" menu will be displayed.
Step 9. Scroll down the menu that appeared to be able to touch the General item
It is located at the top of the menu and has a gear icon (⚙️).
Step 10. Scroll the "General" page down to be able to select the Reset option
It is located at the end of the menu.
Step 11. Tap the Delete content and settings item
It is visible at the top of the menu.
Step 12. Enter your passcode
This is the PIN code you use to unlock your iPhone.
If necessary, also enter the access code for the "Restrictions" feature
Step 13. Press the Erase iPhone button
This will restore the factory configuration settings and the contents of the iPhone memory will be deleted.
Step 14. Wait for the iPhone recovery process to complete
Step 15. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform the initial device setup
Step 16. Choose the Restore from iCloud Backup option
Perform this step when prompted to choose what type of restore to perform.
Select the last device backup you took
Step 17. Log in to your Apple ID
The iPhone will automatically restore your data using the selected iCloud backup. Once the reset process is complete, your device configuration settings and all apps will be present on the iPhone again.
Advice
Restart the iPhone after removing a large amount of data, so that it can correctly update the percentage of occupied and still free memory. In some circumstances, the iPhone is unable to properly update the internal memory usage until it is restarted
Warnings
- When restoring the operating system or a backup, the current configuration settings and data on the device are deleted. Before doing this, make sure you have backed up your iPhone via iTunes to avoid accidentally losing any personal data.
- Remember that some applications for removing unnecessary and temporary files on an iOS device are manufactured by third parties and are not certified or directly supported by Apple. Make sure to download third-party apps only from safe and trustworthy sources or websites, to avoid the risk of installing malware or malicious programs for your iPhone or computer.
