Have you ever noticed that your iPhone’s storage is almost full, even though you haven’t downloaded many new apps or files? One reason for this could be the accumulation of "Documents and Data" on your device. These include cache files, browser history, app data, and more. Over time, this data can take up a significant amount of space on your iPhone. In this tutorial, we will show you how to delete documents and data on iPhone running iOS 14 to free up storage and optimize your device’s performance.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on "General."
Step 3: In the General settings, select "iPhone Storage."
Step 4: Wait for a few seconds while your iPhone calculates the storage usage.
Step 5: You will see a list of apps on your device, sorted by the amount of storage they occupy. Tap on any specific app that you want to delete its documents and data.
Step 6: In the app settings, you will see the amount of storage occupied by the app itself and its documents and data. Tap on "Offload App" to remove the app while preserving its documents and data, or tap on "Delete App" to remove both the app and its data.
Step 7: If you wish to delete all the app’s documents and data without removing the app itself, you can tap on "Offload App" first and then re-download it from the App Store. This will remove the associated data while keeping the app installed on your device.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Helps free up valuable storage space on your iPhone. | 1. Deleting app data may result in loss of certain settings or preferences. |
| 2. Improves the overall performance and speed of your device. | 2. Some documents and data cannot be deleted individually and require removing the entire app. |
| 3. Gives you more control over the storage usage on your iPhone. | 3. Deleting important app data without proper backup may lead to data loss. |
By following these simple steps, you can easily delete documents and data on your iPhone running iOS 14. It’s important to periodically clean up your device to maintain optimal performance and ensure you have enough storage space for new apps, photos, and files. Remember to exercise caution when deleting app data and consider backing up important information before proceeding.
Video Tutorial: Why can’t i delete Documents and data on iPhone?
How do I clear the cache on my iPhone?
To clear the cache on your iPhone, follow these steps without referring to yourself as an technical blogger:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Safari" (if you want to clear the Safari browser cache) or the relevant app (if you want to clear the cache of a specific app, like Instagram or Facebook).
3. In the Safari or App Settings page, scroll down and tap on "Clear History and Website Data" (for Safari) or "Clear Cache" (for other apps). Note that for some apps, the option may be labeled differently, but it typically refers to clearing the cache.
4. Confirm your choice when prompted by tapping "Clear" or a similar option.
It’s worth noting that clearing the cache can delete temporary data, including cookies, logins, and stored page elements. This may log you out of websites and remove personalized settings. However, it can help free up storage space and resolve issues related to outdated or corrupted data.
If you’re experiencing issues with specific apps, it may be beneficial to consult the app’s official support resources or contact their customer support for further guidance, as clearing the cache may not always resolve app-specific problems.
Remember to check for any app updates or iOS updates regularly to ensure that you have the latest software with bug fixes and performance improvements.
How do I clear space on my iPhone without deleting apps?
As a tech blogger, I understand that managing storage space on an iPhone can be a concern for many users. If you’re looking to clear space on your iPhone without deleting apps, here are a few steps and suggestions you can consider:
1. Offload unused apps: iOS offers a feature called "Offload Unused Apps" that removes the app itself but keeps the data related to the app. This way, you can reclaim storage space without losing your app’s data. To enable this, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Scroll down and tap on an app you want to offload, then select "Offload App."
2. Clear cache and temporary files: Apps often accumulate cache and temporary files that can take up space over time. To clear these files, you can either uninstall and reinstall the app, or check if the app itself provides an option to clear cache or data. Alternatively, you can use third-party apps like Phone Cleaner to manage and clear cache files across multiple apps.
3. Review and delete downloaded files: Files you download, whether from web browsing, email attachments, or messaging apps, can accumulate and occupy space. Check your Downloads folder or respective apps to locate and delete any unnecessary files.
4. Optimize photo and video storage: Photos and videos often consume a significant amount of storage. You can optimize their storage by enabling the "Optimize iPhone Storage" option in Settings > Photos. This setting automatically stores lower-resolution versions of your media locally, while keeping the original versions in the cloud, helping to save space.
5. Delete unwanted media files: Manually review your Photos app, Videos app, and other media-related apps to delete any unwanted pictures, videos, or audio files that are no longer needed.
6. Remove unwanted messages and attachments: Messages can accumulate a large amount of storage space, especially if they contain various attachments like photos, videos, or voice messages. Regularly go through your message threads and delete unnecessary conversations or bulky attachments to free up space.
7. Manage offline content in streaming apps: Some streaming apps like Netflix or Spotify allow you to download content for offline viewing or listening. While this can be convenient, these downloaded files can take up significant storage space. Go through the content you have downloaded and remove any files that you no longer need.
Remember, it’s always recommended to perform regular backups of your important data before making any significant changes to your iPhone’s storage. This ensures you have a copy of your files in case anything goes wrong or if you need to restore your device in the future.
Why are Documents and data so big on iPhone?
Documents and data can become large on an iPhone due to several reasons:
1. App Data: Apps store various types of data like cache, downloaded files, and offline content. Over time, this data can accumulate and occupy significant storage space. Some apps, especially social media, messaging, and multimedia apps, frequently download and store images, videos, and other media files, resulting in larger document and data sizes.
2. Messages: Messages and iMessage conversations can include media attachments like photos, videos, and audio files. These files can consume a substantial amount of storage space, especially if users don’t regularly delete or manage their message history.
3. Email Attachments: Emails often contain attachments, such as documents, photos, or videos. If users receive or send multiple large attachments, they can contribute to the overall size of documents and data on the device.
4. Offline Files and Documents: Some apps allow users to save files for offline access. These files are stored in the app’s document folder, and if users save numerous offline files, it can contribute to the increase in documents and data size.
5. Web Browsing: Web browsers store various types of data, including cached web pages, images, cookies, and downloaded files. The accumulation of browsing data can gradually increase the overall size of documents and data.
To manage and reduce the size of documents and data on an iPhone, users can follow these steps:
1. Clear App Caches: Go to Settings > [App Name] > Offload App or Delete App, then reinstall it to clear app caches. Alternatively, users can manually delete individual app data from the Settings app.
2. Manage Messages: Delete unnecessary conversations or media attachments from the Messages app. Users can tap and hold a conversation, select "More," and choose to delete specific messages or entire conversations.
3. Clear Email Attachments: Regularly delete emails with large attachments from the Mail app to free up space. Users can also adjust the email settings to limit the automatic downloading of attachments.
4. Delete Unnecessary Offline Files: Review and remove offline files stored within apps. Often, there is an option within the app to manage downloaded files or clear the offline cache.
5. Clear Safari Data: In the Safari app, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data to remove cached web pages, cookies, and browsing history.
By regularly managing and deleting unnecessary data from apps, messages, emails, and web browsing, users can effectively reduce the size of documents and data on their iPhone, optimizing the device’s storage space.
How do I clear my iPhone Documents and data?
To clear the documents and data on your iPhone, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify the apps with large document and data usage: Go to your iPhone’s Settings and tap on "General." From there, select "iPhone Storage." You’ll see a list of apps on your device, sorted by the amount of storage they consume.
2. Review and delete unnecessary files within apps: Tap on the app that has a significant amount of documents and data. Within the app’s storage settings, you can often find options to manage and delete specific files or documents. Remove any unnecessary files that you no longer need.
3. Clear Safari data: To clear Safari’s browsing data, return to "Settings" and select "Safari." From there, scroll down and choose "Clear History and Website Data." Confirm your action to remove all browsing history, cookies, and other website data stored on your device.
4. Manage iCloud storage: If you use iCloud storage and have enabled iCloud backups, it’s worth reviewing your backup settings. Go to "Settings," tap on your name at the top, and select "iCloud" and then "Manage Storage." From there, you can optimize your iCloud storage by deleting backups of apps or data that are no longer needed.
5. Offload apps: If you have apps that you rarely use, you can offload them to free up storage space. Go to "Settings," select "General," and then choose "iPhone Storage." Tap on the app you want to offload and select "Offload App." This removes the app from storage but retains its documents and data. You can reinstall the app later, and your data will be restored.
6. Delete and reinstall apps: If there are apps with substantial document and data usage that you don’t need anymore, consider deleting and reinstalling them. This method removes all associated data and can significantly free up storage space.
By following these steps, you can effectively clear your iPhone’s documents and data, optimizing its storage and potentially improving its performance.
How do I free up space on my iPhone?
To free up space on your iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Delete Unnecessary Apps: Start by identifying the apps you rarely use or no longer need. Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until it starts wiggling, then tap the "x" button to delete the app. You can always re-download the app later if needed.
2. Offload Unused Apps: If you’re hesitant to delete an app entirely, you can choose to offload it instead. This removes the app but keeps its documents and data intact. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, select the app you want to offload, and tap "Offload App."
3. Manage Photos and Videos: The Camera Roll often takes up a significant amount of storage. Consider using cloud-based services like iCloud Photo Library or Google Photos to back up your media and optimize storage. You can enable iCloud Photo Library in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos.
4. Clear Messages and Attachments: Messages, especially those with photos and videos, can consume substantial space. To delete conversations, swipe left on a message thread and tap "Delete." Remember to empty the "Recently Deleted" folder in the Photos app too.
5. Review and Delete Large Files: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and scroll down to see a list of apps sorted by their storage usage. Tap on any app to view the data size. Look for large files or downloads, such as videos, PDFs, or podcasts, and delete them if unnecessary.
6. Offload Music and Podcasts: If you use Apple Music or Podcasts, consider enabling the "Optimize Storage" feature. It automatically removes played episodes or downloaded songs if your storage is running low. Adjust this setting in Settings > Music (or Podcasts) > Optimize Storage.
7. Clear Safari cache: Over time, Safari accumulates cached data, including website files, images, and cookies. To clear these, open Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Keep in mind it will remove your browsing history and website data from all devices signed in to your iCloud account.
8. Disable Offline Reading Lists: If you don’t use the Reading List feature in Safari, you can disable it to save storage space. Go to Settings > Safari > Offline Reading List, and toggle it off.
9. Utilize "Offload Unused Apps" feature: iOS has a built-in feature that automatically offloads apps you seldom use. To enable it, go to Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps. If activated, it will remove infrequently used apps but retain their settings and data.
10. Use iCloud or External Storage: Consider using iCloud Drive to store files, documents, and backups in the cloud. Additionally, you can connect external storage devices to your iPhone, such as lightning-based flash drives or compatible wireless drives, to offload files and create more space.
By following these steps, you should be able to reclaim storage space on your iPhone and optimize its performance. Remember to regularly assess your device for unused apps, files, and data to maintain sufficient storage.
How do I delete system data from my iPhone 14?
To delete system data from your iPhone 14, follow these steps:
1. Backup your important data: Before deleting system data, it’s crucial to back up your important files and data. This can be done using various methods such as iCloud, iTunes, or third-party backup services.
2. Update to the latest iOS version: Ensure that your iPhone 14 is running the latest version of iOS, which is iOS 16 at the time of writing. This will ensure that you have the most up-to-date features and security patches.
3. Clear app caches: Deleting app caches can free up some storage space on your device. To clear app caches, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. You will see a list of apps, and tapping on any app will provide you with the option to "Offload App" or "Delete App." Choose the appropriate option based on your needs.
4. Delete unnecessary apps: Review your installed apps and remove any that are no longer needed. Simply press and hold the app icon until all icons start jiggling, then tap on the "X" symbol on the top left corner of the app to delete it.
5. Reset settings: If you want to remove system data and start fresh, you can reset your iPhone to factory settings. Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose "Erase All Content and Settings." Keep in mind that this will wipe all data from your device, so make sure you have a backup beforehand.
6. Restore your iPhone: After completing the above steps, you can restore your iPhone from the backup you created earlier. This will help you retrieve your important data and settings.
It is important to note that deleting system data may have unintended consequences and could potentially cause issues with your device’s functionality. It is always recommended to proceed with caution and ensure that you have appropriate backups in place before making any changes to your device’s system data.
