How to Delete Files on iPhone

Need a quick way to remove a file? Whether you’re new to iPhones or an experienced user looking for a few fresh pointers, we’ll show you exactly how to delete files off your iPhone — and even automate the process if you want.

Every method below is one we’ve been using for years, long before iOS 18 was even a thing. Today, we’ll share everything we know.

Let’s get started.

How to Delete a ‘Classic’ File on iPhone Using the Files App

Let’s start with the Files app—it’s Apple’s built-in file manager, and it does the job, even if it isn’t flashy.

Files you save from the web, AirDropped documents, email attachments, or stuff you download through apps often end up here by default.

Here’s how to delete a file on iPhone:

1. Open the Files app on your iPhone.
2. 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.
3. To delete a file, tap and hold on it until a little menu pops up.
4. You’ll see Delete right there. Tap it, and poof — gone.
5. 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.

You can also delete a folder on an iPhone. Same trick — tap and hold the folder, hit Delete, and it’s out.

One more thing: Deleted files go into the Recently Deleted folder inside the Files app. They hang out there for 30 days, just in case you change your mind. If you want them gone for good, open Recently Deleted, select them, and hit Delete again.

That’s it — easy.

How to Delete Other Data You Might Think of as Files

Above, we covered a method for “traditional” files in the Files app — but there’s some other stuff on your iPhone that you might consider a “file.”

Think about it: your photos, videos, screenshots, downloaded podcasts, even app data — all of that is file-based. It just lives in different corners of your iPhone. So In the next few methods, we’ll show you how to find and delete this kind of “file-ish” data.

Method 1: Delete Media Files on iPhone With a Cleaning App

If you came across this guide because you had one goal — to delete files and clear storage on your iPhone — you might actually be interested in using a cleaning app. These apps can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

Now, to be clear, cleaning apps can’t access files in your Files app. Apple doesn’t allow it. What they can do is look into your media library (Photos app) — and for most people, that’s exactly where the largest files live. Think about it: 4K video files, thousands of high-def photos, Live Photos you forgot existed — it adds up fast. Cleaning apps give you a simple and quick way to delete a bunch of files that are just wasting space.

Not that long ago, we actually tested a whole bunch of these apps while putting together our list of the best iPhone cleaners, and we found some solid options. For this section, we’ll show you how it works using one of our favorites — Clever Cleaner: Free AI CleanUp App. This 100% free app quickly became our go-to for a couple of reasons. First, it’s honestly free — no paywalls, no hidden in-app purchases, not even ads (rare these days.) Second, it’s fast. Scans usually take just a few seconds, even if you have a massive library. And third, it has 4 features that handle most of the files people want to clear out from Photos:

• 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.
• Screenshots — It pulls up all your screenshots and lets you delete them all with one tap.
• 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.
• 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:

1. Download Clever Cleanerfrom the App Store.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Once you’ve made your picks, hit Move to Trash.
5. 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.

The app will give you a final reminder: open your Photos app, head to Recently Deleted, and fully remove the files from there. Until you do this last step, those files will still occupy the space.

Method 2: Delete App Files Off iPhone Through Settings

This one is probably the least obvious, but there are plenty of files and bits of data hiding in your iPhone’s Settings — especially if you’re using a lot of Apple’s native apps. These aren’t always the first files people think of, but they can quietly pile up.

Here’s where to look and what you can remove:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

That’s it. Settings might not seem like the obvious place to clear files on iPhone, but once you get in there, you’ll see how much space you can win back without even touching your Photos or Files apps.

How to Delete All Files on iPhone (The Nuclear Option)

This method is for those who want it all gone. Photos, music, files sitting in local storage or the Files app, app data, downloaded podcasts, offline music — everything. Maybe you’re getting ready to sell your iPhone or hand it down to someone else. This will do a complete, automatic wipe without you needing to hunt things down manually.

How to erase all files on iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll all the way down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Choose Erase All Content and Settings.
5. If asked, enter your passcode or Apple ID password to confirm.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and begin wiping everything.
7. Once it finishes, you’ll see the “Hello” setup screen, just like when you first unboxed it.

Bonus Method: Automate Deleting Files on iPhone with Shortcuts

If you find yourself constantly removing certain types of files — like temporary files from a specific folder, exported videos after editing — you can automate this with the Shortcuts app.

Sure, it’s not the easiest thing to set up the first time, but once you get the hang of it, it’s worth it. Plus, you’re not alone — there are plenty of communities like r/shortcuts where people share tips, examples, and shortcuts they’ve already built. You’ll find tons of inspiration and real-world solutions there.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a simple example of how you could set one up:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the + button to create a new Shortcut.
3. Tap Add Action.
4. Search for Get File and select it.
5. Enter path.
6. Tap the + again, search for Delete File, and select it.
7. Connect the Get File action to Delete File.
8. Optional: If you want this to run without asking every time, go to Settings → Shortcuts → Advanced → enable Allow Deleting Without Confirmation.
9. 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 that file. You can even pin it to your Home Screen or ask Siri to run it with your voice.

Few Last Words

So, as you see, there are a few different ways to delete files on iPhone — and that’s because iPhones tend to scatter things across different places. We tried to cover the whole picture here. For most people — we’d say about 90% — the Files app will be the main point of interest, which is exactly why we started there before moving on to the 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. And if not, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ve got a contact form if you want to ask us directly, or you can jump into our iPhone forum if you want to start a discussion with others. Either way, we’re happy to help.