How to Clean Junk Files on Your iPhone (Still Actual Guide in 2026)

4 min read

If you’re searching for how to clean junk files on an iPhone, you’re probably staring at the " Storage Almost Full message and wondering what exactly is safe to delete. I’ve been there more than once.

Lots of iPhone users dread cleaning up junk, but actually, it's not as hard as you might think. I've put this guide together to make it as easy as possible for you.

I’ll explain what counts as junk, how it affects storage and day-to-day performance, then walk you through fast, safe removals with Apple’s built-in tools and a safe third-party option too. No guesswork. Clear steps. And a couple of small habits that keep the problem from coming back. So let's get started.

What are Junk Files on an iPhone?

Before we start deleting anything, it helps to name the clutter. On my phone, junk usually means files that apps create for speed or convenience and then forget about. They are not your original photos or messages. They are the leftovers, things like cached images, temporary downloads, auto-saved media, and stale app data that quietly stack up until storage turns red.

Do junk Files on iPhone affect the performance?

Indirectly, yes. iOS is good at staying fast, but when storage is tight, the cracks quickly start to show, such as app launch stutters and camera saving lag, or crashing. Keeping 10–20 per cent free space has consistently kept my phone feeling normal. That might sound like a hard task, but in the section below, I'll show you how.

Best Methods to Clean Junk Files on iPhone

These six tips will help you quickly reclaim space on your iPhone. Work your way through the steps one by one.

#1 Quickest Way to Clean Junk Files on iPhone

Use the Declutter module from CleanMy®Phone to remove tons of unwanted media. It scans your Photos and groups clutter into clear buckets such as Duplicates, Similar, Screenshots, Screen Recordings, Blurred, Large Videos, and App Folders. Those App Folders surface media that apps saved to your library, like WhatsApp and Instagram, so you can review and remove them in one place. Here's how:

Open the app, press Declutter.
Check through all the categories.
Select media and remove it instantly.

I run this now once a month, it really helps me stay on top of all the annoying duplicates, screenshots and really long videos.

#2 Use iPhone Storage recommendations

Another quick way to remove junk files on iPhone is to use the iOS built-in recommendations; here's how:

Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
Wait for the meter and Recommendations to load.
Tap each recommendation.
Follow the on-screen prompts to remove what you agree with.

Taking time to check these recommendations can help to remove stored app and video cache you didn't know you had.

#3 Clean heavy message attachments in Messages and WhatsApp

Chat threads hoard space quietly. I target the biggest attachments first; here's what to do.

Messages App

Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages.
Open Photos, Videos, and Documents.
Tap Select > choose the largest items > Delete.

Open WhatsApp > any chat > tap the contact or group name > Media, Links, and Docs.
Tap Select > bulk select large videos or GIFs > Delete.
Repeat for the busiest groups.

#4 Clear website data and oversized downloads

Browser data is safe to clear, but you should expect sign-outs for some sites. Here's how to clear Safari data:

Settings >Apps > Safari.
Scroll down and find Clear History and Website Data.
Select your preferences and delete.

Do this regularly to stay on top of website data junk.

#5 Offload or fully reinstall space-hog apps

Some apps rebuild caches forever. Offloading preserves documents but frees the app’s footprint. If an app is truly bloated, a remove-and-reinstall resets its cache; here's how:

Settings > Apps > App Store.
Turn on Offload Unused Apps.
Now go to General > iPhone Storage.
Find apps you don't use that much > Offload App.

The icon stays on the Home Screen with a cloud badge. Tap to reinstall when needed. Documents remain.

#6 Merge Duplicate Contacts

Another smart way to clean junk files on iPhone is to tidy up your incomplete Contacts and duplicates. You can use the new Similar Contacts feature from CleanMy®Phone to remove a cluttered Address book in literally seconds; here's how:

Open the app again, and inside Deculter, tap Similar Contacts at the top.
Review the suggested merges (expand a card to see all fields).
Tap Merge and confirm.

Cleaning junk files on iPhone is less about magic buttons and more about doing the obvious things in a smart order. These six tips will help you get your iPhone storage back in shape and, in turn, improve your device's performance. So happy cleaning.