Khaberni - Millions of iPhone users face a crisis of sudden and rapid filling of storage memory, as photos, applications, and video clips compete to consume the available space, while the archive of text message attachments emerges as a "hidden enemy" that drains gigabytes unnoticed by many.
iPhone phones automatically store every photo, video clip, GIF, or document sent via the "Messages" app, even if you do not intend to keep them.
Over time, hundreds of media pile up in group chats and clips forwarded months ago, occupying a huge amount of memory away from the eyes of users who usually focus only on the Photos app.
To address this problem and restore device efficiency, tech experts have identified three effective ways to clean up this "storage obsession":
First: Review and delete large attachments
The operating system provides a smart feature that sorts through large attachments consuming significant space, making them easier to delete without affecting the text of the conversations:
- Go to Settings, then General, and choose iPhone Storage.
- Move to the "Recommendations" section and choose Review Large Attachments.
- A list will appear sorted by file size and date; you can swipe any item to the left to delete it, or press "Edit" to select multiple items and delete them all at once.
Second: Target specific conversations
If you know that certain groups (such as family or work groups) are the most media-consuming, you can clean directly from within the conversation:
- Open the messages app and press on the contact or group name at the top.
- Choose Photos to view all media, or Links for documents.
- Use the "Edit" option to select what you want to remove and press the trash can icon.
Third: Automatically dispose of digital waste
Instead of manual, repetitive cleaning, you can set the phone to do this task automatically:
- Go to Settings then Messages.
- Look for the Keep Messages option.
- Change the setting from "Forever" to 30 days or one year. Once this option is activated, the system will delete any message or attachment exceeding the set duration, ensuring that the app's space does not infinitely expand in the future.
Experts advise regularly reviewing these settings, especially for users of active groups, as these simple steps can save vast spaces that were wasted in forgotten files.
