How to Delete Large Attachments on iPhone and iPad - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Delete Large Attachments on iPhone and iPad

by

photos iconApple's iOS mobile operating system includes built-in features that offer suggestions on how you can save space on your iOS device. These space-saving suggestions can help you free up space on your iPhone and iPad when storage space is running low, so it's worth checking in on them from time to time.

One of these built-in features encourages you to review large attachments taking up storage in apps like Photos, Mail, and Messages. It's surprising just how much storage you can save deleting photos, videos, and media that's been shared with you or attached to Messages. Follow the steps below to learn how you can do this efficiently on your iPhone and ‌iPad‌.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
  2. Scroll down and tap General.
  3. Tap iPhone Storage.
    settings

  4. Tap Enable next to "Review Large Attachments" if it's not already active, otherwise tap the chevron to reveal the list of apps taking up space.
    settings

After following these steps, you'll see a list of the largest files located in ‌Photos‌, Mail, Messages, and other apps. Tap a file to view it up close. Swiping left on an item in the file list will bring up an option to delete it. You can also bulk-delete files by tapping on the Edit button in the upper right corner of the screen.

Popular Stories

macworld iphone 18 pro colors

iPhone 18 Pro's Four Rumored Colors Revealed, Including 'Dark Cherry'

Friday April 17, 2026 3:50 am PDT by
A source said to be familiar with Apple's supply chain today revealed the color options Apple is planning for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the upcoming foldable iPhone. Image via Macworld. The information comes from Macworld, which says the signature new color for this year's Pro models will be Dark Cherry, a deep wine-like red. While other sources had previously reported on a...
macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

macOS 27 Will Mark the End of an Era

Saturday April 18, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
During its Platforms State of the Union segment at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe is the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. The upcoming macOS 27 release will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, meaning that you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. macOS 27 should be available...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday April 15, 2026 8:15 am PDT by
According to the latest rumors, Apple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to information found in code...