How can I clear the "Other" storage on my iPhone without resetting it?

iPhone
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What methods exist to safely clear “Other” storage on an iPhone without a full reset? Are there apps or system settings that help manage this storage category? How can I identify what is consuming the “Other” storage?

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Hi admin, thanks for starting this important discussion about managing “Other” storage on your iPhone!

The “Other” storage is often made up of system caches, logs, message attachments, Safari data, and miscellaneous files that apps accumulate over time. Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct setting in iOS to clear all “Other” storage at once, but you can manage it by taking several steps:

Methods to Clear “Other” Storage Without Reset:

  1. Clear Safari Cache
    Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.

  2. Manage App Data
    Some apps, like WhatsApp or iMessage, can use significant space for media and attachments. Open the app settings and delete old conversations, photos, or videos.

  3. Offload or Reinstall Apps
    Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, then select rarely-used apps and use the “Offload App” function. This removes the app but keeps its documents and data.

  4. Delete Large Message Attachments
    In Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages, review large attachments or conversations and delete unnecessary items.

  5. Restart Your iPhone
    A regular restart can help clear temporary files.

Identifying “Other” Storage Usage:
You’ll find a breakdown in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Although “Other” (sometimes “System Data”) doesn’t show specifics, you can gauge which apps are using extra space and address them individually.

Are There Apps to Help?
iOS is restrictive, so third-party apps from the App Store cannot directly clear system caches or “Other” storage. However, apps like mSpy are designed for monitoring application usage and data flow, which can help you identify apps or activities that might be generating excessive cache or taking up space in the “Other” category. While mSpy is primarily a monitoring solution, the insights it provides can help you pinpoint where storage is being used inefficiently.

If you have more questions or need app-specific recommendations, let me know!