How to Clear iPhone System Data in 2025: A Complete Guide

Is your iPhone running out of storage? Many users remove photos and apps, but they ignore system data.

This hidden storage fills up over time, slowing down the device. If you want to clear iPhone system data in 2025, follow these simple steps.

What is iPhone System Data?

System data includes cached files, logs, and temporary files. It stores browsing data, app caches, failed downloads, and offline content. Apple does not list all details, but this data accumulates quickly. If not removed, it reduces storage and affects iPhone performance.

Checking System Data Usage

You can check how much system data your iPhone is using:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to General > iPhone Storage.
3. Wait for the storage breakdown to appear.

Here, you will see how much space system data is occupying.

How to Clear iPhone System Data in 2025

1. Clear App Cache

Apps store cached data to load faster. Over time, this data increases and consumes space. Some apps allow cache clearing manually.

To clear cache in Spotify:

1. Open Spotify and tap your profile icon.
2. Go to Settings and Privacy.
3. Select Storage and tap Clear Cache.

For apps without a built-in cache clearing option, you have two choices:

• Offloading: Removes the app but keeps data.
• Deleting: Removes both app and data.

To offload unused apps automatically:

1. Open Settings > App Store.
2. Enable Offload Unused Apps.

To stop this feature, disable it from the same menu.

2. Delete Browsing History and Website Data

Web browsers like Safari and Chrome store cached files and cookies. Clearing these improves speed and frees up space.

Clear Safari Data

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll to Safari.
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
4. Confirm by selecting Clear History and Data.

Clear Chrome Data

1. Open Chrome.
2. Tap the three-dot menu at the bottom.
3. Select History > Clear Browsing Data.
4. Choose a time range and tap Clear Browsing Data again.

3. Delete Large Message Attachments

Messages contain photos, videos, and documents that take up storage. To delete them:

1. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
2. Tap Messages under Documents & Data.
3. Select Photos, Videos, or Top Conversations.
4. Delete unnecessary attachments.

4. Reduce Message History

If you don’t need old messages, set your iPhone to delete them automatically.

1. Open Settings > Messages.
2. Scroll to Keep Messages.
3. Select 30 Days or 1 Year instead of Forever.
4. Confirm deletion when prompted.

This prevents messages from taking up too much space.

5. Remove Offline Content

Downloaded content from streaming apps increases system data. To remove it:

• Open apps like Netflix, YouTube, and others.
• Delete saved videos manually.
• Check Settings inside the app for an auto-delete option.

This keeps your storage clean without losing important files.

6. Update iOS

Apple frequently releases updates to improve performance. Sometimes, updates clear unnecessary system files.

To update your iPhone:

1. Open Settings > General.
2. Tap Software Update.
3. If an update is available, download and install it.

This might reduce system data and improve storage management.

7. Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone clears temporary files and refreshes system performance.

To restart your iPhone:

• Hold the power button and swipe to turn it off.
• Wait a few minutes, then turn it back on.

This simple step helps clear some system data.

8. Disable Unused Features

Some background features generate unnecessary system data. Disabling them helps free up space.

• Turn off Background App Refresh:
  • Go to Settings > General.
  • Tap Background App Refresh and select Off.
• Disable unnecessary location services:
  • Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
  • Turn off services you don’t use.
• Stop auto-downloading software updates:
  • Go to Settings > App Store.
  • Turn off Automatic Downloads for updates.

These small changes reduce system data buildup.

9. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If your iPhone still has too much system data, a factory reset is the final option. This removes everything and restores your phone to factory settings.

Backup Your Data First

Before resetting, back up your data using iCloud or iTunes.

Reset Your iPhone

1. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
3. Enter your passcode and Apple ID password.
4. Tap Erase iPhone.

After resetting, you can set up your iPhone as new or restore data from a backup.

As We Conclude

Clearing iPhone system data in 2025 is essential for better performance. System data increases over time and slows down your device.

You can free up space by clearing app caches, deleting old messages, and removing offline content. If needed, update iOS or perform a factory reset. Regularly following these steps keeps your iPhone storage optimized.