Clear iPhone storage by deleting large Messages attachments easily

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If your iPhone keeps warning you about low storage, your Messages app may be part of the problem. Photos, videos, and documents saved in your text threads can pile up quickly. The good news is that you can erase these large files without erasing entire conversations.
Below you will find simple steps that work on the latest iOS 26.1. These steps help you clean up storage while keeping your messages where you want them.
If you haven’t updated to iOS 26.1, go to Settings > General > Software update to install the latest version.
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An iPhone displays an low storage alert when photos, videos, and large documents saved in Messages fill up the device’s space, prompting users to delete files without deleting entire conversations. (Cyberguy.com)
Why Deleting Attachments Helps Your iPhone Work Better
Deleting large attachments lets you breathe quick on your iPhone. It can free up gigabytes in seconds, especially if you send a lot of photos or videos via SMS. Deleting old files also keeps your message threads tidy and helps your device run more smoothly by reducing the amount of storage your system has to handle. The best part is that you can clean everything without losing a single conversation.
How to Delete Attachments While Keeping Your Conversations on iPhone
These quick steps help you remove large files from messages while keeping every conversation intact.
- Launch it Messaging app on your iPhone
- Open the cconversation thread which contains the attachments you want to delete.
- Press the name of contact(s) in the text thread.
To the right of Info, click Pictures Or Documents; you may need to swipe across other tabs to see them. Photos will also contain videos and GIFs, while documents will contain Word documents, PDFs, and other file types.
- Hold your finger and long press one photo, video or document until a menu appears.
- Faucet DELETE to delete this single file.
Then confirm DELETE when asked.
How to delete multiple files on your iPhone at once
To delete multiple attachments at once, follow these quick steps on your iPhone.

Deleting attachments in Messages quickly frees up space without losing your conversations. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- Return to Photos or Documents tongue.
- Faucet To modify.
- Click Select documents Or Select photos
- Press the pictures Or documents that you want to delete. You will see a blue check mark appear in the lower right corner.
- Press the trash can icon in the lower right corner.
Confirm you want to delete the selected attachments by clicking on Delete photos.
These steps work almost the same on an iPad. Once you’re done, you’ll often see an instant increase in available storage.
How to view large attachments in Settings and delete them
If you want to clear larger files from your device, you can check them from your iPhone storage screen and delete them:
- Open Settings
- Faucet General
- Choose iPhone Storage
- Faucet Messages
- Click Review large attachments to see photos, videos, and attachments taking up storage space in Messages.
- Click To modify.
- Select the items to delete by clicking on the circle next to the attachment you want to delete. A blue check mark will appear.
Then press the trash can icon at the top right to delete it.
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This method gives you a quick overview of what is taking up the most space and allows you to delete it quickly.

iPhone users can delete photos, videos, and large files from Messages using built-in storage tools, freeing up space, keeping conversations intact, and improving device performance. (Cyberguy.com)
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Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Freeing up storage doesn’t have to be confusing. A few quick clicks can delete large files and keep your conversations intact. With these simple steps, your iPhone stays organized, works properly, and is ready for more photos, videos, and apps.
What type of attachment takes up the most space on your iPhone? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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