Emptying the Trash on Your iPhone 11: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re looking to tidy up your iPhone 11, specifically emptying the digital trash? Unlike a desktop computer, the iPhone doesn’t have a single, overarching “Trash” or “Recycle Bin” icon. Instead, the concept of “trash” is distributed across various applications, each with its own deletion process. Let’s cut through the confusion and get your iPhone 11 clean and running smoothly. The steps to empty the trash are different for each application. In short, you will need to open each individual app such as Photos, Mail, Notes, Files and permanently delete the items from the specific trash or recently deleted folders.

Understanding “Trash” on iOS: It’s App-Specific

First, it’s crucial to understand that iOS handles deleted items differently than traditional desktop operating systems. When you delete something on your iPhone 11, it’s typically moved to a “Recently Deleted” or “Trash” folder within the specific app. This gives you a grace period to recover accidentally deleted items. To truly free up space, you must then permanently delete these items from those folders.

Emptying the Trash in Key Apps

Let’s break down the process for some of the most common apps where you’ll accumulate “trash” on your iPhone 11:

Photos App: The “Recently Deleted” Album

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap on the “Albums” tab at the bottom.
3. Scroll down until you find the “Recently Deleted” album.
4. Tap on “Select” in the upper right corner.
5. You have two options:
   • Delete All: Permanently deletes all items in the “Recently Deleted” album.
   • Select individual items: Tap on the photos or videos you want to delete, then tap the “Delete” button.
6. Confirm your deletion. You’ll be prompted to confirm that you want to permanently delete the selected items.

Important Note: Items in the “Recently Deleted” album are automatically permanently deleted after 30 days.

Mail App: Deleting Emails from Trash

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Tap on “Mailboxes” at the top left.
3. Locate the “Trash” folder for each of your email accounts (iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.). You might need to tap on the individual account to see its folders.
4. Open the “Trash” folder.
5. Tap on “Edit” in the upper right corner.
6. You have two main choices:
   • Delete All: Often found at the bottom of the screen. This will permanently delete all emails in the Trash folder.
   • Select Individual Emails: Select the emails you want to delete and tap the “Delete” button.
7. Confirm your deletion.

Pro Tip: Consider setting up automatic email deletion. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > [Your Email Account] > Account > Advanced > Remove > After One Week/Month.

Notes App: Clearing Recently Deleted Notes

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Tap the back arrow in the top left to go to the “Folders” view.
3. Locate the “Recently Deleted” folder.
4. Open the “Recently Deleted” folder.
5. Tap “Edit” in the upper right corner.
6. Choose one of the following options:
   • Delete All: Permanently deletes all notes in the “Recently Deleted” folder.
   • Select Individual Notes: Select the notes you want to delete and tap the “Delete” button.
7. Confirm the deletion.

Remember: Notes stay in the “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days before being permanently deleted.

Files App: Emptying the “Recently Deleted” Section

1. Open the Files app.
2. Tap the “Browse” tab at the bottom right.
3. Locate the “Recently Deleted” section. It may be under “Locations” or further down the page.
4. Tap the three dots (…) in the upper right corner.
5. Select “Select” from the menu.
6. Now, you have two choices:
   • Delete All: Permanently deletes all files in the “Recently Deleted” section.
   • Select Individual Files: Tap on the files you want to delete, then tap the “Delete” button at the bottom.
7. Confirm your action.

Important: The “Recently Deleted” section in the Files app holds items deleted from iCloud Drive and “On My iPhone/iPad” storage.

Other Apps: Checking for Delete Options

Many other apps store deleted items in temporary folders. Check the settings or menus of apps you frequently use (e.g., messaging apps, document editors) for options to clear deleted items.

Why Emptying the Trash Matters

Emptying the “trash” on your iPhone 11 isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about:

• Freeing up storage space: Permanently deleting files releases storage space on your device.
• Improving performance: A cluttered device can sometimes experience performance slowdowns.
• Enhancing privacy: Removing sensitive information from “Recently Deleted” folders adds an extra layer of security.

iPhone 11 Emptying Trash FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about emptying the trash on your iPhone 11:

1. Where is the general “Recycle Bin” or “Trash” icon on the iPhone 11?

There isn’t one. iOS is app-centric. Each app manages its deleted items separately in folders like “Recently Deleted” or “Trash.”

2. How long do deleted photos stay in the “Recently Deleted” album?

They stay there for 30 days before being automatically and permanently deleted.

3. Can I recover permanently deleted photos from my iPhone 11?

Not directly from the iPhone 11 itself. However, if you had iCloud Photos enabled and synced, there’s a chance you can recover them from iCloud.com within 30 days of deletion. Also, third-party data recovery software might be able to recover them, but success is not guaranteed. It’s also worth considering if you have any backups such as iTunes or iCloud backups.

4. How do I permanently delete all emails in the Mail app at once?

Navigate to each email account’s Trash folder and use the “Delete All” option. If you don’t see “Delete All,” tap “Edit” and then select all emails before deleting.

5. Is there a way to automatically empty the trash in the Mail app?

Yes, you can configure automatic email deletion. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > [Your Email Account] > Account > Advanced > Remove > After One Week/Month.

6. Does emptying the trash on my iPhone 11 improve its performance?

It can help, especially if you’re freeing up a significant amount of storage space. When your phone’s storage is nearing capacity, it can affect overall performance.

7. What’s the difference between “Delete” and “Permanently Delete” on the iPhone 11?

“Delete” typically moves an item to a “Recently Deleted” or “Trash” folder. “Permanently Delete” removes the item completely from your device, freeing up storage space.

8. How do I find the “Files” app on my iPhone 11?

It’s usually on one of your home screens or in the App Library. You can also use Spotlight Search (swipe down from the middle of the home screen) and type “Files” to locate it.

9. What happens to files deleted from iCloud Drive?

They are moved to the “Recently Deleted” section in the Files app and remain there for 30 days. After that, they are permanently deleted from iCloud.

10. I deleted a note by accident. How can I recover it?

Check the “Recently Deleted” folder in the Notes app. You can move the note back to your main notes list from there. Do this before the 30 day period has lapsed.

11. How do I clear the cache on my iPhone 11 to free up space?

While there’s no single button to “clear the cache” across the entire system, you can clear the cache for individual apps. For example, in Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. For other apps, the process varies. Some apps have built-in cache clearing options within their settings, or deleting and reinstalling the app can clear its cache (but be aware that this might also delete app data).

12. My “Recently Deleted” album is missing in the Photos app. Where did it go?

The “Recently Deleted” album only appears if you have deleted photos or videos within the past 30 days. If it’s not there, it means you haven’t deleted anything recently, or the 30-day period has passed.

By understanding how iOS handles deleted items and following these steps, you can keep your iPhone 11 clean, organized, and performing at its best.