How to clear system data on iPhone

The main cause for system storage taking up all your space is like I said in my other post here which is app cache. The only solution I’ve found to this is to delete and reinstall apps. Apps such as Spotify,YouTube, and discord were the main culprits on my phone (Spotify having 3gbs worth YouTube 5gbs and discord having 7 gbs worth). This could also be happening with other messaging or video based apps.

Notes: Make sure you follow Step 3. Also, it's actually not recommended you do this consistently, as caches increase the performance of apps and iOS in general. This should only be done when it spirals out of control. Also only do this if you see System Data above 25GB for best results.

I also recommend deleting and reinstalling Instagram and Discord, if you use them, as they seem to be the mostly sneaky apps camouflaging cache into System Data.

1. Check your current System Data use on iPhone Storage settings.
2. Close all your apps.
3. Critical: Set your iMessages to stay around forever on iMessage settings on iPhone to avoid having your iMessages deleted! Go to Settings > iMessage > Message History > Select 'Forever'. This is important.
4. Set your iPhone in Airplane Mode and turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off (this is to avoid anomalies with iCloud, Apple Watch and other apps).
5. Change the date to 1 year into the future from the real date. Make sure you followed Step 3 before this step.
6. Wait 60 seconds. Keep your phone awake.
7. Check System Data use again. It should be much lower. If you don't see a change, close Settings, relaunch and keep checking.
8. Change the date to 3 months in the future from the real date (this is essentially 9 months in the past from the last setting).
9. Wait 60 seconds. Keep your phone awake.
10. Check System Data use again. It should be around the same or lower.
11. Change date back to Automatic.
12. Turn off Airplane Mode.
13. You're golden!

It's absolutely ridiculous this process is even necessary, Apple should get on board to fix the System Data woes. They have been an issue for many years now.

Yesterday I was trying to backup my Whatsapp chat but I couldn't as it said that I hadn't enough storage on the iPhone (weird enough, as I have 512GB plus 2TB on iCloud). I went to the settings and found out data system was 330GB. I also had un update which I couldn't install because of the storage issue.

I contacted Apple support and I've been told to update the iPhone (to iOS 17.5.1 to be specific) in order to fix the data system issue.

In order to do that I had to update the iPhone from my Macbook through iTunes.

Managed to get it updated and magic, it worked! (When I've been told it was just a matter of updating the phone I was quite sceptic to be honest, so I was really impressed.)

I'll attach screenshot below :)

Jimmykarter Said:

"How do I reduce System Data that takes up all the iPhone storage?"

-------

Clearing "System Data" (formerly called "Other").

See my User Tip: How to Clear "Other" in your iPhone's Storage - Use Backup - Apple Community

Essentially, you'd backup your iPhone, and then restore your iPhone from the backup you've just created. All System Data will delete.

laceefromseattle Said:

"System data taking all my iPhone storage!: No matter how many times I follow the recommendations and offload and delete apps- my iPhone 12 storage always fills up- I can’t figure out why. I have about 25gb in apps, 11 GB of photos, 9 iOS, 16 in system data! Anyway to reduce that system data? Capacity is 64GB- seems crazy that a third of that is stuff I can’t control."

-------

Clearing System Data (Formerly Called "Other"):

Use my User Tip: How to Clear "Other" in your iPhone's Storage - Use Backup - User Tip. Caches would be being used for remembrance of application use. You'd backup your iPhone, and then restore your iPhone from the backup you've just created. All System Data will delete.

I discovered that ios 17.1.1 aparently has a bug in the memory manager not returning cache. I ended up having to deep sleep/suspending all of my apps. This is where it removes the app, deletes cache, but keeps stored data. That gave me enough room to immediately update to 17.1.2.

I tried just clearing all cache and the suspending some apps. In both cases, I could start the update, but cache would grow to take up available memory and the update would fail.

I don't know for sure if cache was growing or not after suspending all apps, but I had enough time to complete the update. After that, I restored apps as I needed them, which was a lot at first. I think there are some infrequently used apps that I have not yet restored, but I'm pretty close to where I was and I able to do everything I need to.

I still see over 127 Gb of usage, but everything works fine. If possible, skip 17.1.1. I was able to update my iPad from 16.x to 17.1.2. Also, I don't know if this bug effected ipados or not.

There may be other issues that cause this problem too. The other solutions here either didn't work or didn't apply. Maybe this will help some others with this problem.

Best of luck!

I discovered that ios 17.1.1 aparently has a bug in the memory manager not returning cache. I ended up having to deep sleep/suspending all of my apps. This is where it removes the app, deletes cache, but keeps stored data. That gave me enough room to immediately update to 17.1.2.

I tried just clearing all cache and the suspending some apps. In both cases, I could start the update, but cache would grow to take up available memory and the update would fail.

I don't know for sure if cache was growing or not after suspending all apps, but I had enough time to complete the update. After that, I restored apps as I needed them, which was a lot at first. I think there are some infrequently used apps that I have not yet restored, but I'm pretty close to where I was and I able to do everything I need to.

I still see over 127 Gb of usage, but everything works fine. If possible, skip 17.1.1. I was able to update my iPad from 16.x to 17.1.2. Also, I don't know if this bug effected ipados or not.

There may be other issues that cause this problem too. The other solutions here either didn't work or didn't apply. Maybe this will help some others with this problem.

Best of luck!

menzer1911 Said:

"It’ not a solution though, my Iphone is 512 GB and system data is fluctuating around 300-320 GB which is insane!!! "

-------

Emptying "System Data":

Use My User Tip: How to Clear "Other" in your iPhone's Storage - Use Backup - Apple Community

“iPhone 6s 32 gb system data 22 gb who I delete”

———-

How to Clear System Data:

“System Data” was formerly called ”Other” in older iOS versions. So, use my User Tip: How to Clear "Other" in your iPhone's Storage - Use Backup - Apple Community

Check out this resource if it can help you: System Data taking all my iPhone storage: 6 steps to Clean it up. Step 6 helped me reduce 20gb of system data and force restart reduced 5gb.

delete history from google and safari clear cache delete all time history it will save you a lot of space system space

Try removing application data from Google Maps. I just did that and my free storage went from 10 GB to 90 GB.

The date change thing worked. Set my date 3 months ahead and went from 12 GB of system data to 4.5 GB

delete google and safari history and cache thank me later make sure it’s all time history setting

• Restart the device. That's it.

If the above does not resolve the issue then...

I would ignore that because this system data will make room when you need more space on your iPhone. These are some cache and temporary files that will be erased by the system whenever you try to save more files.

You may --> Clear Other storage on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)

Tap on System Data it will take you to "Other System Data"

Now the question is what is the "Other System Data" storage. Read on...

• Other System Data: Non-removable mobile assets, like Siri voices, fonts, dictionaries, non-removable logs and caches, Spotlight index, and system data, such as Keychain and CloudKit Database. Cached files can't be deleted by the system.
• System: Space taken by the operating system. This can vary based on your device and model.

About cached files in "Other System Data"

Finder and iTunes categorize cached music, videos, and photos as Other instead of actual songs, videos, or photos. Cached files are created when you stream or view content like music, videos, and photos. When you stream music or video, that content is stored as cached files on your device so you can quickly access it again.

Your device automatically removes cached files and temporary files when your device needs more space.

If storage on your device differs from what you see in Finder or iTunes

Since Finder and iTunes categorize cached files as Other, reported usage for Music or Videos might differ. To view usage on your device, go to Settings > General > [Device] Storage.

If you want to delete the cached files from your device

Your device automatically deletes cached files and temporary files when it needs more space. You don't need to delete them yourself.