Saved messages problem in iOS 7

Does anyone else know of a way to manipulate the IOS software other then using a restore function? Like something that allows you to actually delete things on the phone?

Did you recreate the backup file and re-edit it after deleting the photos? That will reduce the size of the file by about 2GB. If you were saying the backup file was about 8.5GB before, you will need about 6.5GB free on your phone to do the "restore to backup". After than, you will then have the addition 5.5GB free from your messages. I know its a complete pain in the *** but it should work. Its hard not doing it in person, otherwise we could figure out what is eating up so much storage on your phone besides the messages.

Well it only took me 3 days of insanity, frustration and cursing 😠 but once I got the Itunes to work (pure luck) and it actually recognized the restore it worked like a charm. It was a long road to get there but I am feeling completely accomplished by getting back my 3.5 GB of space! 😀 Thanks to all of you who helped. The Ibackup was key and the directions were easy to follow from @Nick25

I'm glad it finally worked for you. Like I said in a earlier post, we shouldn't have to download a third party program to erase any content on the device

I know lots of people with same problem. We pay for 16, 32, 64 and etc but don't get that at time of purchase.

These updates take more space and don't make sense. Seems no easy fix. iPad is the same way. I will not buy another Apple product because I can't get this fixed and will not treat as new or use another software to try an repair. This should have already been taken care of by apple. When phone is avail for upgrade I will try something different. Apple has too many units and do not do good job with updates anymore. iPad 2 staying around but did not get airdrop? Moral of story if can't get fix for buggy update can't buy new product and back up to buggy old product

Agreed. This is just ridiculous. I love my iPhone 5, but this is seriously annoying me and making me question my loyalty to Apple. This was never an issue before. Why in the world am I out 4.5 GB of storage because of texts that I already deleted? Please explain this to me, Apple. Now I have to go through all this work, restore my iPhone or use a 3rd Party software to fix your problems? Waste of storage, waste of time, waste of money.

I FIGURED IT OUT!!!! you have to make sure that you delete all of your voicemails, then go to "clear all" in the top right and permanently delete all of your voicemails. I've had this problem for a while and just permantently deleted all my voicemails and cleared up almost 3GBs of data.

Tried this and it didn't work. I still have 4.6 GB of Messages (Saved).😕

i don't know which iBackUpBot you're using but mine doesn't even show delete as an option anywhere, it shows the back up folder then only shows the apps below it and automatically shows the system files, when i right click any of the files it says check all check selected or check none, it doesnt show the multimedia file manager or any of the other sections you listed it's really annoying lol

+1.

However, I'm not downloading a third-party program etc. to free up the 3GB I want back.

Judging by the amount of people having this issue it definitely needs to be addressed.

We'll apparently the problem doesn't go away because even after you delete them it keeps storing them because of the bug on the software. I am definitely headed to android thanks apple.

Ever since Jobs died quality control in apple is literally the worst I've seen in 5 years. They release terrible products that are the same, horrible updates which address nothing or 3 minor things every month. I'm so frustrated with this issue and I backupbot does not work on Mavericks now it just crashes so I'm forced to deal with an incoherant apple who doesn't address this major issue which has been going on since beta. Also if you try and delete large threads they dont really delete. Just reappear when you restart your phone. I have an iphone 5S with 15 gigs of saved messages....

Hi did you find a fix yet?

It's BS that the only answer is $30 third party software. What the ****, Apple?

I know you are frustrated- I was too but the backup software is free and the directions that @nickc25 gives in an earlier post work. I followed those and it worked like a charm- I was nervous but I took a leap of faith and tried it. I agree apple needs to fix it but till then this really is the best and easiest solution. Had I not had issues with my iTunes that were totally unrelated then it would have taken me 20 minutes.