Saved messages problem in iOS 7

I have already posted on several other apple forums as if your like me and have had an I phone 5 16gb and have over the past 13 months have been sending loads of pictures via text and email, when you go into settings/ general/ usage a large part of your memory is taken up in saved text messages ( I had about 3 gig) also in saved emails I had 2.5 gig both trapped in the I phone cache which you can't access.

I like most others have searched forums to find an answer to get the valued memory back I firstly found that most people found the Ibackupbot worked so I gave it ago however on the last step it kept saying that I didn't have enough space to restore my phone. The problem is that you need quite a few gig to restore your phone but when you only have 13 gig to play with when you first have your phone and then nearly 5 gig trapped it don't leave much space to play with so I found that the Ibackupbot didn't work for me as I believe that process works better with a 32 gig phone as you have loads more memory to play with.

After loads of digging I found these two techniques to get your trapped storage back.

Text cache

Before you start the process check how much memory is being used in usage on saved text messages I also synced my phone with I tunes ( not sure if it makes a difference).

1. Select Settings > General > Spotlight Search

2. Un-Check Messages in the Spotlight Search

3. Delete all text messages that show in the Messages app

4. Open the multi-tasking bar by double tapping on the Home button

5. Close ALL running applications

6. Restart your phone

Remember to reset your phone by holding the on/off button and the home button until you see the apple logo then go back in settings / general/ usage and see if the storage has reduced. ( every time I repeated the above process I noticed that a chunk of memory was given back to me it took me three times and I had freed all 3 gig.

On the third go I did delete all my current texts but a small price to pay to get 3 gig back.

To get email cache back

When I went into my sent emails even though I had deleted them all it said at the bottom there was 935 unread emails and in spot search you can still see my old emails I had sent months ago but you can't access them.

I have a hotmail account so this what I will use for my example. Basically make sure you uncheck mail and texts in spot search then delete you email account in settings/ mail.

Don't worry as all your emails you want to keep are still in the hotmail main server as your phone is only an access point to see your emails (for hotmail anyway) so reinstall your email on your phone in settings/ mail and you can upload your emails back from your inbox.

I now have 5.5 gig of space back an can install some of my apps and not worry about taking pics and videos

I hope this helps let me know if you get stuck

Cheers kurt

Really wished this worked but does not for me. Have spent much time on this an nothing works. I refuse to download 3rd party software to fix. I did love my products but am tired of trying to get it fixed. My plans will be going total different direction. Just want to let you know did not work on mine. Don't see how this happens when never have more than 2-3 messages on my devices. I hate clutter. Hope this works for others. It is really frustrating to spend money then loose valuable space. Thanks again for trying to help

Hi mate sorry it didn't work can I ask did you sync to I tunes before? and did you do a reset or turn the phone off and then back on? I'm only asking as try both when doing the process get back to me because a friend of mine is coming over as he has the same problem and I'll try it on his and I'll write every step down to make sure I've explained it right above.

P.s what phone you got?

Did it both ways. I have iPhone 5 and iPad. Everyone else in family having same problems. It is very nice to see people trying to help. Thanks again

Dude I have just done it on a 5s and on my own 5 so I now know it wasn't just a fluke.

First I noticed my friend had 1.3 gig trapped in saved text.

Went to settings in spot search un ticked texts and mail then deleted all messages in the message app then double tapped home button and shut down all open apps then held the on/off button and home button until screen goes black and keep holding until apple logo comes on and then back into usage and 1.3 gig was given back.

On my iphone 5 I did this 3 times as I had 3 gig stuck in saved messages if you have more it might take a couple more times.

Cheers kurt

Tried it again on my iPhone 5 and still no luck. I was really hoping it would work since I'm losing 4.6 GB on Messages(Saved). :(

I went as far as un checking EVERYTHING in spotlight search and nothing. Rebooted as described, with all my apps shutdown and all messages deleted. Then i checked the things back on in the Spotlight search, rebooted again, for the **** of it. Once up and running, I unchecked the Messages and Emal from Spotlight search, I closed out all the apps, I didn't have any texts because I've already deleted them, and rebooted once again.

And again, no luck. :(

Mate have you synced to iTunes on a computer, also make a backup on iTunes and this is what I did before I started and try again mate because I swear it has worked for me. if I could post a screen shot to prove it I would

Also mate try turning off I message in text settings and do the same process

Cheers kurt

Spotlight search comes up empty for me. There are no messages on my phone and never has been but a few at a time. I feel your pain. Nothing I have done works and don't think it is fixable. Others seem to have messages when they search maybe that is why it works for them. I was fine till the update. I personally find people trying to help such a wonderful gesture in this mess. Thanks to all for trying

Mate have a look at Lucerova's post on six page they state that do a backup and restore I couldn't restore as I didn't have enough space on my phone but I did back it up and synced before I did it.

Also data only started coming back on my second process

Mate I think Ive figured it out delete all your texts then back up and sync and then do all the points

If this works for any one let me know

Cheers kurt

It didn't work. Still having no luck.

Thank you guys so much for trying to help us unfortunate few. I really appreciate it.

Hello guys. Same problem here with my two iPhone 5 and 5c and iPad.

Grrrrrr

Before reading this post read all my other posts for it to make sense

Ok now I have tried loads of ways to fix this for other people as I was lucky enough to get my space back by the method I have detailed about four or five posts above. The only thing I did that I haven't mentioned was the Ibotbackup method but as I have explained it didn't work as my phone didn't restore due to not having enough memory to restore but it did attempt to restore and maybe is the key for the above method to work. so what im saying is to do the Ibackupbot method to the final stage let it try and restore but if you don't have enough memory to restore try my method straight after because I believe it might be the missing link to get your memory back

basically ibackup bot works as I have just done it properly now I have all my space back as I can do a full restore having a spare 5 gig. (obviuosly if you have enough space to do a full restore you wont have to to the next method as you will get your space back.

This link will take you to a download page it is safe and I have installed it ( trust me)

http://www.icopybot.com/download.htm

Ibotbackup windows 5.5 mb is the one you want if your using a computer with windows as in the diagram below.

mputer Transfer software, YouTube to iPod Converter software, iPod Video Converter software and more Download VOWSoft softwares for iPod now. When you decide to Buy VOWSoft Software for iPod, there's no need to download additional software. Simply use the registration key to activate your software. Software Name Latest Version File Size Language Download link iCopyBot for Windows (Platforms: Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP, 8) 7.8.9 6.37Mb English iCopyBot for Mac (Platforms: Mac OS X 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8) 7.8.9 14.9Mb English iBackupBot for Windows (Platforms: Windows 8, Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP, 8) 5.1.1.4 5.55Mb English iBackupBot for Mac (Platforms: Mac OS X 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8) 5.1.1 13.3Mb English iYouTube (Platforms: Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP, 2000, 8) 1.2.0 6.91Mb English iVideoBot Pro (Platforms: Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP, 2000, 8) 6.0.0 5.63Mb English plist Editor Pro (Platforms: Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP, 8) 2.1.0 6.02Mb English plist Editor for Windows (Freeware) (Platforms: Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP, 8) 1.0.2 4.82Mb English

To prove I got it sorted see my usage ( Mickey mouse game is for my daughter by the way LOL)

read the above post if you haven't already

Before you open Ibackupbot open itunes make a back up and then open Ibackupbot

click on multimedia file manager on top left corner

click on other media files

Then scroll down and find MediaDomain/Library/SMS/Attachments This will take you a while but you need to delete all files with sms in I found holding ctrl and deleting in mass was the best way. this will take a while and if you click on a file you will see there is some old texts in there i had some from 2011 which were taken on my i phone 4. Also you will see some SMS files with movies in which are the ones taking the mos space up.

once you have deleted all the SMS files you need to go to system files in the top left courner just above multimedia file manager

click on media domain

click on libary

click on SMS

click on attatchments

Now there should be a load of files with numbers on right click and select all and then press delete which is the little mobile sign above with a red circle in ( it will come up with a warning message trust me don't worry it doesn't effect phone).

Now your done

You need to open i tunes and restore if it wont because it says you don't have enough memory now you have to do the next process below. obviously if you do have enough memory your sorted. check usage should look like mine.

At this point your thinking this is a lot for getting my memory back but I promise its not that bad just deleting the SMS files take the time. but if you cant restore now try this

1. Select Settings > General > Spotlight Search

2. Un-Check Messages in the Spotlight Search

3. Delete all text messages that show in the Messages app

4. Open the multi-tasking bar by double tapping on the Home button

5. Close ALL running applications

6. Restart your phone

Remember to reset your phone by holding the on/off button and the home button until you see the apple logo then go back in settings / general/ usage and see if the storage has reduced. ( every time I repeated the above process I noticed that a chunk of memory was given back to me it took me three times and I had freed all 3 gig.

cheers Kurt

P.S please read the above post first

Kurt tried your suggestion as well as everyone's on here..

'

did NOT clear any space...

this *****!j

still no easy solution w/0 downloading 3rd party software???