HT201328: How to unlock your iPhone

Learn about How to unlock your iPhone
dennisdc
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How to delete saved messages on iOS7 iphone5

How to delete saved messages on iOS7 iPhone5?

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.2

Posted on Oct 4, 2013 6:32 PM

Close
dennisdc

Q: How to delete saved messages on iOS7 iphone5

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Nickc25,

    Nickc25 Nickc25 Oct 16, 2013 3:28 AM in response to dennisdc
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Oct 16, 2013 3:28 AM in response to dennisdc

    Firstly you DO NOT have to do a factory reset / wipe device, it is simply not required to get the space back!!

     

    Mine had 3GB and I just got rid of it all, here is how:

     

    METHOD ONE:

     

    1. Make a backup in iTunes
    2. open iBackupBot (Google it)
    3. Go to the relevant backup
    4. Click on Multimedia File Manager and click on the other Multimedia files tab
    5. Sort by filename by clicking the Filename tab
    6. Find MediaDomain/Library/SMS/Attachments and highlight all of them, then press delete.  You can also click to export to a folder of your choice, if you want to save them that is. 
    7. Then go to System Files>MediaDomain>Library>SMS>Attachments
    8. They will be all listed here, highlight them all and press delete
    9. Then just restore that backup using iTunes! 

     

     

    Tadaa! Space recovered, your messages are still there but without the attachments! 

     

    METHOD TWO:

    1. Backup your device in iTunes and then to iCloud
    2. Go to Settings>iCloud and toggle Documents & Data to OFF
    3. Then do a 2nd backup to iTunes and iCloud
    4. Then restore the device from iCloud and the message attachments should be gone, turn Documents & Data back on again in the settings

     

    PLEASE NOTE: Method two is a much longer process but some users may feel more comfortable with this method.

     

     

    P.S You may want to make two backups in case you get any of the above steps wrong, but it is simple to follow the above and not do anything wrong!

     

    P.P.S You could also just go through every single conversation and delete the attachments one by one, but if you have hundreds or thousands of attachments, this will take a VERY LONG TIME!!!

  • by PStevenKemp,

    PStevenKemp PStevenKemp Dec 30, 2013 2:46 PM in response to dennisdc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 2:46 PM in response to dennisdc

    I had this problem too. Had old messages taking up almost 5GB of space. Went to Best Buy and Genius bar, they said use the 3rd party app. But I'm lazy, and this way's a lot easier:

    • Delete old messages from Messages app
    • Backup your phone to iTunes/iCloud
    • Now restore your phone -- don't let your phone sync before you back it up or all the old messages will restore.
    • Voilá. Problem solved.

     

    You stay classy, Planet Earth.