The simplest way to delete a file

On iPhone, the fastest way to delete a file is to open the Files app, find the file you want to remove, swipe left across it with one finger, and tap the trash icon that appears. The file moves to the Recently Deleted folder, where it stays for 30 days before iPhone permanently removes it. If you change your mind within those 30 days, you can recover it.

If swiping does not work on your device, you can also tap Edit in the upper right corner of the Files app, tap the circle next to the file to select it, then tap Delete in the lower right. Both methods do the same thing — they move the file to Recently Deleted rather than erasing it when ready.

The Files app is built into every iPhone and appears on your home screen as a folder icon. If you cannot find it, swipe down from the top of your home screen and search for "Files" to open it.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe left on a file in the Files app and tap the trash icon to delete it in one motion.
  • Deleted files move to Recently Deleted, where they stay for 30 days before permanent removal.
  • You can recover a deleted file within 30 days by opening Recently Deleted, tapping Edit, selecting the file, and tapping Recover.
  • Files stored in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox delete from those services, not just from your iPhone.
  • Permanently removing a file from Recently Deleted erases it when ready with no recovery option.

Where deleted files go and how long they stay

When you delete a file on iPhone, it does not disappear right away. Instead, it moves to a folder called Recently Deleted inside the Files app. iPhone keeps files there for 30 days, then removes them permanently. This delay gives you time to change your mind without losing the file forever.

To see your Recently Deleted files, open the Files app, scroll down to the bottom, and tap Recently Deleted. You will see every file you have removed in the last 30 days, along with the date you deleted it. If the file you want is there, you can recover it.

How to recover a deleted file

To bring a file back from Recently Deleted, open the Files app and scroll to Recently Deleted at the bottom. Tap Edit in the upper right corner. Tap the circle next to the file you want to recover — a checkmark appears in the circle. Then tap Recover in the lower right corner. The file returns to the folder it came from.

If you do not see the file you are looking for, it may have been permanently deleted more than 30 days ago, or it may have been stored in a cloud service like iCloud Drive or Google Drive rather than on your iPhone itself. In that case, check the trash or bin folder inside that service's app.

Permanently deleting a file so it cannot be recovered

If you want to remove a file completely instead of moving it to Recently Deleted, open the Files app, go to Recently Deleted, tap Edit, select the file, and tap Delete Permanently. The file erases when ready with no way to recover it. Use this only when you are certain you will never need the file again.

You can also permanently delete all files in Recently Deleted at once. Open Recently Deleted, tap Edit, tap Select All in the upper left, then tap Delete Permanently. This empties the entire Recently Deleted folder.

Deleting files stored in cloud services

If your file is stored in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox rather than directly on your iPhone, deleting it from the Files app removes it from that service too — not just from your phone. The file does not stay in Recently Deleted on your iPhone; instead, it goes to the trash folder inside that service.

To recover a file deleted from a cloud service, open that service's app (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, or Dropbox) and look for a Trash or Bin folder. The recovery window varies by service — Google Drive keeps files for 30 days, but iCloud Drive keeps them for 30 days only if you have enough storage space. If the service's trash is full or the time window has passed, the file cannot be recovered.

You can tell whether a file is stored in a cloud service by looking at its icon in the Files app. Files with a small cloud icon next to the name are stored in the cloud. Files with no cloud icon are stored only on your iPhone.

What happens when you delete a file you are still using

If you delete a file that another app is using — for example, a photo you have shared in a note or a document you have open in an email — the app may stop working correctly. Before you delete a file, check whether it is open in another app. Close the app first, then delete the file.

If you accidentally delete a file you were using, recover it from Recently Deleted as soon as you notice. The sooner you recover it, the less likely the app will have encountered an error.

Freeing up space by deleting large files

Deleting files does not free up space on your iPhone when ready. Files in Recently Deleted still take up storage until the 30 days pass and iPhone removes them permanently. If you need space right now, go to Recently Deleted, tap Edit, select the files you want to remove, and tap Delete Permanently. This frees up the space right away.

To find your largest files so you know what to delete, open the Files app, tap Browse at the bottom, tap iPhone Storage, and look at the list. Files are sorted by size, with the largest at the top. You can also check Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see which apps are using the most space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a file without it going to Recently Deleted?

No. On iPhone, every file you delete moves to Recently Deleted first. You can permanently delete it from there right away if you want, but it always passes through Recently Deleted first. This is a safety feature to prevent accidental permanent loss.

What if I delete a file and then my iPhone runs out of storage?

Files in Recently Deleted still count toward your storage limit until the 30 days pass. If you need space urgently, open Recently Deleted, tap Edit, select the files, and tap Delete Permanently. This removes them from storage right away instead of waiting for the 30-day timer.

Do I lose files if I delete them from the Files app but they are also in another app?

It depends on where the file is stored. If the file is stored in a cloud service and you also have it in another app, deleting it from Files removes it from the cloud service too, which affects the other app. If the file is stored only on your iPhone, deleting it from Files does not affect copies in other apps — those apps have their own copies.

Can someone recover a file I deleted if they get my iPhone?

Not from Recently Deleted — that folder is password-protected by your iPhone's lock screen. However, if you permanently delete a file, a data recovery tool might still retrieve it from your iPhone's storage if the space has not been overwritten. For sensitive files, permanently delete them instead of using Recently Deleted.