Trash on iPhone: Where to Find and How to Use It

Unlike computers with operating systems like Windows or macOS that have a unified "Trash" for all deleted files, iPhones don’t have a single trash bin. However, various apps have dedicated sections for recently deleted items, allowing users to recover or permanently delete data.

Deleted Photos and Videos

In the Photos app, deleted images and videos go to the "Recently Deleted" album, where they’re stored for 30 days before permanent deletion. To access this album:

  1. Open the Photos app.
  2. Go to the “Albums” tab.
  3. Scroll down to the “Utilities” section and select “Recently Deleted.”

In this section, you can either restore or permanently delete selected items.

Deleted Files

The Files app also has a folder for recently deleted documents:

  1. Open the Files app.
  2. Go to the “Browse” tab.
  3. Select “Recently Deleted” under the “Locations” section.

Here, you can recover or permanently delete files that were previously deleted.

Deleted Notes

In the Notes app, deleted entries move to a “Recently Deleted” folder:

  1. Open the Notes app.
  2. Go to the “Folders” section.
  3. Select the “Recently Deleted” folder.

In this folder, you can recover or permanently delete notes.

Deleted Emails

In the Mail app, deleted emails go to the “Trash” folder:

  1. Open the Mail app.
  2. Go to “Mailboxes.”
  3. Select the “Trash” folder for the relevant account.

Here, you can manage deleted emails by restoring or permanently deleting them.

Important Points to Remember

  • Deleted items are stored in their respective folders for 30 days before being permanently deleted with no recovery option.
  • If you use iCloud to sync data, deleting items on one device will delete them across all devices linked to your Apple ID.

Understanding how deletion and recovery features work on iPhone can help you manage data effectively and avoid accidental data loss.