Please, I’m getting desperate

Hi,

So you may all be aware of the "date trick" for triggering maintenanced (a system process on iOS responsible for cache deletion and management) on iOS to invalidate and expunge System Data (caches) from the disk.

But, cache sometimes gets revalidated - as in System Data goes back to its original size - presumably because maintenanced doesn't finish its process before users set the date back, or because there is a scheduled maintenance period triggered by this date change to expunge the data that isn't triggered immediately (the change to storage after this maintenance period is shown in Storage settings but isn't actually freed at this time).

I have figured out a reliable way to prevent this, and to trigger maintenanced to immediately expunge all cache for good. As in, with this method, you can actually get iOS to immediately reduce System Data use on disk and to have it stay for good. Essentially, you need to set the date into the future, twice.

Read notes below before you begin.

Notes: Make sure you follow Step 3. Also, it's actually not recommended you do this consistently, as caches increase the performance of apps and iOS in general. This should only be done when it spirals out of control. Also only do this if you see System Data above 25GB for best results.

I also recommend deleting and reinstalling Instagram and Discord, if you use them, as they seem to be the mostly sneaky apps camouflaging cache into System Data.

1. Check your current System Data use on iPhone Storage settings.

2. Close all your apps.

3. Critical: Set your iMessages to stay around forever on iMessage settings on iPhone to avoid having your iMessages deleted! Go to Settings > iMessage > Message History > Select 'Forever'. This is important.

4. Set your iPhone in Airplane Mode and turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off (this is to avoid anomalies with iCloud, Apple Watch and other apps).

5. Change the date to 1 year into the future from the real date. Make sure you followed Step 3 before this step.

6. Wait 60 seconds. Keep your phone awake.

7. Check System Data use again. It should be much lower. If you don't see a change, close Settings, relaunch and keep checking.

8. Change the date to 3 months in the future from the real date (this is essentially 9 months in the past from the last setting).

9. Wait 60 seconds. Keep your phone awake.

10. Check System Data use again. It should be around the same or lower.

11. Change date back to Automatic.

12. Turn off Airplane Mode.

13. You're golden!

It's absolutely ridiculous this process is even necessary, Apple should get on board to fix the System Data woes. They have been an issue for many years now.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone/

I’ve gone to the safari app settings and deleted all website history and ive deleted everything in the recently deleted section but it still feels like my data keeps filling up every day

If your iPhone’s System Data is taking up too much space, this trick forces iOS to clear cached files. To make it work permanently, follow these steps:

1. Check Current System Data • Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and note the System Data size.

2. Close All Apps • Swipe up or double-press the Home button and close all apps.

3. Prevent Message Deletion (Important!) • Settings > Messages > Keep Messages > Set to “Forever” to avoid data loss.

4. Enable Airplane Mode • Turn on Airplane Mode and disable Wi-Fi & Bluetooth to stop iCloud sync.

5. Change the Date (First Time) • Settings > General > Date & Time > Turn off “Set Automatically” • Set the date 1 year ahead

6. Wait 60 Seconds • Keep your phone awake and unlocked • Check iPhone Storage. If no change, close and reopen Settings.

7. Change the Date (Second Time) • Now set it 3 months ahead from today.

8. Wait Another 60 Seconds • Keep your phone awake and check storage again.

9. Restore Settings • Turn “Set Automatically” back on • Disable Airplane Mode and reconnect Wi-Fi & Bluetooth

This should permanently clear unnecessary System Data. If you want Apple to fix this, submit feedback here: Apple iPhone Feedback

Like the title says, I just want to clear up some space so I can take and share photos, download apps, etc.

I can’t seem to find the specific caches and logs it mentions that’s taking up so much storage. I have an iPhone 11 if that helps

I don’t have many apps or photos idk why it’s 200gb.

when i updated my iphone to ios 18, the system data had increased significantly compared to ios 16 and 17. this has been affecting my storage and are there any ways that i can do to reduce it to at least 7-10 gigabytes of it?

Hi, this massive chunk of system data is eating up the storage of my iPhone 13 Pro. I have deleted so many messages, videos, I have minimal apps. As you can see, the system data is taking up a wild portion of my storage and it seems like every time I delete something else, it just increases and takes more of my ‘available’ space. It’s so frustrating as it impacts my phone working properly, being constantly at full storage. There is really not much else I can delete as my apps are generally stuff like banking, whatsapp etc. no games or random crap. This was never an issue when I first got the phone and used to have waaaay more photos/videos etc. I don’t want to upgrade the phone yet I just want to fix this. Help appreciated!!

Has your phone run out of space, and you did your due diligence to clear it out? Was that space then turned into “system data?” How do you get rid of system data?

Well, from what I read on different blogs and Apple support articles, all you can really do is offload unused apps, get rid of messages, clear out caches in different apps, etc. but that’s not really getting rid of system data…and I’ve noticed my phone seemingly getting sluggish over the last few weeks after offloading a ton of movies from traveling recently. It basically turned that data into system data. So here’s the trick…

If you have an iPhone capable of shooting ProRes video, go into your camera, go into video mode, and enable ProRes. You’ll notice a ticker at the top that tells you the maximum amount of time you can shoot in this mode. It will more than likely be 0 minutes, but you will see right below that a spinning ticker saying “optimizing resources.” This is getting rid of that system data that’s unneeded. I just left my phone in this mode for a few minutes and it freed up five minutes worth of video, but then gave me the option to continue free resources. It essentially got rid of the rest of the system data that wasn’t needed and left me with the free space above!

Hope this helps!

I deleted all unused apps and don’t have any to delete, photos aren’t a problem as you can see but it says that system data is using 13 GB. Is there a way to clean up system data that isn’t used or important and it’s just taking up space ?

This has been moved here as my original post was removed in a separate subreddit for an unknown reason.

This method still works as of iOS 26.2, but may take multiple tries. Send feedback to Apple to have this issue fixed. This method shouldn’t be required these many years later!

—

Hello,

So you may all be aware of the "date trick" for triggering maintenanced (a system process on iOS responsible for cache deletion and management) on iOS to invalidate and expunge System Data (caches) from the disk.

But, cache sometimes gets revalidated - as in System Data goes back to its original size - presumably because maintenanced doesn't finish its process before users set the date back, or because there is a scheduled maintenance period triggered by this date change to expunge the data that isn't triggered immediately (the change to storage after this maintenance period is shown in the Storage view in Settings but isn't actually freed at this time).

I have figured out a reliable way to prevent this, and to trigger maintenanced to immediately expunge all cache for good. As in, with this method, you can actually get iOS to immediately reduce System Data use on disk permanently.

Essentially, you need to set the date into the future, twice.

Read notes below before you begin.

Notes

Make sure you follow Step 3. Also, it's actually not recommended you do this consistently, as caches increase the performance of apps and iOS in general. This should only be done when it spirals out of control. For best results, perform this method when System Data is above 25GB.

I also recommend deleting and reinstalling Instagram and Discord, if you use them, as they seem to be the mostly sneaky apps camouflaging cache into System Data.

General Procedure

1. Check your current System Data use on iPhone

Storage settings.

2. Close all your apps.

3. Critical: Set your iMessages to stay around forever on iMessage settings on iPhone to avoid having your iMessages deleted! Go to Settings > iMessage > Message History > select 'Forever'. This is important.

4. Set your iPhone in Airplane Mode and turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off (this is to avoid anomalies with iCloud, Apple Watch and other apps).

5. After following step 3, change the date to 1 year into the future from the real date.

6. Wait 60 seconds. Keep your phone awake.

7. Check System Data use again. It should be much lower. If you don't see a change, close Settings, relaunch and keep checking.

8. Change the date to 3 months in the future from the real date (this is essentially 9 months in the past from the last setting).

9. Wait 60 seconds. Keep your phone awake.

10. Check System Data use again. It should be around the same or lower.

11. Change date back to ‘Automatic’.

12. Turn off Airplane Mode.

13. You're golden (hopefully)!

Hope this helps! If you hate having to do this, contact Apple.

—

Updated December 25th, 2025.

I already tried changing the time; force shutting down; clearing safari history but nothing helped. I can’t even use my phone like it’s taking up 36GB on my phone. Any help appreciated

Too much space taken by system data!

I’m fed up with this occupying my 16gb where as my iPhone has only 128 GB