Cleaning out your email Trash or Junk folders on your iPhone is an important step in keeping your inbox organized and your email storage under control. Messages in these folders don’t stay forever—they usually get deleted automatically after a set time—but you can also manually empty them at any time using the Mail app.
In this complete guide, we’ll explain how to empty the Trash or Junk folder in the Mail app on your iPhone, why it matters, how to do it for various email accounts (Gmail, iCloud, Outlook), and how to troubleshoot if the option isn’t working.
🧹 Why Empty the Trash or Junk Folder?
While iOS Mail automatically removes emails from these folders after 30 days (depending on server settings), doing it manually has several benefits:
- Frees up storage on your iPhone and mail server
- Protects your privacy by removing sensitive data
- Keeps your Mail app running smoothly
- Helps avoid clutter in search results
📨 What’s the Difference Between Trash and Junk?
| Folder | Purpose | Auto-delete Time (Usually) |
| Trash | Emails you manually delete | 30 days |
| Junk | Suspected spam or unwanted emails | 30 days |
You can empty either folder manually to permanently erase emails before the automatic deletion happens.
✅ How to Empty the Trash Folder in the Mail App
Steps:
- Open the Mail app on your iPhone.
- Tap Mailboxes in the upper-left corner to see all accounts and folders.
- Scroll to find the Trash folder under the specific email account (e.g., iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo).
- Tap Trash to view its contents.
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
- Tap Select All (if available) or tap individual messages.
- Tap Delete at the bottom to permanently remove the selected emails.
🔥 Once deleted from Trash, emails cannot be recovered.
✅ How to Empty the Junk Folder in the Mail App
Steps:
- Open the Mail app.
- Tap Mailboxes to return to the main view.
- Scroll to the Junk folder under the account.
- Tap to open the folder.
- Tap Edit > Select All or choose specific emails.
- Tap Delete to permanently remove them.
You can also move a legitimate message out of Junk by tapping Move to Inbox.
🛠 How to Use “Trash All” or “Delete All” Option
Some accounts offer a Trash All or Delete All shortcut.
To use:
- Open Mail > Trash or Junk.
- Tap Edit.
- If available, tap Delete All in the bottom corner.
- Confirm the deletion.
⚠️ This option may not appear for Gmail or some IMAP accounts due to provider restrictions.
📧 Account-Specific Instructions
iCloud Mail:
- Trash and Junk folders support Delete All
- Easily removed via Edit > Delete All
Gmail (via Mail app):
- Gmail folders behave as labels
- “Delete All” may not appear—use Edit > Select > Delete
- Alternatively, use the Gmail app for full control
Outlook/Hotmail:
- Similar steps apply
- “Delete All” option is usually available
📁 How to Empty Trash Using the Files App (for Attachments)
Emails with attachments may take up space in Mail’s storage.
To clear space:
- Go to Settings > iPhone Storage > Mail.
- Review storage usage.
- Delete old or large messages from Trash or Junk.
iOS does not offer a direct “clear attachments” tool, so deleting emails is the best way to reduce size.
🔧 Troubleshooting: Can’t Empty Trash or Junk?
Problem 1: “Delete All” Not Showing
- Not all accounts support bulk delete via the Mail app
- Try manually selecting all emails and deleting them
Problem 2: Deleted Messages Keep Reappearing
- Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > [Your Account]
- Ensure Mail is enabled
- Refresh mailbox by pulling down
- Consider removing and re-adding the account
Problem 3: Junk Email Keeps Coming Back
- Mark emails as Move to Junk instead of just deleting
- Use server-side filters (like Gmail or Outlook rules) for spam prevention
🧠 Expert Tips
- Enable VIP Senders to avoid losing important emails when emptying Junk
- Schedule a weekly or monthly inbox cleanup
- Consider using the official Gmail or Outlook apps if you want more control over Trash and Junk folders
📋 Summary Table
| Task | Steps |
| Empty Trash | Mail > Mailboxes > Trash > Edit > Select All > Delete |
| Empty Junk | Mail > Mailboxes > Junk > Edit > Select All > Delete |
| Use Delete All | Edit > Delete All (if available) |
| Remove from Junk | Open email > Move to Inbox |
| Gmail workaround | Use Gmail app or manually select and delete |
✅ Final Thoughts
Emptying the Trash or Junk folder on your iPhone helps you stay organized, protects your privacy, and reduces unnecessary storage use. While Apple Mail doesn’t always offer a one-click “Delete All” for every provider, there are still effective ways to clear out unwanted emails—whether you use iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo.
Take control of your inbox by regularly cleaning out these folders, and consider pairing this habit with scheduled inbox reviews to keep your Mail app running efficiently.
Meta Description:
Want to delete all emails in Trash or Junk on your iPhone? Learn how to empty these folders in the Mail app for iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, and more. Full guide included.
