The Tool Desk
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Empty deleted photos and videos
Photos and videos deleted in the Photos app stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days unless you remove them sooner. To empty that album:
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- Open Photos and tap Collections.
- Swipe up and tap Recently Deleted under Utilities.
- Tap View Album and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode if prompted.
- Tap Select, choose the items to remove, then tap Delete. Use Delete All in the selection flow if it is available and you intend to remove every item.
- Confirm the deletion.
Apple says items otherwise remain there for 30 days. Once deleted from Recently Deleted, they cannot be recovered through that album. If iCloud Photos is on, deleting an item on your iPhone also deletes it from other devices signed in to the same Apple Account. Photos added by connecting the iPhone to a computer may not be deletable directly in Photos. Apple’s instructions for deleting photos and videos cover the album and its behavior.
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Messages has its own Recently Deleted area. Deleted messages and attachments can remain there for up to 30 days, during which Apple says they can be recovered.
#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
- Open Messages and go to the conversation list.
- Tap Filter at the top, then tap Recently Deleted.
- Select the conversations containing messages you want to remove permanently.
- Tap Delete, then confirm Delete.
Permanent deletion cannot be undone. If Messages in iCloud is enabled, deleting a message or conversation on your iPhone also deletes it from your other devices where Messages in iCloud is enabled. It does not delete the message from the recipient’s device. See Apple’s guidance on deleting and recovering messages for details.
Empty Recently Deleted in Notes
Notes keeps deleted notes in Recently Deleted for 30 days by default. To remove one sooner:
Rank #2
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000nits (typ), 2000nits (HBM), 2556x1179px at 460ppi, 3561mAh Battery
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz), Apple GPU 5-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
- Open Notes and go to the folder list.
- Tap Recently Deleted.
- Swipe left on a note, tap Delete, then confirm Delete Note.
You can recover or permanently delete notes in this folder during the retention period. If Recently Deleted does not appear, Apple says there are no notes in it. There is an important exception for a shared note you do not own: deleting it removes it from your list, but it does not go to your Recently Deleted folder. The original shared link may still open it unless the owner stops sharing. Apple explains how to delete and recover notes.
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Review the Trash mailbox in Mail
Mail uses a Trash mailbox, not a single trash folder for every account on the iPhone. To review deleted email, open Mail, go to Mailboxes, and open Trash for the relevant account. The exact controls and retention behavior can depend on the email provider, so check the account’s mailbox and service settings before assuming one procedure applies to every account.
Rank #3
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
For iCloud Mail, Apple says deleted messages are not kept for more than 30 days—even if the setting is Never. Apple’s iPhone guide to deleting and recovering email describes Mail’s controls.
Delete Voice Memos permanently
For recordings stored with Voice Memos in iCloud, first delete the recordings, then clear them from Recently Deleted:
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
- Open Voice Memos and tap All Recordings.
- Select the recordings to remove and delete them.
- Open Recently Deleted and select the memo.
- Tap Delete, then confirm Delete Forever.
Apple advises making a copy or archiving information before deleting iCloud data. Its iCloud storage guidance includes Voice Memos among the content you can review.
If your goal is to free iCloud storage
Clearing one app’s Recently Deleted folder is not the same as using a universal iPhone trash command. If you want to see what is taking up iCloud storage, on supported iOS and iPadOS versions go to Settings > your name > iCloud > Recommended for You. Apple lists options for reviewing items such as photos, files, messages and attachments, Mail content, and Voice Memos. This screen helps manage iCloud content; it does not empty every app’s deleted-items area in one step. Before deleting, make a copy or archive anything you may need, as Apple recommends in its iCloud storage instructions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 2532x1170px at 460ppi, 4005mAh Battery
- 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- Connectivity: Global 4G LTE, Sub-6 GHz 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Wireless Charging (7.5W). (does not have mmWave 5G or MagSafe or physical SIM card) - Dual eSIM Only
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
Check before confirming permanent deletion
- Verify the app, account, and selected items before confirming.
- Check whether iCloud Photos or Messages in iCloud is enabled if you do not want deletion to propagate to your other devices.
- Remember that deleting from an app’s Recently Deleted area may be irreversible; it is not the same as erasing all content and settings on your iPhone.
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