Why is Mail app using 145GB of storage on my iPhone?

Question

thebrittford Author

Level 1

5 points

Why is Mail app using 145GB of storage on my iPhone?

I have a 256gb iphone-

Apple mail is currently sucking up 145gb.

I used to have my Gmail accounts signed in through Apple Mail.

but I decided to download the gmail app and use it, and deleted the gmail accounts from Apple Mail.

so the only thing left in Apple Mail is the icloud email account, which gets the occasional receipt from Apple.

BUT, over the past year, the Apple Mail app keeps consuming more and more memory.

I went to Apple store, they couldn't help but solicit me to just buy a newer phone with more memory...

I searched online, tried all the different suggestions, including deleting mail app, signing out and deleting all the gmail and google stuff on the phone, still the issue persists.

any good suggestions are welcomed.

I see a lot of people have had similar issues, and end up walking away to other phones.

i really wish apple would solve this

[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 8 Plus, iOS 16

Posted on May 2, 2025 8:56 PM

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Answer 1

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

60,422 points

May 4, 2025 9:31 PM in response to thebrittford

I have seen that reported a couple of times as well, all when a Google account has been added, although I do not know if that is related or why that would make a difference. The solutions provided have been either:

Wait a couple of hours as it appeared to take along time for the data to be deleted for some reason.
Restore phone using a computer.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings using a computer - Apple Support

Something I would also try while it is still showing the cloud symbol after deleting is a Force Restart:

Press and quickly release Volume Up button
Press and quickly release Volume Down button
Press and hold side button until the Apple Logo appears. This could take up to 15 seconds and you will want to ignore anything else on the screen during that time while holding the side button.

And of course a call directly to Apple Support may be warranted:

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

60,422 points

May 3, 2025 1:47 PM in response to thebrittford

What do you mean by the Mail app won't completely Delete? You don't want to Offload the app as that will keep any data stored on your device, it will have to be deleted. You can also go to Setting > General > iPhone Storage > Mail, and choose the Delete App option there.

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Answer 3

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

60,422 points

May 2, 2025 9:07 PM in response to thebrittford

Delete the Mail app if you have no use for it. It won't be consuming any memory if it does not exist. You can add your iCloud account to Gmail if you want to.

Set up iCloud for third-party apps on all your devices - Apple Support (BH)

You are the first person I have seen with a problem with Mail on the iPhone consuming excessive storage space and a search on this Support Site showed 1 case 2 years ago, but had no follow up. Not sure where these people are that have this problem and walking away from their iPhones.

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Answer 4

thebrittford Author

Level 1

5 points

May 3, 2025 12:57 PM in response to Robcarew

I have been searching and searching for an answer to this-

my only conclusion is that the Apple Mail app won't disconnect from my gmail accounts that I once had signed into with the Apple Mail app.

I found on another forum about signing back in to those gmail accounts with Apple Mail, so i added Apple Mail back to my phone, added the Gmail accounts back on, then re-deleted the Gmail accounts and then deleted the Apple Mail account.

that didn't work.

I deleted all gmail accounts and google stuff off of my iphone, still no change.

the Apple Mail app won't completely delete (still just sits there hogging up memory).

I tried going the route of going through Gmail on a laptop to try and disconnect from Gmail side, but it is just showing that my phone is accessing those gmail accounts, not that the Apple Mail app is specifically.

I have the latest software update.

not sure what to do at this point....

and Apple doesn't seem to want to help, as noted above

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Answer 5

thebrittford Author

Level 1

5 points

May 3, 2025 6:22 AM in response to Mac Jim ID

I have deleted the mail app- the files stay on the phone and still sucks up a ton of memory.

as stated, I have tried several ways suggested on Apple forums and other forums, none of them work.

I went to the Apple store, their solution was to delete the mail app, and when that didn't work, they said to just upgrade your phone to one of the newer ones with more memory...

and you are correct, there aren't a lot of cases still mentioned on Apple Community about this, but there are other online forums that have this issue mentioned a lot, and the frustration level is high because Apple's resolve to them is to do as just stated, delete the mail app and if that doesn't help just buy a new phone...

if Apple would actually allow people to see the "file" in the Apple Mail app, just like other apps, then this could probably be resolved, but they won't.

I just want the apple mail app to stop sucking up all the memory on my phone- which apple can't even fix (or wont)

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Answer 6

thebrittford Author

Level 1

5 points

May 4, 2025 6:33 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

I have "deleted" the app that way, never "offload"

yet the Mail app icon just stays and the little icon appears next to it, showing it is able to be re-downloaded

I read elsewhere, people deleted the Mail app, and it took them restarting their phone 10-12 times for it finally to go away. I have tried this, and it won't go away.

pics below

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Answer 7

thebrittford Author

Level 1

5 points

May 6, 2025 7:42 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

thanks for the suggestions and steps.

I tried the second part (hard restart, etc), it didn't work.

I tried the first part (wiping and restoring phone)- it kind of worked....

the mail app was gone, but there is a segment of memory still being consumed by what i would call uncategorized files? (presume it is still the mail app files?). and after 24 hours, it is still there too.

see photo. I guess this is just some bad luck or something?

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