Tired of Apple Screwing Over iOS Users Again And Again.

[BondAMR]

I’m tired of getting screwed over by Apple with the iOS throttling time and time again. We all know about the “battery-gate” BS excuse a few years ago.

So what does Apple do, come up with another scam with the System Data sucking all the storage out of your phone to make it unusable again.

You can’t find any good tutorial on YouTube on how to fix it besides the trick of changing the date to next year, airplane mode, shutting down and restart.

No I don’t want to delete my apps, I just want my 12 GB’s of storagr space that Apple has commandeered and is holding hostage. Apple stop screwing me over again!

After being an iPhone user for the past 15 years, I’m now vowing to never buy another one again. I’m looking into Chinese phones now even though I hate Android software.

I can’t believe that I’m going this route, but what else can I do? Is there any way to get rid of this System Data “scam” feature forever and make my phone usable again?

 

[IWT]

My error. Now deleted.

 

[ferrarr]

Data security comes at a price. Enjoy your Android device.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I can’t believe that I’m going this route, but what else can I do? Is there any way to get rid of this System Data “scam” feature forever and make my phone usable again?

It's not a "scam". Like any other computer, caches baloon over time.

The easiest and quickest way that I've found to reduce things cached in storage is to go to:

Settings --> General --> iPhone Storage

and see which apps are taking up a huge amount of storage space. Usually there will be two or three that are just enormous. Right there in settings you can delete any such app, and then you can go to the App Store and download a fresh copy (which should be free, since youi've already paid for it.) That app will likely now be nice and svelte. Two types of apps seem to be big offenders here: news apps, and games. It seems that both like to download updated news, or updated levels, without purging the old ones. This isn't Apple's fault; it the fault of lazy programming by these apps developers.

If the above doesn't solve your problem, have a look at:

iPhone System Data and Other storage: What is it and how to get rid of it
https://www.macworld.com/article/23...rage-what-is-it-and-how-do-you-delete-it.html

 

[MacBiter]

It's the same with Audible - if you download a title to listen to it offline, then don't remove it when you've finished, all those titles take up more and more of your storage space .

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The System Data on my iPhone 15 Pro with 128 GB is 1.02 GB. So do some clean up to see if that'll get that space down..

 

[BondAMR]

When did this System Data feature first arrive on iOS? Maybe iOS 15 perhaps? So if it was such a needed feature then how come it wasn't put on any of the previous iOS's? I've never seen this problem before on any of my previous iPhones and iOS's and I've had I don't 6 or 7 or 8 iPhones I forget the number.

One of my biggest apps is Telegram, but I don't want to delete the app and reinstall it because then I will loose all the data that is saved on it. I don't use Chrome so there is nothing to clear there, I don't use Messages either. So there is nothing that I can find to get rid of to free up some space.

The System Data on my iPhone 15 Pro with 128 GB is 1.02 GB. So do some clean up to see if that'll get that space down..

How is that possible? I have the cheapola 64 GB size and my System Data is 12 GB. Do I really need 12 GB is cache size? Obviously not, which is why I say that this is another Apple scam like "batterygate" pushing frustrated users to go buy another iPhone. To then what, be in the same situation again later on.

Honestly, I wish that I could hack the phone back to iOS 12 or something so I don't have to deal with this. I can make do without a working Uber app or something insignificant. Does anyone know when this System Data feature first arrived in iOS?

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...which is why I say that this is another Apple scam like "batterygate" pushing frustrated users to go buy another iPhone.

Well, if you do some research into the instance you are referring to ("BatteryGate"), you will find that it had nothing to do with Apple trying to "push users to buy another phone." Apple's iPhone sales are all that they could ever hope for. There is and was no reason for Apple to do anything unethical to get folks to buy a new phone. That was an over-reaction by paranoid and childish people.

The source of the controversy was that users were complaining that as their phone got old, and the battery was on its last legs, their phone would suddenly quit, and they would lose data. Apple pushed out a solution to this that throttled the CPU in old phones to keep the phone from suddenly quitting.

Note that this throttling feature (for phones with old batteries) is still present in all current iPhones. However, now it is user adjustable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batte...he slowdown amounted to planned obsolescence.

Honestly, I wish that I could hack the phone back to iOS 12 or something so I don't have to deal with this.

Did you look at the article that I cited, and if so, did you try the fixes that it suggested?

https://www.macworld.com/article/23...rage-what-is-it-and-how-do-you-delete-it.html

We can't help you if you won't help yourself. Castigating Apple won't help. It will only **** the folks here off. If you are loath the try the suggestions in the article that I cited, your best bet would probably be to drop by an Apple brick and mortar store and have them fix your phone for you.

 

[Rod]

I can understand people getting pissed off at technology that doesn't work for them the way they hope it to but we have to deal with reality and part of that is progress.

I have a new entry level iPhone 16e the successor to the old SE series. As before and the time before that I still have 128GB of storage while my wife, an avid photographer, has 1TB.

Progress has meant apps are larger and create more data. Facebook is a good example, try deleting the app and its data then download it again, login and check your storage. You'll be surprised. Someone mentioned Audible, my wife uses a similar Talking Book app, she deletes everything after she listens to it. I have Spotify and I have quite a number of albums and tracks stored on my device for off line listening but I'm selective. I also have my entire Photo Library but I have ticked "Optimise iPhone Storage" which reduces the photos to thumbnails if I get short of space, but I'm not.

Even with 227 apps and 12,652 Photos I still have 63.41 GB free. If I only had 64Gb storage I'd be full too.



As you can see my System Data is only 1.07GB not to be confused with the iOS 21.63GB

You'll notice I could immediately reclaim 128.6MB by removing my Mail attachments but I don't need to.

So, for starters your 64GB is simply not enough storage these days and hasn't been for quite some time, just as 256GB on a Mac is unworkable today, if it's even an option any more. 500GB storage is minimum but I have made do with that for the last three Macs I've bought and currently have 203GB free on my M1 MBP.

How have I done that? By applying the advice given in the previous posts in this thread.

My suggestion would be to perform a spring clean on your iPhone. Scrap anything you don't use frequently along with it's data where possible. You can always re download. Sadly Telegram is a memory hog but I use WhatsApp incessantly here in Indonesia its the primary form of communication and business but even that only uses 837.4MB and I keep all my messages including attachments.

Alternatively, assuming you Backup your iPhone to iCloud automatically (if not use "Backup Now") you could erase and reset your iPhone to Factory Settings then Restore it from iCloud. First check you are backing up all the essential apps in iCloud Settings. This takes a bit of time depending on your internet speed but an iPhone Backup to iCloud is encrypted by default so all of your settings, passwords and preferences will be restored, minus a lot of junk data accumulated by your apps and system. I can guarantee you will gain significant free storage.

If you are a bit concerned about such a radical step you can and should do an encrypted backup to your Mac via USB cable and do save the password physically and to your keychain. That way you can always restore from your Mac if necessary.

Last but not least, you don't say what iPhone you currently have (or I can't find it) but I'd suggest you think long and hard about trading it in on a new or same model with at least 128GB of storage.

I traded my iPhone 13 Pro Max in to Apple, something I've never done before, on this current iPhone 16e. I got more than 1/2 the price of the new phone in trade in making it a very viable purchase. Don't believe everything you read in social media gossip pages, there is no conspiracy, Apple isn't trying to "rip us off" at least no more so than any other American corporate giant and probably less than some.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

When did this System Data feature first arrive on iOS? Maybe iOS 15 perhaps? So if it was such a needed feature then how come it wasn't put on any of the previous iOS's? I've never seen this problem before on any of my previous iPhones and iOS's and I've had I don't 6 or 7 or 8 iPhones I forget the number.

One of my biggest apps is Telegram, but I don't want to delete the app and reinstall it because then I will loose all the data that is saved on it. I don't use Chrome so there is nothing to clear there, I don't use Messages either. So there is nothing that I can find to get rid of to free up some space.

How is that possible? I have the cheapola 64 GB size and my System Data is 12 GB. Do I really need 12 GB is cache size? Obviously not, which is why I say that this is another Apple scam like "batterygate" pushing frustrated users to go buy another iPhone. To then what, be in the same situation again later on.

Honestly, I wish that I could hack the phone back to iOS 12 or something so I don't have to deal with this. I can make do without a working Uber app or something insignificant. Does anyone know when this System Data feature first arrived in iOS?

The cache all depends on usage and so on.

First thing to do is to just do a regular power cycle, and check the value on the System Data. If that doesn't fluctuate much, then do a force restart which clears the cache and see what the value is.

Report back on what you find and we'll take it from there.

 

[ferrarr]

This force restart,

Force restart iPhone

If iPhone isn’t responding, try forcing it to restart.

support.apple.com

 

[ferrarr]

Mine went from 12 GB down to 9.3 after regular restart. Then after a force restart went down to 7.45 GB.

 

[BondAMR]

Well, if you do some research into the instance you are referring to ("BatteryGate"), you will find that it had nothing to do with Apple trying to "push users to buy another phone."

I've done alot of research on it and with a logical approach it makes tremendous sense that Apple or any other phone maker would do such a thing on purpose to drive sales.

Why else would they secretly push update patches, at night, during sleep cycles, when the user has manually turned off automatic update features. Their guilt is shown right there.

Note that this throttling feature (for phones with old batteries) is still present in all current iPhones. However, now it is user adjustable.

Where is this on iOS 17? I don't think I have ever found and adjusted that.

Did you look at the article that I cited, and if so, did you try the fixes that it suggested?

Yes, but I don't want to delete my apps and reinstall it because then I will loose all the data that is saved on it. I don't use Safari (I said Chrome before my mistake) so there is nothing to clear there, I don't use Messages either. So there is nothing that I can find to get rid of to free up some space.

...And really, I shouldn't have to do these procedures at all just to free up some space. Doing a radical fix like the 'Nuclear Option' why should a user need to do this in the first place, (every few months?). These acts right there alone shows this System Data swallowing up space is poor intended and borderline unethical.

There is absolutely no one on the internet on any forum in any space or review that actually likes this System Data feature and has been yelling at Apple for a simple 'Clear Cache' manual button for users. Literally everyone hates it, yet Apple keeps it.

It's like another feature of 'Optimized Battery Charging' to 80% that again no one at all likes or wants to have but can't turn off while Apple still covers their ears and eyes for hear-no-evil-see-no-evil.

 

[BondAMR]

@Rod actually I don't use Facebook and I don't have the app, nor Audible or Spotify either. I don't have many apps that take up space besides Telegram only. Deleting that and reinstalling it would wipe out all my of my saved data.

I probably have the same number of apps as you, around 200 (how do you get the full accurate count?) but I don't have 12,000+ photos like yours, I have only 90 photos and I'm at the same 64 GB size as you are.

Yes, 64 GB is the smallest size for any smartphone but I use it in very limited purposes. I don't stream videos, play games, watch movies, nothing heavy. I use the phone for only simple stuff when on-the-go; phone calls, taxi apps, store apps, news, etc.

I use the phone very little when at home because I'll use a computer instead. If I traded it in for a 128 GB then the System Data would eat up all the extra space again where I would have less than 1 GB with the same little use. I would be in the same spot I'm in now.

"at least no more so than any other American corporate giant and probably less than some." ...so they are all trying to rip us off to some degree, figures :/ haha

 

[IWT]

It's like another feature of 'Optimized Battery Charging' to 80% that again no one at all likes or wants to have but can't turn off

Not quite accurate. Under Settings > Battery there are a number of options. For example > Charging you can limit the charging to 100, 95, 90, 85, 80, per cent.

Alternatively you can Turn On or Turn Off "Optimised Battery Charging".

So there are a number of options. You can choose one of them or none.

There is also a fairly detailed list of other data of interest.

So, it's not quite what you posted. Of course, the options have increased year by year.

Ian

 

[BondAMR]

Then do a force restart which clears the cache and see what the value is.

Report back on what you find and we'll take it from there.

...I'm trying to do this but my phone won't shut down for some reason.

3) Press and hold the side button. ...for how long? nothing happens.

@ferrarr I'm following your link but not getting your results, I'm getting no results.

 

[BondAMR]

Not quite accurate. Under Settings > Battery there are a number of options. For example > Charging you can limit the charging to 100, 95, 90, 85, 80, per cent.

Alternatively you can Turn On or Turn Off "Optimised Battery Charging".

So there are a number of options. You can choose one of them or none.

There is also a fairly detailed list of other data of interest.

So, it's not quite what you posted. Of course, the options have increased year by year.

Ian

hello, on what iOS are you describing? I don't think I have that feature.

and Turning off "Optimised Battery Charging" does nothing, it still does it.

 

[MacInWin]

To set battery, tap Settings. Then tap Battery. Then tap Charging. iOS version 18.4.1, but it's been there a while.

As for "Optimized Battery Charging," when it's off, it's off, at least for me. I like it optimized as I leave the iPhone on a charging stand beside my bed as a clock, but if you don't want it, turn it off.

To force the restart, you press the volume up/down buttons very quickly, then quickly press and hold the other button for about 10 seconds to force the reboot. It has to be quick.

And finally, if Apple really was sabotaging iPhones, there would be a public uproar that would drive them out of business. That is not a good business strategy, particularly for a company that wants to be known for quality.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

...I'm trying to do this but my phone won't shut down for some reason.

3) Press and hold the side button. ...for how long? nothing happens.

@ferrarr I'm following your link but not getting your results, I'm getting no results.

You don't say what iPhone you have.

But you hold down the power (side) button for about 5 or so seconds and you'll see the Apple logo. You just hold it until you see the logo.

 

[IWT]

@BondAMR

The Force-Restart action does depend on the age of the iPhone and its iOS.

Click one the Link below. When it opens, it will be "set" for iOS 18; but you can Click on the iOS and a drop-down will allow you to choose the exact iOS for your iPhone.

Then read and follow the instructions:

Force restart iPhone

If iPhone isn’t responding, try forcing it to restart.

support.apple.com

Ian