Free up app storage

Free up Session storage

Session stores messages, photos, videos, and attachment cache on this phone. Official help: there is no message backup. Contacts and chats are local. Your Recovery Password restores the Account ID, not years of media. Save files you care about before you delete or reinstall.

See how much space Session is using

iPhone

1. Open the iPhone Settings app.
2. Tap General > iPhone Storage.
3. Tap Session.

Android

1. Open your phone Settings > Apps.
2. Tap Session.
3. Tap Storage or Storage and cache.

Session does not have a WhatsApp-style Free up Storage screen. Use the system total, then delete conversations or attachments inside the app.

Save your Recovery Password first

1. Open Session Settings (profile / gear).
2. Open Recovery Password or Account.
3. Write the words down and store them offline.

Session's FAQ: a restore brings back the Account ID. Messages still inside their time-to-live (about 14 days) can return. Older chats and attachments do not. Contacts need a device that was online within about 30 days.

Delete attachments from a conversation

1. Open the conversation.
2. Tap and hold a photo, video, or file.
3. Tap Delete.

That removes the local file. The other person keeps their copy. Session cannot recover a deleted attachment for you.

Delete a conversation

iPhone

1. On the conversation list, swipe left and tap Delete.
2. Or open the conversation, tap the avatar, then tap Delete Conversation.

Android

1. On the conversation list, press and hold the avatar, then tap Delete.
2. Or open the conversation, tap the avatar, then tap Delete Conversation.

Session's help: this deletes messages and attachments on your device only. The other person is not notified.

Delete a contact (also deletes the chat)

1. Open the conversation, tap the avatar.
2. Tap Delete Contact.

Official help: this also deletes the conversation, including attachments, on your devices. Future messages from that person arrive as a message request.

Clear Session cache on Android

1. Open your phone Settings > Apps > Session.
2. Tap Storage or Storage and cache.
3. Tap Clear cache.

Do not tap Clear storage / Clear data unless you mean to wipe Session. That deletes local encrypted chats. Your Recovery Password will not bring old media back.

iPhone does not offer a separate Session cache button. Delete conversations, or delete the app only after you saved the Recovery Password and any files you need.

Reinstall the app if storage is still high

If you already cleaned media and Session still looks huge, a fresh install can clear leftover cache and temp files that are hard to reach by hand.

1. Session has no message backup. Save your Recovery Password, and copy photos and files out of the app. After reinstall you can restore the Account ID. Older chats and attachments stay gone.
2. Delete the app from your phone.
3. Restart your phone.
4. Install Session again from the App Store or Google Play.
5. Sign in and restore from backup if the app offers it.

This often frees a lot of space. You may need to download some media again after restore.

What to do next

After Session is lighter, check your photo library for duplicates and similar shots. That is what Dedupo is for.

More app guides: Free up app storage.