How do I clear email storage on my iPhone 12?

Switching to IMAP from POP3 can significantly help reduce email storage on an iPhone. POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) downloads emails from the server and stores them locally on the device, often leaving copies on the server only temporarily. This means that as more emails arrive, they accumulate and consume storage space on the iPhone itself.

In contrast, IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) keeps emails stored on the mail server and only displays a synchronized copy on the device. This approach allows you to access the same mailbox from multiple devices while minimizing the amount of storage used on each one. Instead of downloading full emails and attachments by default, the iPhone retrieves them as needed, which can save a significant amount of space—especially if you receive a lot of emails with large attachments.

Additionally, IMAP makes it easier to manage your mailbox, as deleting or organizing emails on one device reflects those changes across all your devices. For users concerned with local storage, especially those using iPhones with lower capacities, switching to IMAP is a more efficient and scalable solution.