Support
Getting started
How do I run my first scan?
Open the Photos tab and tap Start scan. The first time, CleanSpacePhone asks for access to your photo library. You can grant Full or Limited access — the app works with both.
The app is asking for Photos access. Is that safe?
Yes. The Photos permission lets CleanSpacePhone read thumbnails and metadata via Apple's standard PHPhotoLibrary framework. None of this content leaves your device. You can revoke access at any time in Settings › CleanSpace.
Scans and deletions
Why doesn't the scan find duplicates I can clearly see?
CleanSpacePhone is intentionally conservative. Exact duplicates need to match on file size and pixel dimensions; visually similar shots must fall within a strict perceptual-hash distance. If you suspect a miss, tap the refresh icon on the Photos tab to re-run the scan after enabling Full Photos access.
Did I just permanently delete a photo?
No. CleanSpacePhone deletes photos via Apple's Photos framework, so items move to Photos › Recently Deleted. Open Photos, scroll to the bottom, tap Recently Deleted, and you can restore anything for 30 days.
Can I clean other apps' caches (Messages, Safari, …)?
No. iOS sandboxing forbids any third-party app from reading or writing into another app's container. Any "iPhone cleaner" claiming to do this is incorrect. To clear those caches you must use the app's own settings, or Settings › General › iPhone Storage and offload the app.
Why are large videos shown as a separate category?
Large videos (over 200 MB) are usually the single biggest source of recoverable space on iPhone. We surface them flat so you can review them quickly, with the option to use the Video tools tab to compress before deleting the original.
Files cleaner
Why does the app need me to "pick a folder"?
iOS gives third-party apps file access only through the Files picker. When you pick a folder, CleanSpacePhone receives a security-scoped bookmark — the scope ends with the scan, and we can only read inside what you picked.
What does duplicate detection look at?
First we group files by exact byte-size, then compute a SHA-256 hash only over groups with two or more files. That keeps scans fast even on large folders.
Secure Vault
Where are vault items stored?
Inside the app's sandbox in applicationSupportDirectory/Vault/, AES-256 GCM encrypted with a symmetric key held in the iOS Keychain. The key never leaves the device.
What happens if I uninstall the app?
iOS removes the app sandbox and the keychain entry. Vault items cannot be recovered after uninstall. If you plan to remove the app, export the items first using the share sheet from the vault preview.
I changed my passcode — do I lose vault access?
No. The vault is gated by biometric or device-owner authentication, not by your passcode value. Changing the passcode is fine.
Permissions, notifications, languages
Why doesn't a feature work?
Almost always a missing permission. Open Settings › CleanSpace and confirm Photos, Contacts, Calendar, and Notifications are set as you intend.
How do I turn off storage habit reminders?
Open the Habits screen and toggle Remind me when I'm running low off, then tap Save goal.
What languages is the app available in?
Over 100 locales. The app follows your iOS language setting automatically.
Contact
Still stuck? Write a short note with your device model, iOS version, and what you were doing when the issue occurred to hello@cleanspacephone.com. We read every message.