Empty the Trash Folder in iCloud Mail to Create More Space

Your free iCloud account comes with 5GB of storage space. However, that space is used by more than just your Mail account. It is accessible for use with iCloud Drive documents, Notes, Reminders, Contacts, Photos, Calendar, and several applications including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Although Apple is happy to sell you additional storage space if you want it, you might prefer to reduce your usage to less than 5GB by removing files you no longer need from iCloud.

If iCloud Mail hints that your disk space running low, or if you just want to get rid of deleted messages quickly, it's time to empty the Trash folder. You can open the folder, highlight all mail and delete it, but you can also avoid opening the folder and use a toolbar menu item instead.

Empty the Trash Quickly in iCloud Mail 

To permanently delete all messages in your iCloud Mail Trash folder quickly:

1. Log in to your iCloud account in your favorite browser.
2. Click on the Mail icon to open iCloud Mail.
3. Click the Actions gear at the bottom of the iCloud Mail sidebar.
4. Select Empty Trash from the menu that comes up.

If you do not empty the Trash, messages in it are automatically be deleted after 30 days.

Erase Messages Immediately

You can also make iCloud Mail delete messages immediately instead of moving them to the Trash folder. To do this:

1. Click the Actions gear at the bottom of the iCloud Mail sidebar and choose Preferences.
2. Click the General tab.
3. In the Mailbox section, remove the check mark in front of Move deleted messages to.
4. Click Done.