iOS app delete download does not release memory space back to device

[brian5678 7]

iOS app delete download does not release memory space back to device.  

Problem can be seen by iOS setting->general->iPhone Storage  "Emby use storage" & quit settings.  Delete video media downloaded into emby. Quit Emby. Reopen settings and notice Emby still uses up same amount of storage.

Delete app and reinstall it and the Emby App used data is now released.

[pwhodges 2012]

But if you download something else, does it add to the memory usage, or does it re-use the memory that you expected to be released?

Paul

[Luke 42077]

Hi, can you please provide a specific example? Thanks.

[brian5678 7]

The user downloads a bunch of video media into Emby app to travel, filling phone storage.  Upon returning from trip needs to delete the media so the phone has memory storage to be usable again.  Emby app does not release its data storage used on phone after downloads are deleted in Emby app.

[Luke 42077]

@brian5678did you give it a little time or did you check immediately? The deletion actually happens on the next run of the app's background refresh process.

That's something we need to look at improving to make it a little more immediate, but that's what it currently does.

[brian5678 7]

On 8/2/2023 at 10:01 PM, Luke said:

@brian5678did you give it a little time or did you check immediately? The deletion actually happens on the next run of the app's background refresh process.

That's something we need to look at improving to make it a little more immediate, but that's what it currently does.

I have been waiting for over 5 days for the 4+GB of Emby app data to be released back to the device.  Emby app 2.2.10 has had NO downloaded titles on to it, or pending downloads since the 8/20.

[Luke 42077]

OK then I would try clearing the data and seeing if you can get it to happen again with 2.2.11. Thanks.

[josh1121 0]

I know that this is a super old thread, but I don't see any newer threads on it. I am on 2.2.4.1 and the issue is still happening. Emby was holding onto 176GB, I erased the downloads, and it wouldn't free up the storage until I uninstalled Emby completely. Problem is I don't want to have to get rid of all my downloads, I'd like to be able to manage them and balance what I have watched with storage usage. If you have any ideas, let me know. Thanks. 

[issmail82 6]

Lucky that you mange to download at all

[Luke 42077]

HI, what I would suggest is clearing app data as a one-time measure. Then please let us know if you run into this again on the latest version of the app. Thanks !

[rechigo 364]

On 9/30/2025 at 4:23 PM, Luke said:

HI, what I would suggest is clearing app data as a one-time measure. Then please let us know if you run into this again on the latest version of the app. Thanks !

Luke, when is the download manager going to be completely revamped? I (WE) run into issues constantly on both Android and iOS... The download manager has quite frankly SUCKED throughout its entire existence, and its never gotten the necessary love and attention to make it behave reliable. It was something that truly bummed me when I started using Emby again, I had really hoped you guys would have dedicated more resources to it considering how many people complain about it.

[Luke 42077]

On 10/1/2025 at 9:42 PM, rechigo said:

Luke, when is the download manager going to be completely revamped? I (WE) run into issues constantly on both Android and iOS... The download manager has quite frankly SUCKED throughout its entire existence, and its never gotten the necessary love and attention to make it behave reliable. It was something that truly bummed me when I started using Emby again, I had really hoped you guys would have dedicated more resources to it considering how many people complain about it.

HI, yes we are constantly working on improving the download process.