9 iPhone Hacks To Free Up Storage Space
If you're tired of seeing notifications to address your shrinking iPhone memory, try a few of these tips to clear some extra space.
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Most of us have seen the annoying notification after downloading one too many apps: "Your iPhone storage is almost full."
It's a daily tech challenge, especially for those who like to try the latest mobile apps, download new music, or take pictures everywhere they go. Sometimes, it seems, no matter how much storage an iPhone has, it simply isn't enough.
Freeing up extra iPhone space can be a challenge, because clearing out your phone is like cleaning out your closet. Even if you never use an app, it can suddenly seem crucial when it comes time to get rid of it.
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Well, maybe you don't have to get rid of all your apps. There are a few simple tricks that could make a significant difference in your storage allotment without clearing out apps you don't use often -- or, worse, parting with those you use each day.
Before you start hitting "delete," take a look through these hacks for less dramatic ways of opening up virtual space. Some are more effective than others, but all will give you some much-needed storage.
Did we miss any crucial space-saving tricks in this roundup? How do you keep your iPhone storage from hitting capacity? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below.
Your iPhone records how much data is being used by each app. Check out which ones are taking up the most space by going to Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage. Click "Manage Storage" to identify the apps making the biggest dent in your storage capacity.
After you see which apps are taking up the most space, you'll have a better idea of which ones should be deleted. Get rid of any apps you no longer use, especially those that require a significant amount of space. If you can't remember the last time you used an app, chances are you won't miss it after you delete it.
If you need to free up some extra space, the Photos app will likely be your first stop. There's a good chance you have several sets of duplicate photos from multiple attempts at trying to get the perfect shot.
You're likely taking up even more space if you're using HDR to optimize image quality, because this feature saves two photos each time. Save space by deleting non-HDR pictures, and turn off the automatic photo-saving by going to Settings > Photos & Camera and switch off "Keep Normal Photo."
For maximum storage, transfer photos and videos to an app such as Dropbox or Google Photos, then delete them from your device.
Your browser history could be taking up more space then you know. Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data to get rid of the excess data. It's worth noting this will delete your login information for different websites, so you'll have to re-enter it if it's saved.
It's not worth the space to hold onto old text conversations for weeks or months after they occur. Minimize the damage by going to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages. "Forever" is the default setting here. Choose "Switch to 30 Days," and messages will be deleted after that time period.
If there are certain apps you use often, their data may be taking up much of your storage allotment. Delete old messages from apps such as WhatsApp and Viber to free up extra space.
Some apps, like WhatsApp, automatically save photos, audio, and video when a message is received. This is a huge storage drain, especially if you frequently use these apps and files accumulate over time. You can change this within WhatsApp by going to Settings > Data Usage and switching "Media Auto-Download" to "Never" for images, audio, video, and documents.
Instagram, another example, automatically saves photos edited in the app, but doesn't delete the originals. That process adds an extra photo to your camera roll each time you edit an image. The storage needed isn't much at first but can add up over time. You can automatically delete original photos within the app by going to Settings and disabling "Save Original Photos."
The music library is another good place to make room if your storage is close to capacity. You can start by deleting songs you no longer listen to. Switching to the cloud can save even more space. Maximize storage by keeping a few favorite tunes on your phone and switching to a cloud-based service, such as Spotify or Apple Music.
This is the most extreme, albeit effective, means of freeing up storage space on your iPhone. A factory reset deletes all media and data stored on the device, and has to be done via iTunes. Connect your iPhone to your computer, select the device in iTunes, and click Summary. You'll see an option called Restore iPhone, which you can select to go through the steps for a factory reset.
This is the most extreme, albeit effective, means of freeing up storage space on your iPhone. A factory reset deletes all media and data stored on the device, and has to be done via iTunes. Connect your iPhone to your computer, select the device in iTunes, and click Summary. You'll see an option called Restore iPhone, which you can select to go through the steps for a factory reset.
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