The iPhone is unparalleled for capturing those unforgettable moments, whether it’s a sunlit beach day with friends or a stunning sunset. However, as you snap pictures and record videos, the storage can quickly dwindle, leading to the unwelcome alert that you’re running low on space.
Before resorting to deleting your cherished vacation snaps or coughing up for a pricier model, take a moment to relax. There’s no need to bid farewell to precious memories when you can liberate storage space effortlessly using built-in iOS features and some handy tricks.
Thanks to your iPhone, it’s simple to reclaim storage space without losing the things that truly matter. Enhanced storage lets you download the latest software updates, capture more photos and videos, and install additional apps. Here are the top strategies to get started.
Optimize Photos and Videos for More Storage
If you aim to preserve your favorite memories while also freeing up storage, optimizing the photos and videos on your device is the most straightforward method. By default, your iPhone saves every photo and video in full resolution, which can consume quite a bit of storage space. For instance, a minute of 4K video at 60fps takes up around 400MB – that’s nearly half a gigabyte!
To optimize your media, navigate to Settings > Photos and toggle on Optimize iPhone Storage (the iCloud Photos feature needs to be enabled). Depending on your collection size, this process can take a while, but once complete, you’ll notice a significant increase in available space.
In this process, your full-resolution photos and videos are transferred to iCloud, while smaller, lower-resolution versions remain on your device, consuming less storage. You can still access higher-quality files through the Photos app as needed, although it requires a stable internet connection. If your current iCloud storage is insufficient, it’s often easier to upgrade your cloud storage than invest in a new device. U.S. users can increase to 50GB for just a dollar a month, or opt for larger plans, which vary depending on the region.
To upgrade your iCloud storage, go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Buy More Storage. Choose the desired plan and follow the prompts. Plus, subscribing to any paid iCloud plan grants access to iCloud+, enhancing your experience with features like iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email.
Offload Largest Apps to Free Up Space
Chances are, you don’t actively use every app on your iPhone. Many applications like airline apps or specialized photo editors may sit untouched, accumulating data. When storage runs low, offloading apps becomes an ideal option, especially when preparing for a major software update.
To install updates like iOS 16, which might require over 5GB, you can quickly offload seldom-used apps. Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see which apps consume the most space. Note that some essential apps, such as Photos and Messages, cannot be offloaded.
If you spot an app that’s taking up significant space, tap on it and select Offload App. This removes the app from your device while keeping its data intact, acting as a temporary solution until you have adequate storage. After offloading, the app, along with its documents, remains in a dormant state, giving you the option to reinstall it through your App Library or from the home screen by tapping the iCloud icon. Notably, you’ll retain your login and data, so it feels seamless when you return to use it.