Your iPhone is your companion for capturing life’s unforgettable moments. Whether it’s family gatherings or spontaneous adventures with friends, it holds your cherished memories. However, as time passes, your storage can fill up with apps, videos, photos, and downloads.
Don’t worry! You don’t have to sacrifice any memories to create space. Thanks to several built-in iOS features and some lesser-known tricks, you can easily clear hidden clutter and reclaim storage without deleting important files.
More free space means you can install the latest software updates, snap more photos, and download all the exciting new apps. Let’s dive into what you need to know.
Optimize Your iPhone Photos and Videos for Extra Storage
If you’re keen on keeping those precious memories (even your hilarious meme screenshots) while freeing up space, optimizing the photos and videos already on your device is your best bet.
By default, when you capture a photo or video, it’s saved in full resolution, which can occupy a significant amount of space. For instance, a minute of 4K video at 60fps takes up about 400MB—a hefty chunk of your storage!
To optimize your media, navigate to Settings > Photos and toggle on Optimize iPhone Storage (make sure you have iCloud Photos enabled first). Depending on how much media you have, this may take some time, but once done, you’ll notice a considerable increase in available space.
All your full-resolution photos and videos will be safely stored in iCloud, while lower-resolution versions remain on your device. If you ever need access to those high-res files, just open the Photos app and download what you need—though a decent internet connection is a must. Recent captures will often remain in full resolution, so you won’t have to download everything again.
If your iCloud storage is limited, upgrading is far easier than buying a new iPhone. In the US, you can get 50GB for just a dollar a month, with options for 200GB and 2TB available at $3 and $10 per month, respectively. Prices can vary by country.
To upgrade your iCloud, go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Buy More Storage. Following the instructions will get you set up. Plus, a paid iCloud subscription grants you access to iCloud+, which includes features like iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email.
Offload Your Largest Apps to Free Up Space
Chances are, not every application on your iPhone gets daily use. Some of them, like airline apps or music production tools, tend to take up unnecessary space. If you’re low on storage, consider offloading these apps.
If you need to download the latest iOS update (major updates like iOS 16 require over 5GB), offloading can be a quick solution. By going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, you can see which apps consume the most storage. Note that some built-in apps like Photos and Messages can’t be offloaded.
Select any sizable app you wish to offload, tap on it, and hit Offload App. After a brief wait, the app will be removed, but all your documents and data will remain intact on your device.
Offload as many apps as you need until you have enough space. If you wish to get an app back, simply visit your App Library and tap on the iCloud button to re-download it. When the offloaded app appears on your home screen, tapping it will restore it without requiring you to re-sign in.