Get the Most Out of Your Phone’s Storage with These Simple Tips

Running out of storage on your phone is one of the most frustrating problems. The warnings and lags could suddenly pop up when you’re trying to take a new photo, download an app, or update your phone. And gosh, you’re stopped in your tracks. Luckily, with a few easy steps, you can free up space and get the most out of your phone’s storage. Here’s how to do it.

 

1. Clear App Cache

Apps store data to help them run faster, but over time, this data can take up a lot of space. Clearing the cache won’t delete your important data, like photos or messages, but it will free up storage used by unnecessary files. Just go to Settings, select Storage, tap on Apps, find the app you want to clear the cache for, tap Clear Cache. Done!

 

2. Delete Unused Apps

We often keep apps on our phones that we no longer use. These apps can take up valuable space. Regularly check your apps and delete the ones you don’t need anymore. Simply go to Settings, select Apps, choose the app you want to uninstall, tap Uninstall. Or better still, on your homepage, hold down on the app you want to install and click on ‘uninstall’. It will be done in seconds. 

 

3. Move Photos and Videos to Cloud Storage

Photos and videos take up a lot of space, especially if you have thousands of them. Using cloud storage services like Google Photos, iCloud, or OneDrive allows you to back up your media and free up space on your phone. Open the cloud storage app (e.g., Google Photos), select the photos and videos you want to back up, tap Upload. After confirming they’ve been uploaded, delete the local copies on your phone

 

4. Use External Storage (SD Card)

If your phone supports an SD card, this is a great way to increase your storage. You can store photos, music, and videos on the SD card, leaving more space for apps and system data on your phone. Just insert the SD card into your phone, go to Settings, select Storage, choose SD Card, move files from internal storage to the SD card.  For some phones, you can also connect a USB drive via an OTG (On-The-Go) adapter to store files externally.

 

5. Clear Downloads Folder

The Downloads folder can quickly fill up with files you no longer need, like old PDFs, images, or documents. Regularly check this folder and delete anything that’s taking up space. Open the Files app (or any file manager app), go to Downloads, delete any unnecessary files.

 

6. Manage Music and Podcasts

Music and podcasts are great, but they can take up a lot of space. Consider deleting songs or podcasts you no longer listen to or move them to cloud storage. Go to your Music or Podcast app, find the items you no longer need, delete or move them to an external storage option. 

 

7. Delete Old Text Messages

Text messages, especially those with media attachments like photos and videos, can accumulate and take up storage space. If you don’t need them anymore, delete old conversations. Open the Messages app, select conversations you no longer need, tap Delete.

 

8. Enable Storage Optimizer

Many phones have a built-in storage optimizer tool that can help clean up unnecessary files and improve performance. Go to Settings, select Storage, look for the Storage Management or Storage Optimizer option, follow the prompts to clean up unused files.

 

9. Disable Pre-installed Apps

Some phones come with apps that you can’t uninstall, but you can often disable them to stop them from using up resources and storage. Go to Settings, select Apps, find the pre-installed apps, tap on Disable.

 

10. Backup Your Phone Regularly

By regularly backing up your phone, you can keep important files safe while clearing out unnecessary ones. This also helps in case you need to factory reset your phone in the future. You can use Google Drive, iCloud, or another backup service. Go to Settings, select Backup, follow the prompts to back up your phone.

 

Rounding Off

Your phone storage shouldn’t be headachy from this day on. By following these simple tips, you can keep your phone running smoothly, avoid running out of space, and ensure it stays clutter-free. At The Phonepreneur, we’re here to help you with all your phone-related needs. If you need advice on phone storage or a professional repair, visit us in Ikeja, shop on our website or give us a call!