How To Free Up TONS Of iPhone Storage [2023]

Science & Technology

How To Free Up TONS Of iPhone Storage [2023]

Introduction

Having a full iPhone can be frustrating, especially after spending a significant amount of money on it. Whether you’re willing to purchase a new iPhone or follow some handy tips to free up storage, this guide will walk you through optimizing your iPhone storage and ensuring that you never face storage issues again.

Identifying Storage Hogs

First, let's understand what's taking up the most storage on your iPhone. Common culprits include videos, photos, music, games, and apps. It’s not just about deleting photos and videos, as they can also reside in messages, email attachments, social media apps, and other unexpected places.

Navigating iPhone Storage:

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Tap on General, then iPhone Storage

Managing Photos and iCloud Photos

Photos often occupy significant storage. Simply turning on iCloud photos doesn’t save space; additional steps are required.

  1. Navigate to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos
  2. Turn on “Sync this iPhone”

If you have insufficient iCloud storage, consider either purchasing more iCloud storage or transferring your photos and videos to a computer. Alternatively, you can manage these files directly in the Photos app by deleting unnecessary media or using built-in features like the “Trim” function to reduce video sizes.

Working with ProRes Video and ProRaw Photos

These formats take up substantial space:

  • ProRes Video: Use the trim feature and then save as new to reduce file size significantly.
  • ProRaw Photos: Compress these using tools or shortcuts to save storage.

Managing ProRes and ProRaw:

  1. Open Photos app
  2. Scroll to Media Types and select “ProRes” or “ProRaw”
  3. Trim or compress these files as needed

Deleting Duplicates and Managing Messages

Deduplicate Photos:

  1. Photos App > Albums > Utilities > Duplicates
  2. Merge exact duplicates to free space

Messages:

  • Set message expiry to 30 days in Settings > Messages > Keep Messages.
  • Delete unnecessary video and image attachments.

Music and Offline Content Management

Downloaded music and other offline media from streaming apps can consume storage rapidly.

Steps to manage music:

  1. Settings > Music > Downloaded Music
  2. Remove unwanted songs. Enable “Optimize Storage” feature.

Managing Offline Content:

  1. Settings > General > iPhone Storage
  2. Identify and clear offline content from apps like Netflix, Spotify, etc.

Offloading Unused Apps

Automatic offloading of apps you don’t use frequently helps save space:

  • Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps

Additionally, manually delete apps that you haven’t used in a long time.

Clearing App Caches and Safari Data

Clearing cache data for individual apps and Safari can save a significant amount of space.

Safari:

  1. Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data

App Caches: Delete and reinstall apps or clear cache within app settings if available.

Optimizing Camera Settings

Reducing the resolution of photos and videos can save storage:

  1. Settings > Camera > Formats
    • Choose “High Efficiency”
  2. Settings > Camera > Record Video
    • Select a lower quality like “4K at 30 fps”
  3. Turn off Live Photos

Lastly, transfer your files to a computer to keep your iPhone storage free.

Keywords

  • iPhone storage
  • ProRes Video
  • ProRaw Photos
  • iCloud Photos
  • Duplicates
  • Optimize Storage
  • Offload Apps

FAQ

How can I check which files are taking up the most space on my iPhone? Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see a breakdown of your storage usage.

Does turning on iCloud photos save storage on my iPhone? Not by itself. Enable 'Optimize iPhone Storage' in iCloud settings to make this effective.

What are ProRes and ProRaw formats? They are high-quality photo and video formats that take up more storage due to less compression.

How can I manage offline content from apps? Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and look for apps like Netflix or Spotify to delete offline content.

What is the benefit of offloading apps? Offloading removes app data but retains personal documents, which can be re-downloaded if the app is reinstalled.

How do I clear Safari cache? Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.

Can I reduce file sizes for photos and videos? Yes, by adjusting camera settings and using compression tools available in the Photos app.

By following these detailed steps, you can efficiently manage your iPhone storage, optimize usage, and ensure you have ample space for new files and apps.