How to Get More Storage on iPhone Running iOS 17

Struggling with limited space on your iPhone, especially if you have an older model or one with less storage capacity? That is a very common problem. Many iPhone users face the frustrating reality of not having enough space for their apps, photos, and videos. But there’s good news—solutions are available to help you maximize your device’s storage. This guide provides trusted and effective methods to get more storage on iPhone, helping you to enjoy a smoother and more efficient experience without having to delete your favorite apps or memories.

What are Your Options for Increasing iPhone Storage

When it comes to managing and expanding storage on your iPhone, it’s important to know what’s possible and what isn’t. iPhones do not support physical storage upgrades—meaning you cannot increase the internal memory (GB) of your device once it’s manufactured. However, there are several practical strategies you can employ to manage and effectively increase the available storage:

1. Cloud Services: Utilizing cloud storage allows you to offload files from your iPhone’s physical storage to the internet, making room without having to delete your data permanently.
2. External Storage Devices: For those who need to access large files on the go, external storage solutions like flash drives specifically designed for iPhone can be a great option.
3. Optimization Tools: Apps and settings within iOS can help optimize how storage is used, from automatically removing unused apps to compressing photos and videos.
4. Cleaning Apps: Certain apps can help clear out unnecessary files and caches that take up space in ways that aren’t always obvious through manual cleaning.

With the knowledge of these options, you can better plan how to free up some space and how can you get more iPhone storage based on your specific needs. Let’s explore these solutions in detail to find out ways to address your problems.

How to Identify the Ways to Get More Storage Space on iPhone

Now that we discussed the various options available for increasing your iPhone’s storage, the next practical step is to navigate your current storage setup. By checking what specifically consumes your iPhone’s storage, you can make more knowledgeable decisions about where to focus your efforts to get some extra storage space on iPhone. This examination allows you to identify the major consumers of space—such as large apps, extensive photo libraries, or old media files—providing clear targets for cleanup and optimization.

1. Check Overall Storage: Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘iPhone Storage’. This shows a bar chart of storage use.
2. Identify Main Storage Users: Look for sections like ‘Photos’, ‘Apps’, ‘Media’, and ‘System Data’ to see what’s using the most space.
3. Apps can be significant space consumers. Tap on each app to see its storage usage details.
4. Photos and videos often take up a lot of space too.

After you’ve identified what takes up most of your iPhone’s storage, the next step is to tackle these storage hogs directly. In the following section, we will guide you through simple yet effective methods to free up space.

How to Get More Storage Space on Your iPhone

Once you’ve identified the main perpetrators taking up space on your device, it’s time to take action. The following steps are designed to help you quickly and efficiently make more storage on your iPhone. By tackling the most common areas you can optimize your iPhone’s storage without compromising on functionality or essential data.

Method 1: Uninstall Unused Apps

Apps are often one of the largest consumers of storage on your iPhone, particularly those that are seldom used. Removing these apps is an efficient and immediate way to free up significant space. This step not only declutters your device but also enhances its performance by reducing the load on your system resources. Focus on apps that you have not used in months or those that take up a disproportionate amount of space compared to their utility.

1. Locate Unused Apps: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see a list of your apps and the space they occupy.
2. Delete Apps: Tap on an app and select ‘Delete App’ to remove it along with its data.

Method 2: Clear Browser Data

Web browsers can accumulate a substantial amount of storage through cached files and cookies, especially if you browse the internet frequently. Clearing this browser data is a quick and effective way to reclaim valuable storage space on your iPhone. This step not only helps in freeing up space but also improves your device’s privacy and security by removing potentially outdated or sensitive information stored in your browser history.

1. Go to Safari Settings: Open Settings, scroll down and tap on ‘Safari’.
2. Clear History and Data: Choose ‘Clear History and Website Data’ to free up storage used by browsing data.

Method 3: Use iCloud for Photos

Photos and videos typically take up a considerable portion of iPhone storage. Utilizing iCloud for storing your media is a smart way to get more storage space on your iPhone while keeping your memories accessible. This method involves uploading your media to iCloud and then opting to store only optimized, smaller versions of the photos and videos on your device. It’s an effective way to manage your storage efficiently without losing access to your visual content.

1. Enable iCloud Photos: In Settings > Photos, turn on iCloud Photos. This will upload your media to iCloud.
2. Choose Storage Option: Select ‘Optimize iPhone Storage’ to keep smaller versions of your photos and videos on your iPhone.

Method 4: Delete Large Message Attachments

Message attachments, such as photos and videos, can quickly accumulate and take up an unexpected amount of storage on your iPhone. Actively managing and deleting these large files can significantly free up space, allowing your device to operate more efficiently. This step is particularly important as it targets hidden storage users that are often overlooked but can make a substantial difference in overall storage capacity.

1. Access Message Attachments: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, then scroll down and tap on ‘Messages’.
2. Review and Delete: Here, you can find and delete large attachments, such as photos and videos, that you no longer need.

Following the steps outlined above typically frees up enough space for most iPhone users. However for those who need additional space, there’s more ways to expand your iPhone’s storage capacity, for confirming that you always have enough space for your needs.

Method 5: Use Cleaning Apps to Get More Storage

Even after manually clearing out apps, browser data, photos, and message attachments, some hidden junk may still be using up your iPhone’s storage. Cleaning apps can dig deeper, identifying and removing caches, old backups, and forgotten downloads that aren’t easily accessible. This step offers a more thorough cleaning process, using automated tools to enhance your iPhone’s efficiency and get additional storage space. It’s a smart way to guarantee that every possible bit of unnecessary data is removed.

• Deep Cleaning: These apps often look deeper than user during manual cleaning, targeting hidden caches, old backups, and forgotten downloads that consume space silently.
• Automated Process: Unlike manual cleaning, these apps provide a hassle-free, automated process to scan and clean, saving time and ensuring thoroughness.
• Regular Monitoring: Many cleaning apps offer continuous monitoring, alerting you when your storage starts to fill up again, which helps to maintain some free space for unexpected needs.

For those who need to go beyond basic cleaning, specialized iPhone cleaning apps can offer a solution. These apps can help clear out not only obvious clutter but also dig into less noticeable areas where redundant or unnecessary files linger. Some of the apps we recomend to try:

• Easy Cleaner.: This app excels in tidying up your contacts. It scans for duplicate contacts, merges them, and cleans up your address book. Its smart filters and restore points make managing contacts easier, ensuring that your phone’s address book remains organized and efficient.
• CleanMy®Phone: CleanMy®Phone focuses on your photo library. It identifies similar and duplicate photos, suggesting which ones to keep or delete. Its Photo Radar continuously monitors your storage, helping to manage large photo libraries effectively and free up significant space.
• Boost Cleaner: A versatile cleaner, Boost Cleaner is user-friendly and effective for clearing various types of data. It targets duplicate photos, helps in organizing images by date and location, and also assists in managing contacts, including merging duplicates and backing up contact data.
• AI Cleaner: This app offers good cleaning solution. It quickly identifies duplicate or similar photos, merges duplicate contacts, and locates large video files. It’s designed to be a one-stop solution for storage management, making it easier to maintain iPhone’s storage.
• Cleaner Kit: As an all-in-one cleaning app, Cleaner Kit provides tools for contact organization, battery saving tips, privacy protection, and duplicate photo removal. It’s particularly useful for decluttering various aspects of your iPhone and automating storage management.

Method 6: Utilize External Storage Solutions

For those who regularly work with large files or have maximized their device’s internal capacity, external storage solutions can be invaluable. Utilizing tools such as portable flash drives designed for iPhone or subscribing to cloud services provides additional storage options that are not bound by the limitations of your device. This step allows you to offload large files like high-resolution photos and videos, and get significantly more storage space on your iPhone, making sure your storage needs are met without sacrificing accessibility. These solutions include:

• Flash Drives for iPhone: Portable flash drives designed for iPhone connectivity offer an easy way to transfer and store files externally. They are perfect for offloading large files like high-resolution photos and videos, freeing up significant space on your device.
• Cloud Services: Cloud storage options like Google Drive, or Dropbox provide remote storage space. These services are ideal for keeping a backup of your data and accessing it from any device. They are particularly useful for storing media files and documents, allowing you to keep your iPhone’s internal storage for apps and essential data.

Whether it’s through physical devices like flash drives or cloud-based services, external storage solutions offer additional way to add more storage to your iPhone, especially beneficial for users with high storage demands.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

After exploring various ways to increase storage on your iPhone, it’s important to address common errors that can occur in the process. Avoid these mistakes to assure you don’t lose valuable data.

• Don’t Delete Files Hastily: In the urgency to free up space, there’s a risk of accidentally deleting important files. Take time to review what you’re removing.
• Don’t Forget to Backup: Make sure you have a backup of your data before starting any cleaning process. Utilizing iCloud or other backup services can prevent loss of critical data.
• Overlooked App Cache: Regularly clear cached data from apps and browsers, which can accumulate and use up a lot of space.
• Infrequent Cleaning: Consistent maintenance is key. Regular checks and cleaning can prevent unexpected storage issues.
• Untrusted Cleaning Apps: Use only reputable cleaning apps. Some apps might not be effective or could even pose security risks.

Keeping these points in mind helps to avoid a lot of hassle while getting more storage.

Conclusion

Wrapping up, keeping your iPhone’s storage in check is easier than you think. The tips and methods shared here are practical and user-friendly. Regularly applying these simple advices will keep storage issues at bay, making your iPhone experience better and clutter-free. So go ahead, give these tips a try and see the difference they make in your daily iPhone use.