How to Clear Storage on an iPhone
Clearing storage on your iPhone is essential for avoiding the dreaded “Storage Full” notification and keeping your device running smoothly.
As time goes by, your iPhone’s storage naturally fills up, potentially slowing down performance and preventing new downloads or media captures. To help you manage this, we’ll walk you through simple steps to free up storage.
If your phone remains sluggish even after clearing storage, it might be time to consider upgrading to a newer iPhone.
Tools and Requirements
- iPhone
Steps to Clear Storage on iPhone
Review Storage Recommendations:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Recommendations.
- Review and delete files, such as videos and audio, that are no longer needed.
Delete or Offload Apps:
- Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Select the app you want to delete, then tap Delete App.
- If you want to keep the app's data but remove the app itself, choose Offload App.
Delete Music:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music.
- Tap Edit, then tap the red minus icon next to the artists or tracks you wish to remove.
- Alternatively, delete music directly in the Music app by long-pressing on tracks or albums and selecting Delete from Library.
Delete Messages and Attachments:
- Open the Messages app and choose the message category to clear.
- Tap the three dots in the top right, select Select Messages, choose the ones to delete, and tap Delete.
Clear Safari Cache and History:
- Head to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
- Choose the desired timeframe and tap Clear History.
Clear Chrome Cache and History:
- Open the Chrome app, tap the three dots in the bottom right, and select Clear Browsing Data.
- Check Cached Images and Files, then tap Clear Browsing Data.
Backup Media Files to iCloud and Optimize Media Storage:
- Back up your photos and videos to iCloud by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos.
- Enable Optimize iPhone Storage to store smaller versions of your media, freeing up space while keeping high-resolution files accessible on demand.
After clearing space on your iPhone, you’ll be able to use your new found storage for capturing more memorable moments and keeping your device running efficiently.