To be honest, Apple might be the most “stingy” manufacturer when it comes to phone storage space these days. The iPhone 15 series, priced at 6000 RMB, still starts at 128GB, with the 256GB version costing over a thousand RMB more, far exceeding the prices of models from other manufacturers on the market. Therefore, for Apple users, learning how to clear phone storage space is a necessary skill.
When the iPhone’s storage space is running low, we usually face two choices: either clear space or get a new phone. The former is more economical but requires careful selection of what to delete. Fortunately, Apple is well aware of this pain point and has prepared a series of practical solutions for all iPhone models, whether the latest iPhone 15 series or older models.
IPhone storage crunches are not an unsolvable problem. Apple offers a variety of strategies to help users efficiently manage their device space without enduring the “storage full” woes. By mastering the correct methods, you can easily free up space and rejuvenate your device. Whether it’s streamlining redundant apps, clearing cache files, or optimizing photo storage, Apple’s built-in tools can lend a helping hand.
1. How to Check Storage Space on iPhone
Regularly checking your iPhone’s storage status is a good habit, even if the storage hasn’t reached its limit. Currently, Apple users can easily understand their phone’s storage situation in a few simple steps:
- Tap the “Settings” icon on the iPhone home screen to enter the settings interface.
- In the settings menu, find and click “General,” then select “iPhone Storage.”
- On this page, the used and total storage of the iPhone is visible. You can also scroll down to see which items are taking up valuable space. The default sorting is by “size,” but you can also sort by “name” or “last used date” for more flexible management.
2. How to Free Up Storage Space on iPhone
iPhone storage space always seems tight. However, there’s no need to worry; here are six methods from simple to complex to help you free up valuable space:
Method 1: Take a look at your iPhone. Has the number of apps become astronomical? It’s time for a “slimming revolution.” Remember, the App Store is always ready for you to “lose and regain.” In “Settings,” tap “General,” then select “iPhone Storage.” Find the app you no longer use and click on it. On the next screen, you will see “Delete” and “Offload” options. “Delete” means saying goodbye completely, leaving no trace; “Offload” is gentler, only removing the app shell but keeping the data and documents, so everything is as it was when you reinstall. Choose the appropriate method and confirm to free up precious space on your iPhone.
Method 2: To keep your iPhone running smoothly, regularly clear Safari. Whenever you visit a new website, Safari downloads and stores the files needed to display the page, forming a cache to speed up future visits. However, this convenience silently sacrifices storage space. To clear these “historical traces,” just a few steps: open the “Settings” app, find the “Safari” option, and tap it. Then, scroll to the bottom and click “Clear History and Website Data.” Here, you can choose the time range to clear—past hour, today, today, and yesterday, or all history. Confirm your selection and tap “Clear History” to instantly free up space.
Method 3: In iPhone storage management, iMessage is often overlooked, but it can be an invisible “devourer” of storage space. To free up space, start by clearing old messages. First, tap the “Settings” app, scroll to the “Messages” option and click to enter. Among the many settings, find “Keep Messages,” which is the “command center” for controlling message lifespan. You can choose the retention period: 30 days, 1 year, or forever. Select a shorter cycle, such as 30 days or 1 year. Once set, the iPhone will automatically clear messages that exceed the retention period, freeing up valuable space without you lifting a finger.
Method 4: Photos and videos record the moments of life but also silently occupy a lot of iPhone space. Regularly organizing them is a wise move. Open the “Photos” app and carefully select images you no longer need. After selecting, tap the delete icon at the bottom right and confirm “Delete Photo” or “Delete Video.” Note that deleting does not clear them immediately but moves them to the “Recently Deleted” folder, like a temporary storage station, waiting to disappear automatically after 30 days. If you urgently need space, manually enter this folder to make the final farewell. This process, although requiring extra steps, gives you repeated confirmation to ensure that precious memories are not accidentally deleted while creating more usable space for the iPhone.
Method 5: Apple Music and Podcasts enrich your auditory world but also quietly consume iPhone storage space. To save space, streamline downloaded content. Enter the “Music” app, tap the “Library” at the bottom, and look for your target in “Downloaded.” Select playlists, artists, albums, or songs, tap the three-dot icon at the top of the page, and choose “Remove from Library.” Confirm the deletion to instantly free up space. Similarly, for podcast content, you can follow similar steps in the “Podcasts” app for cleanup. This process requires internet support to access the content again but can effectively reduce the iPhone’s storage burden.
Method 6: In iPhone storage management, the “Files” app plays an indispensable role. To free up storage space, delve into this feature. First, tap the “Files” app icon to enter the interface. Under the “Browse” menu, select “On My iPhone,” which is the “treasure trove” for storing various documents and files. Find the files or folders you want to delete, and long-press until the operation menu appears. In the menu, tap “Delete” and confirm to complete the cleanup. This process requires careful operation to prevent accidental deletion of important information but can effectively streamline storage space.
3. Other Methods
Faced with limited iPhone storage space, fully utilizing cloud resources is a good choice. Take the “Photos” app, for example. By cleverly using iCloud, you can protect precious memories while effectively freeing up local storage space.
Step 1: Consider subscribing to Apple’s iCloud service. This step opens up cloud storage space for your photos and videos. Enter the “Settings” app, tap your name at the top, scroll to the “iCloud” option, select “Photos,” and turn on “iCloud Photo Library.” Your photos and videos will then automatically sync to the cloud, accessible anytime, anywhere with your Apple account.
Step 2: Optimize iPhone storage space. In the “iCloud” settings page, select “Optimize iPhone Storage.” This option replaces full-resolution photos and videos on your device with smaller versions, significantly saving local storage space. Don’t worry about quality loss, as the original high-resolution versions are safely stored in iCloud and can be downloaded anytime, ensuring your memories remain intact.
iCloud not only solves the urgent issue of iPhone storage space but also provides double protection for your photos and videos. Even if the device is replaced or damaged, storage management is smarter and more efficient.
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