Despite how far smartphone technology has come over the past two decades, one thing stays constant. We’ll always be asking Google how to get more phone storage because we keep running out of space.
Low storage space is the bane of every phone user’s existence, unless you’re a whiz at knowing how to free up phone storage and utilise the cloud. This article will be a guide to getting the most out of your phone’s storage.
If a phone’s storage isn’t properly managed, it can do more than just limit a person’s ability to download new apps and take photos. Low storage space can also significantly affect a phone’s performance.
This is because when storage fills up, the phone can’t properly allocate resources. It also can’t handle and store temporary data from apps, and it can lead to apps loading/running inefficiently. Fortunately, our tips will help you manage your storage effectively and prevent this from happening.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Phone Storage
When it comes to phone storage, like many other aspects in life, knowledge is power. The first step to getting the most out of your phone’s storage is to check and see how your storage is actually being used.
Fortunately, manufacturers have made this incredibly easy to find. Although the exact steps will depend on your phone’s operating system and version, generally it should be in Settings > General > Storage (iPhones) or Settings > Storage (Android).
This will give you an exact breakdown of how your storage is being used. It will also categorise the items by their type. For example, the different categories on Android are:
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Games
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Apps
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Images
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Videos
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Documents
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Trash
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Audio
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Other
In the Storage settings tab, you’ll also be able to easily see all the apps/games you have installed, and delete them if necessary for space. Depending on the phone, some devices will also recommend what apps and/or files to delete if you’re looking to free up phone storage.
If you want to get the most out of your phone’s storage, we recommend:
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Turning on any ‘Storage Saver’ options for your camera. This setting will optimise how media files are saved and stored on your device. For example, photos will only be saved as JPEGs.
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Regularly back up your photos and videos to cloud storage, and delete the local copy. This feature can be set up in your device’s Photos/Gallery app. This will free up the space on your local storage and securely back up your media files online.
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Frequently review the apps and games installed on your device. To uninstall an app or game, all you need to do is tap (or hold) the icon and then an option to ‘Delete’ or ‘Uninstall’ should appear, depending on your OS. Some phones have the feature to identify any apps that haven’t been used recently, and suggest them first for deletion.
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Review app data regularly. For example, if you’ve downloaded songs offline for Spotify or videos for Netflix, review and clear your app data once you’re finished with them.
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Many messaging apps used today, like Messenger and WhatsApp, automatically download any photos and attachments received. If you want to optimise your storage space, we recommend turning this setting off. The exact process will depend on the chat app, but it’s usually available in Settings > Chats, and then toggle off ‘Save to Camera Roll’ or ‘Media Visibility’.
We recommend regularly reviewing your phone’s storage space once a month to evaluate if any items can be deleted or moved to the cloud. Optimised storage will also help keep your phone running smoothly.
How To Free Up Phone Storage Space
If you’re close to maxing out your phone’s storage capacity, we’re here to help. Below, we’ve listed our best tips to free up phone storage space. These include:
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Upload any old photos and videos you have to cloud storage, then delete them locally.
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On Android devices in the ‘Files’ app, there’s an option called ‘Clean’. This automatically recommends a way to clear your storage based on parameters like duplicate photos, blurry photos, and removing unused apps.
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Similarly, on iPhones, you can delete unused apps and unnecessary data in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. You also have the option to ‘Offload’ apps, which removes the app’s core files from your device but preserves its data (like login information) if you want to reinstall it in the future.
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Clearing an app’s cache can also help free up storage space. Deleting the cache removes any temporary data associated with the app.
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If you have any important files or documents and don’t want to store them on a cloud service, you can use a USB cable to move them to another personal device, like a computer/laptop.
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If you find that games are taking up too much space on your phone, you might want to consider streaming games instead. Services like GeForce NOW allow users to stream games from the cloud to their devices. While it will use up WiFi/Data, it can help you cut down storage space usage.
What Size Phone Is Ideal?
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer for which storage option is best for a phone. The best storage capacity will depend on a combination of factors, and ultimately, come down to the individual.
While we can’t answer which storage capacity will be best for your lifestyle, we can help you figure it out. When determining what size phone you should get, we recommend considering the following factors.
Storage preference
If you’re someone who prefers using cloud storage for their files, photos, and videos, you could opt for a smaller storage size. If you prefer relying on local storage only, we recommend going for a larger capacity.
Gaming
If you’re a gamer, we recommend going for a phone with a larger storage capacity—at least 256 GB. Gaming on mobile has evolved drastically over the past few years, and some of the more intensive games can be as large as 20- 30 GB. If you’re a heavy gamer, it might be worth considering 512 GB.
Camera usage
If you’re a frequent photographer and also capture high-resolution videos, it’s worth considering a larger storage size. High-quality media files can quickly fill up storage, especially if you’re not using cloud storage.
Budget
While it’s important to consider your usage habits, your finances are important to factor in, too. Going for a phone model with upgraded storage space can be expensive. For some, it might be more cost-effective to go for the cheaper model and utilise cloud storage.
Although it isn’t as common anymore, some phones still support expandable storage via microSD cards. If you want the ability to easily swap out SD cards (e.g., for photos/videos) and adjust storage as needed, we recommend considering a phone that supports the feature, like the older Galaxy S20 series.
Over the past few years, the smartphone industry has been moving to make 128GB the standard for internal storage. This is because, as smartphones evolve with every firmware update, and especially with artificial intelligence, the fundamental operating software takes up more space.
So, if you never want to worry about how to free up phone storage space, we recommend going for at least 256 GB. If any of your hobbies involve installing large apps (e.g., gaming) or dealing with large media files, like photography or content creation, opt for 512 GB+.
Buy The Latest Smartphones at OzMobiles
Shop with confidence for the latest smartphone models refurbished at OzMobiles. Our selection includes the latest Android devices and reconditioned iPhone 16 models. All our phones also come with a free 12-month warranty and a 30-day risk-free return period, so if you have a change of heart or any concerns, we’ll be there to support you.
All the phones we sell, whether it's a Google Pixel or a Samsung Galaxy refurbished handset, go through extensive testing. As part of this process, the device is checked over by a qualified technician and restored to like-new condition using industry-grade tools and software. Replacements, if required, are done using only genuine parts.
If you’re worried about storage space, many of our phones have the option for different size capacities. For example, our iPhone 16s have options for 128GB, 256GB and 512 GB. If you’re not sure what size would be suitable for you, contact us today.
The OzMobiles team would love to hear from you. We’d be happy to answer any questions about our phones and help connect you with the right device.
