“Storage almost full” always appears at the worst moment, usually when you are trying to take a photo that will not happen again. If your phone has 32GB or 64GB, which is common in this part of the world, WhatsApp, photos and a few games can fill it in no time.
This guide shows you how to clear space on Android and iPhone, and how to back up first so you never lose something you cared about.
Step 1: Back up before you clear anything
It sounds backwards, but backing up first is the safest order. Once your photos and chats are copied somewhere else, you can clear space without worrying.
- Photos and videos. On Android, turn on backup in Google Photos. On iPhone, use iCloud Photos. Both have a free allowance (usually 15GB for a Google account, shared with Gmail and Drive, and 5GB for iCloud), and paid plans if you need more.
- WhatsApp. Go to Settings, then Chats, then Chat backup. Choose how often to back up and use Wi-Fi only, so you do not burn through your data.
- Important documents. Photos of your NIN slip, certificates, passport page and IDs are worth copying to a second place, such as your email, a cloud folder or a flash drive.
- A computer or external drive. If you have a laptop or an OTG flash drive, copy your photos across. It is free and not tied to any account.
Do the first backup over Wi-Fi. Photo libraries are large, and mobile data adds up fast.
Step 2: See what is using the space
- Android. Open Settings, then Storage. You will see a breakdown by type: images, videos, apps and other. Files by Google is a free app that also suggests what to clear.
- iPhone. Open Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. It lists every app by size, with recommendations at the top.
Usually one or two things take most of the space. Start there.
Step 3: Tackle WhatsApp
For many people, WhatsApp is the biggest offender, because every video and image from every group lands on your phone.
- Open WhatsApp, go to Settings, then Storage and data, then Manage storage. You will see the biggest chats and files, and files forwarded many times.
- Review and remove large videos and old forwards you do not need.
- Under Storage and data, change “Media auto-download” so photos and videos do not download automatically in groups.
- Keep a copy of anything meaningful by saving it to your cloud storage first.
Step 4: Clear junk and unused apps
- Uninstall apps you have not opened in months. You can always install them again later.
- Clear app caches on Android. Go to Settings, then Apps, choose an app, then Storage, and tap Clear cache. Do not tap Clear data unless you mean to sign out and lose its settings.
- Offload unused apps on iPhone. In iPhone Storage, tap Offload Unused Apps. It frees the space but keeps your documents and data.
- Remove downloaded files and duplicates. Check your Downloads folder for old PDFs, installers and videos.
Step 5: Deal with photos and videos
Once your photos are backed up, you can remove the copies on your phone. Google Photos has a “Free up space” option, and iCloud users can turn on “Optimize iPhone Storage”, which keeps small versions on the phone and the originals in the cloud. On iPhone, remember that removed photos sit in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days before the space is actually freed.
Videos take far more space than photos. If you shoot a lot of video, consider recording at a lower resolution, or moving finished clips to a computer.
Extra options
- A microSD card. Many Android phones accept one, which is a cheap way to add space for photos and music. Check that your phone has the slot before you buy.
- Lite apps. Lighter versions of popular apps use less storage and less data.
- Streaming over downloading. If you have a good connection, stream music and video you do not need to keep.
A habit worth keeping
Try to keep 10 to 15 percent of your storage free. Phones slow down and apps misbehave when they are nearly full. Check your storage once a month, clear what you do not need, and let your backup do the worrying. That way, when something important happens, the only thing your phone has to do is record it.
