How to free up storage on your phone

Updated: 11/06/2021 by Computer Hope

A common problem that people may experience with their smartphone is the lack of sufficient internal storage space to download a new app, or take a new photo or video. Here are some tips for how to free up some space on your smartphone.

Backing up photos and videos using Google Photos

Google Photos

A useful way to clear a lot of space on your phone is to use cloud storage service such as Google Photos. This application lets you store your photos and videos online free of charge. You can then remove the photos from your device's local storage if you choose which will free up space on your phone for other things.

Google Photos offers unlimited storage for photos and videos, with the restriction that they be stored at a maximum resolution of 16 megapixels (for photos), or 1080p (for video). Higher resolution versions of selected photos and videos can be stored, but those files count towards your Google Drive storage limit.

To use Google Photos, download the free app from the Google Play Store (on an Android device) or the App Store (on iOS).

Once installed, launch the app, generating a prompt to log in with your Google account. The app asks for your permission to access your photos and videos. If you grant access, it automatically starts to back up your library of photos and videos to the cloud.

To remove the photos or videos from your phone after they are backed up, click the button that says "Free up __ GB from device." Only files that were successfully uploaded to Google Photos are removed from your phone.

Note

If your photos or videos is higher than 16 megapixels or 1080p, their quality is downgraded when uploading them to Google Photos at "high-quality" (unlimited storage). Make sure that "high-quality" is adequate for your photo storage needs before you delete the original-quality photos and videos from your phone.

Tip

In addition to using the app, you can access your Google Photos in any web browser by going to Google Photos.

Deleting unwanted files

Search the files on your device using the "Files" app on iOS, or whatever file browser app you have on your Android device. Sort the files by space, and if you find anything you don't use, delete it (after you verify that you do not need it.)

You can also delete:

  • Text messages.
  • E-mails.
  • Unused applications.
  • Contacts.
  • Unwanted pictures (make sure to clear them from "Recently Deleted" on iOS).
  • Unwanted applications.

Deleting these files frees up space, but the amount of space varies depending on what you choose to delete.