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How to free up storage on your phone (Android and iPhone)

Steps to free up storage on Android and iPhone: see what takes the most space, clear app cache, photos and videos, WhatsApp media, unused apps and downloads.

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Finanza Clara USA editorial team
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Quick answer

First check what uses the most space: on iPhone, Settings > General > iPhone Storage; on Android, Settings > Storage. The biggest items are usually photos and videos, WhatsApp media, apps you don't use and old downloads. Back up your photos to the cloud before deleting them from the phone.

Key takeaways

  • Start in Settings > Storage to see what uses the most.
  • Photos, videos and WhatsApp are usually the heaviest.
  • Back up to the cloud before deleting photos.
  • Uninstall apps you don't use and delete old downloads.

A phone with no free space gets slow, won’t update apps and won’t take photos. These steps recover space without losing what matters.

1. See what takes the most space

  • iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage. You’ll see a bar by file type, a list of apps and recommendations.
  • Android: Settings > Storage (the name varies a little by brand). Many phones include a “Clean up” or “Free up space” option.

2. Photos and videos

  1. Turn on cloud backup (iCloud Photos or Google Photos) and confirm it has finished.
  2. Use that app’s free up device space option, which keeps lightweight copies on the phone.
  3. Delete long videos, old screenshots and duplicate photos.
  4. Empty Recently Deleted or the trash.

3. WhatsApp and other messaging apps

In WhatsApp: Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage. Delete forwarded videos and large files. Turn off automatic video downloads if storage fills up often.

4. Apps you don’t use

  • iPhone: turn on “Offload Unused Apps”: it removes the app but keeps its data.
  • Android: Settings > Apps, sort by size and uninstall what you don’t use.

5. Cache and downloads

  • On Android, open a heavy app (such as the browser or a social network) > Storage > Clear cache.
  • Check the Downloads folder; it collects old PDFs and installers.
  • Clear your browser cache too: here’s how to clear cache.

What not to do

  • Don’t install unknown “cleaner” apps: many just show ads.
  • Don’t delete photos until you’ve confirmed the backup finished.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my phone still say storage is full after deleting things?

Deleted photos and videos usually go to a Recently Deleted folder for several days. Empty it to recover the space immediately.

What happens if I clear an app's cache?

Temporary files are removed and the app may load a little slower next time. Your data and account are not deleted. Clearing an app's data, by contrast, resets it.

How do I see what takes space in WhatsApp?

In WhatsApp go to Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage. You'll see the largest chats and files and can delete them.

Sources

  1. How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad Apple Support

This article is general and educational; it is not personalized financial, legal or tax advice. Financial product terms change: always confirm current terms with the institution.

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