If your iPhone is running strangely slow or out of storage, it’s time to spring into action. The more you keep your phone active, the more data it stores. One of the main contributors to slow iPhone performance is the storage limit, which can slow down an iPhone if it is almost full. Many people keep multitasking throughout the day, and they keep several apps open at the same time. The more applications you have on your phone, the harder it becomes to find the information that you need. In this blog, we’ll show you how to clean up storage on your iPhone to help improve your phone’s performance.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Clean Up Storage on Your iPhone
If you take too many pictures, use a lot of different apps, or have a considerable number of files and documents stored on your iPhone, you will eventually run out of storage space. When your phone’s storage fills up, it can lead to slow system performance, frequent crashes, and abrupt app closures. Therefore, it’s crucial to clean up your storage to keep your phone running smoothly. This article will show you a few easy ways to clean up storage on your iPhone.
Method 1: Via iCloud
iCloud is an online storage service provided by Apple. It is a cloud computing service that acts as a data center for all your data, enabling you to access your files securely from anywhere with an internet connection. Here’s how you can use iCloud to clean up your phone:
Steps:
1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap on your name (Apple ID) at the top of the screen.
3. Tap on iCloud.
4. Scroll down to locate an app that you no longer need and toggle its switch to "Off".
5. Tap the "Delete from My iPhone" button that appears.
Pros:
– You can access your data from anywhere with internet connection.
– Your phone will run faster with more space.
– It’s easy to use and accessible from anywhere.
Cons:
– You’re limited to 5 GB of storage on the free account.
– There is always a danger of losing data or being hacked when using cloud services.
– You’ll have to pay if you need more storage.
Method 2: Via iTunes
iTunes provides a local, wired backup option for your iPhone data, and you can use it to free up storage on your device. Here’s how you can use iTunes to clean up your phone:
Steps:
1. Connect your iPhone with your computer.
2. Launch iTunes if it doesn’t open automatically.
3. Click the device icon under the iTunes menu.
4. Click on "Back Up Now," or choose the "Encrypt iPhone backup" option for added security and tap on "Back Up Now."
5. Wait until the backup process is complete.
6. Now, restore your iPhone to the most recent backup.
Pros:
– Easy to use and accessible.
– No need for an internet connection.
– Provides local storage that is free and reliable.
Cons:
– You have to connect your iPhone with your computer.
– Backup data can be vulnerable to malware or cyber attacks.
– You can only backup your data to a computer and not to cloud storage.
Method 3: Via Removing Unused Apps
The more apps you have on your phone, the more unnecessary data gets stored, leading to slower performance. Removing unused apps can help you clean up storage on your iPhone quickly. Here’s how you can remove unused apps:
Steps:
1. Tap and hold down the icon of the app you want to delete.
2. Tap the "Delete App" button from the menu that appears.
3. Remember to uninstall the app and all of its data.
4. Tap "Delete" when prompted.
Pros:
– Apps that are not used will not need to be updated regularly.
– Removing apps will free up space on iPhone.
– It’s an easy and convenient way to clean up storage.
Cons:
– You may want to keep some apps on your phone but just not use them regularly.
– You may accidentally delete an essential app.
– You will lose your stored information and data with an application that is deleted.
What to Do If You Can’t Clean Up Storage on Your iPhone
If you are unable to clean up your storage using the methods mentioned, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem:
– Disable Auto Downloads: Turn off automatic downloads for applications, music, and photos. This will prevent unnecessary growth of data on your phone.
– Delete Messages: Another thing you can try is to delete messages you no longer need. They may be taking up more space than you think, and you’ll get rid of them quickly.
– Clear Cache: Clear your app cache temporarily or permanently. Lots of applications save files and data in the app cache that might take up too much space on the phone.
– Transfer Files or Documents elsewhere: Transferring data to another computer, phone, or flash drive is an ideal solution if you have sensitive data you want to save.
Bonus Tip
To prevent data from getting stored up on your iPhone instantly, try to manage your files regularly and avoid large files or applications that take up too much space. Also, clean up files and documents you no longer need on a frequent basis.
FAQs
Q1: How much storage space do I need for my iPhone?
A: The amount of storage you’ll need depends on what you use on your iPhone. If you use your iPhone for taking pictures and videos, you should aim for at least 64GB. If you’re not a heavy user and don’t take lots of photos or videos, 32GB may be sufficient.
Q2: How do I know if I need more storage space?
A: When you see messages such as "iPhone Storage Almost Full" or "You need to remove some items from your iPhone to free up storage space," it’s time to take action. You can also check the storage of your iPhone under Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage.
Q3: Do I need to delete every app I don’t use?
A: No. You don’t need to delete everything you don’t use. Keep apps that you often use or anything you may need in the future. But, do try to delete apps that you no longer use.
Q4: Will restoring my iPhone delete data?
A: Yes. Restoring your iPhone to a backup will erase all the existing data on your phone. If you want to save your data, back up your iPhone’s data onto iCloud or iTunes before you start the restoration process.
Q5: If I use iCloud, what happens to the data if I lose my phone?
A: Your data is still safe and secure on iCloud, and you can restore it to a new iPhone. If you prefer, you can also download specific data from iCloud, such as your contacts, pictures, or notes, to your new device.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your iPhone’s storage clean is an essential maintenance task for maintaining its performance. The tips we discussed above will help you improve your phone’s performance, and you’ll have enough storage space for new files, pictures, and applications. So, make sure to clean up your storage regularly to keep your iPhone running smoothly.