We can all agree that Apple, one of the most innovative tech companies in the world, needs to up their game in terms of storage space. It sounds ridiculous that entry-level iPhones, up to this day, only have 16GB of storage. For sure, the company can make concessions to at least increase the space to 32GB without affecting its bottom line, right?
We can also all agree that there are millions of people that still use an iPhone with only 16GB of storage. Retail shops that sell iPhone units can attest to this. If you’re one of those with a 16GB iPhone, don’t fret. You can still enjoy and even stretch your modest amount of storage space. You’ll only have to make some changes and be smart about it.
It’s vital you know which apps eat the most of your storage space, so you can make the right changes. The biggest space eaters are photos, videos, music, podcasts, and games. Obviously, you need to delete the unnecessary apps and media to give your phone some more room. To get an accurate view of your iPhone’s storage space, go to your “Manage Storage” tab.
Here are a few more tried-and-tested tips to help you conserve your 16GB iPhone storage space:
Move Photos and Videos Elsewhere
Photos and videos are the likely reasons your iPhone keeps reminding you that you’re almost out of storage. This is particularly true if you’ve been using the same phone for years. Instead of sacrificing newer photo shoots or the resolution of your images, have a regular ‘media transfer.’ You can do it via the cloud of your choice or a traditional transfer where you plug in your phone to your computer. Another option is to use free apps like Google Photos where you can auto-upload your media files.
Once you’ve moved your photos and videos elsewhere, make sure to delete the local copies on your iPhone. Also, make sure to turn off your Photo Stream as it can organically store over 1000 images.
Use the World Wide Web
It’s important that you only install the apps that you truly need and the ones that you repeatedly use. For instance, you don’t have to install the Wikipedia app. If you need to access Wikipedia, use the web. Same goes with a dictionary app or a news site app that you don’t regularly read. If you can easily get the answer to your question through an online search, then use the web. You don’t have to install the app dedicated to it, especially if you’re only going to use once or twice.
Limit Your Music Playlist
If there’s a playlist that you can’t live without (aka when the Wi-Fi is down), then go ahead and put it on your iPhone. Otherwise, use streaming services like Spotify. Apple Music has a paid service that lets you upload all the tracks that you want online and stream them on your desktop or phone. Once you’ve managed your online music library, you can remove the local files on your iPhone to clear more space. Just don’t forget to uncheck the sync tick box for your iTunes.