Is your phone showing "Storage Almost Full"? This frustrating message affects millions of users every day. Between photos, videos, apps and cached files, storage space melts away quickly.
In this complete guide, we'll explore the most effective methods to free up space on your iPhone or Android, without losing your important files.
Why is your storage full?
Before cleaning, let's understand what takes up space on your device:
- Photos and videos — On average 30-50% of storage
- Apps — Some apps weigh several GB (games, social media)
- App cache — Temporary data that accumulates
- Messages and attachments — Especially WhatsApp and iMessage
- Downloaded files — PDFs, documents, forgotten files
Tip: First check the space used in Settings > General > Storage to identify the biggest consumers.
Method 1: Clean your photos effectively
Photos often represent the majority of used storage. Here's how to manage them intelligently.
Delete duplicate photos
Your gallery probably contains dozens of duplicates: photos sent via message, duplicate screenshots, similar burst photos. These duplicates can represent up to 20% of your photo storage.
Use swipe sorting
Apps like MonTri let you sort photos quickly by swiping: right to keep, left to delete. In 10 minutes, you can sort hundreds of photos and recover several GB.
How much space can you recover?
| Category | Space recovered |
|---|---|
| Photos | 2 to 10 GB |
| Apps | 1 to 5 GB |
| Cache | 500 MB to 2 GB |
| Messages | 500 MB to 3 GB |
Average total: 5 to 15 GB recovered
FAQ
How often should I clean my phone?
Ideally once a month for photos, and once a week for app cache.
Can deleting cache cause problems?
No, cache rebuilds automatically. You may need to log back into some apps.