1. Check used storage

Before deleting anything, it’s important to know how much space is already being used.

For recent phones:
If your smartphone has 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, or more, you probably still have plenty of free space. Photos, apps, and system files have not yet filled up the storage.

For older phones:
Devices with 16 GB or 32 GB can quickly become full due to apps and system files. In this case, even a factory reset will not permanently solve the issue, as future updates will consume storage again. If your phone is old and has limited memory, replacing it with a model that offers more storage may be the most effective solution.

Viewing Free and Used Storage on iPhone or Android

To check used storage:

1. Go to Settings > Device care (or General management) > Storage.
2. You will see total storage, available space, and what is taking up space (apps, photos, videos, etc.).
3. If some apps take up a lot of space, you can uninstall them. For photos and videos, it’s best to transfer them to your computer before deleting them from your phone.

Let’s look at screenshots showing how to display this information. Go to Settings / “Device care” / “Storage”.

On an Android phone such as Samsung, Oppo, or Google, go to Settings / Device care / Storage to view free space, used space, and stored items.

2. Free up space : cleaning and deleting

Once you know what’s taking up space, it’s time to clean:

• Delete large apps you no longer use.
  You can usually sort apps by size to quickly identify the biggest ones. Go to Settings / General management / Storage, then tap Apps to view the list and their sizes.

• Clear app cache if you want to keep the app but recover storage space.
  Go to Settings / Apps / App name / Storage, then clear the cache.

• Transfer photos and videos to a computer to free up memory. Good news: I’ve prepared a step-by-step tutorial just for that!

Good to know:
It is not possible to significantly reduce the size of the Android operating system unless you reset the phone. However, the problem will return, as updates are installed regularly.

These steps can free up several gigabytes on a full smartphone and improve overall performance.

Move Apps to a microSD car

For some apps, it’s also possible to move them to a microSD card. To do this, see my tutorial on how to move an app to an SD card.

3. Increase storage with a microSD card

If your phone has a microSD card slot, you can significantly increase its storage capacity:

• Check SD card usage in the settings.

• Enable the option “Save photos and videos to SD card” to free up internal memory.

• If you don’t have one yet, a 64 GB or 128 GB microSD card costs less than €20 and allows you to store photos, videos, and even some apps.

This solution is ideal for older smartphones or devices with limited internal storage.

Conclusion

Storage space should be a key criterion when buying a smartphone, especially if you use social apps like WhatsApp, which accumulate photos and videos in conversations. Regularly checking storage usage, cleaning your device, and adding a microSD card are the best ways to keep your phone running smoothly and avoid “storage full” warning messages.

FAQ – Free Up Storage Space on a Phone

Why is my phone storage always full?

Your storage fills up because of photos, videos, apps, and system files. Messaging apps like WhatsApp also store many media files automatically, which quickly takes up space.

How do I check my phone’s storage?

Go to Settings, then Storage (or Device care). You will see how much space is used and what is taking up the most memory (apps, photos, videos, etc.).

What should I delete first to free up space?

Start by deleting large apps you no longer use, then remove unnecessary photos and videos. Clearing app cache can also help without deleting your data.

Does deleting photos permanently remove them?

Yes, unless they are backed up (for example in Google Photos or iCloud). Always check your backup before deleting important files.

Can I free up space without deleting apps?

Yes, you can clear app cache, move files to a computer, or transfer photos and videos to cloud storage to free up space.

What is a microSD card and how does it help?

A microSD card is a small memory card you can insert into your phone to increase storage. You can store photos, videos, and sometimes apps on it.

Why is my phone slow when storage is full?

When storage is almost full, your phone cannot manage temporary files properly, which can slow down apps and overall performance.

Should I reset my phone to free up space?

A reset can free up space, but it deletes all your data. It should only be used as a last resort after trying other solutions.

Thibaut Mathieu