Not having enough storage space to do what you want to do on your phone can be an incredibly frustrating experience. You may receive pop-ups that alert you to your storage space issues — just when you need storage the most. According to Parvinder Singh, Technology Head Columnist at Parental Daily, there is one major storage mistake you’re probably making that isn’t doing you any favors. Here’s the error and how to address it.
You Have Insufficient Storage Space
One storage mistake that can significantly slow down an iPhone is having insufficient available storage space on the device, Singh notes. “When your iPhone’s storage is nearly full, it can lead to various performance issues and a slower overall experience,” Singh says. Here are the reasons why Singh says this happens:
Why it leads to a slower phone
Limited RAM Availability:
“When storage space is low, the iPhone's operating system and apps have less room to store temporary data,” Singh says. “This can result in frequent app crashes, slower app launches, and overall sluggishness as the device struggles to manage limited resources.”
Reduced Cache Efficiency
Caches are used by apps to store temporary data for quicker access, according to Singh. “When storage is full, apps have less space to create and manage their caches, leading to increased load times and decreased performance,” he says.
Limited System Functionality
“Insufficient storage can impact the system's ability to perform essential tasks, such as background app updates, syncing data, and creating backups,” Singh says. “This can result in delays, interruptions, and overall system slowdowns.”
How to remedy this mistake
Delete Unnecessary Files: “Start by identifying and removing files you no longer need, such as old photos, videos, or large app downloads,” Singh says. “Regularly review and delete unnecessary files to free up storage space.”
Offload Apps: iOS offers an option to "Offload Unused Apps" under Settings > General > iPhone Storage, Singh notes. “Enabling this feature removes the app but retains its documents and data,” he says. “This way, you can reclaim storage while keeping your app data intact. The app can be reinstalled when needed.”
Optimize Photo and Video Storage: “Utilize iCloud Photo Library or other cloud storage options to store your photos and videos, enabling you to free up space on your device while still accessing your media when needed,” Singh says.
Clear App Caches: Some apps have built-in cache-clearing options within their settings, Singh says. “Check individual app settings and clear caches selectively to free up space.”
Remove Unused Apps: Delete apps that you no longer use or rarely use. “This helps reduce the overall storage consumption on your device,” Singh says.
Use External Storage: Singh recommends that you consider using external storage options, such as wireless drives or cloud services, to offload files and data from your iPhone, allowing you to access them when necessary without occupying device storage.
“By actively managing your storage and ensuring sufficient free space, you can help maintain optimal performance and prevent slowdowns on your iPhone,” Singh says. “Regularly reviewing your storage usage and removing unnecessary files and apps is key to keeping your device running smoothly.”
