All apps take up storage space, but some are more significant contributors to storage woes than others. This is mainly because not all apps do the same things, take up the same amount of resources, or are as equally optimized for the latest iOS software as others. If storage issues on your phone are working your last nerve, you can begin to find relief by deleting some of the most obnoxious storage grabbers. These four apps take up a great deal of storage space, which means they’re also contributing to slowing down your phone. Delete them for a better performance.
1. Streaming Apps
Apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime use a lot of processing power and can strain your iPhone CPU and GPU. If you can avoid having so many streaming apps and just scale it back to one or two, this can be helpful. It’s also a good idea to regularly go through your streaming apps and delete old content like shows and movies you’ve watched. These can be sitting on your device taking up space without giving you anything back.
2. Social Media
Few apps consume resources the way social media apps can. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat — there is not reprieve from amount of resources these consume and it doesn’t matter which app you prefer (the all rely on video, photos, and constant updates). Similar to streaming apps, the only real way to make a dent in your storage space if you’re a social media consumer is to consume less of it and delete as many of these apps as you can.
3. Games
Resource-intensive games like with vivid graphics (like Fortnite and Call of Duty) require high processing power, and this can slow down your device. But augmented reality games like Pokemon Go are also draining your resources because they use your camera and sensors.
4. Location-Based Apps
Location-based apps like Waze, Google Maps, and even weather apps drain a lot of resources while you’re using them, but they may be too important and convenient to delete. The important thing is to ensure they aren’t running in the background, which is needlessly taking up space and running down your phone. Turn off Background App Refresh by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. It’s also a good idea to only turn location services on for apps that need it when you’re using the app. Go to Settings > Privacy > Locations Services > change permissions to “While Using the App” instead of “Always” to save battery power and storage.
