How To Get More Storage On iPhone For Free

Elsa Updated on Feb 28, 2025 Filed to: iOS Parental

When you attempt to take a picture, download a new application, or install a software update, but you get the "Storage Full" notification. It's frustrating, isn't it? If your iPhone is lack of storage, it begins to get slower, and you won't be able to store new files.

But don't worry, because we will show you some methods to get more storage on iPhone. In this guide, you will know some simple ways to gain more storage on iPhone and get your phone smoothly again.

Part 1. Check Your iPhone Storage Usage

Running out of storage also slows down your iPhone, you can’t install apps, and even receive messages. This is due to different files consuming space, such as applications, pictures, system files, and cached files.

Before you learn how to get more iPhone storage, you need to know what is consuming the most space.

How to Check iPhone Storage

Apple makes it easy to see what is using up space on your iPhone. Here is how to check it:

  1. Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Step 2. Tap General.
  3. Step 3. Select iPhone Storage.
  4. check storage on iphone

You'll see a list of what is using storage, including apps, pictures, and system files. It can help you to decide what to delete or control in order to free up space.

check iphone storage

What is System Data on iPhone?

When checking your storage, you may find something listed called System Data (previously referred to as "Other"). This includes:

ApplicationsAll installed applications and their stored data.
iOS System FilesThe files that allow your iPhone to work seamlessly.
System DataTemporary files, application caches, logs, Safari history.

System Data builds up a lot of space over time. Removing cache and unnecessary files can minimize it.

Part 2. How to Get More iPhone Storage For Free

If your phone is lack of storage, do not panic! There are many ways to free up storage without spending a cent.

Here how to get more iPhone storage:

1. Delete Unused Apps

Apps take up a lot of storage, especially social media apps and games. If you've not used an application for a long time, you should delete it.

How to uninstall an application and manage space on iPhone:

  1. Step 1. Press and hold the application icon on your home screen.
  2. Step 2. Tap Remove App > Delete App
  3. Step 3. Confirm by tapping Delete.

get more iphone storage

Or, you can go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, select an application, and delete it using the Delete App option.

delete apps

2. Enable Automatically Offload Apps

If you do not want to delete apps completely, you can enable Offload Unused Apps. This removes the application but keeps its data, making it easy to install it again in the future.

Here's how to free up storage space on iPhone:

  1. Step 1. Go to settings.
  2. Step 2. Tap iTunes & App Store.
  3. Step 3. Select Enable Unused App Offload.
get more storage on iphone by offload apps

Your iPhone will automatically remove apps you don't use often while keeping your data safe.

3. Clear Cache and Data

Apps store temporary files can also take up storage space. Removing them can free up storage space.

Here's how to clear storage on iPhone:

  1. Step 1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
  2. Step 2. Select an application.
  3. Step 3. Delete the application and then install it again.
delete apps

For Safari browser cache

  1. Step 1. Open Settings.
  2. Step 2. Scroll down and click Safari.
  3. Step 3. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
get more storage on iphone by clearing cache

4. Upload Files to iCloud

Moving files to iCloud also frees up storage space on your iPhone.

How to upload files to iCloud and get rid of full iPhone storage:

  1. Step 1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
  2. Step 2. Tap iCloud Drive to turn it on.
  3. Step 3. Move photos, videos, and files to iCloud
get more storage on iphone by utilizing icloud

You can also use alternatives to Google Drive or OneDrive.

5. Stop Automatic Saving on iMessage and WhatsApp

Stop saving all media on iMessage

  1. Step 1. Go to Settings, then to Messages.
  2. Step 2. Tap Keep Messages and select 30 Days to automatically delete old messages.
get more storage iphone

Stop automatic saving on WhatsApp

  1. Step 1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
  2. Step 2. 2.Tap Chats and then toggle off Save to Photos.
get more storage phone

In this way, photos and vidoes you received won't be automatically saved to Photos.

6. Optimize Photo Storage

Your iPhone also has a function to save space by storing smaller versions of photographs on your phone with originals in iCloud. You can enable this function to add more storage to iPhone

  1. Step 1. Go to Photos in Settings.
  2. Step 2. Select Optimize iPhone Storage.

optimize photo storage

This will help free up storage without losing your photos.

7. Use a USB Drive

If you do not want to use cloud storage, you can transfer files to a USB flash drive that is compatible with iPhones. Plug in the drive using a Lightning to USB adapter and transfer pictures, videos, or files.

8. Reset Your iPhone (Last Option)

If your iPhone is still low on space, you can reset it to delete everything and begin again. Do this only after you've backed up files of significance!

How to reset your iPhone to get back all the memory on your iPhone:

  1. Step 1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  2. Step 2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
  3. Step 3. Confirm the reset.

reset my phone

⚠️ Warning : This procedure will delete all of the contents of your device, so you should backup your files in advance.

Part 3. How to Get More iCloud Storage

If you do not want to delete your pictures, videos, or messages, you can purchase more storage using iCloud. With iCloud, you can upload your files online, freeing up more space on your iPhone.

There are two methods of getting more iCloud storage:

1. Buy iCloud Storage for Your iPhone

Apple gives you a total of 5GB of complimentary storage in iCloud, but this is soon used up. If you need more storage, you can buy more using an iCloud+ subscription.

How to buy iCloud storage:

  1. Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Step 2. Tap [Your Name] at the top.
  3. Step 3. Select iCloud > Account Storage Management.
  4. Step 4. Tap Change Storage Plan.
  5. Step 5. Choose a storage option of 50GB, 200GB, or 2TB.
  6. Step 6. Tap Buy to finalize the payment process.

buy icloud storage

Once upgraded, your iPhone will backup files to iCloud automatically, freeing up phone storage space.

2. Use iCloud Family Sharing

If your family is already signed up for iCloud+, you won't need to buy more storage—you can simply share it with them. Apple allows a maximum of six family members to share a single iCloud storage plan.

How to join iCloud family sharing:

  1. Step 1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Step 2. Tap [Your Name] > Family Sharing.
  3. Step 3. Tap Subscriptions > iCloud+.
  4. Step 4. If your household is already subscribed to an active iCloud+ subscription, ask them to invite you.
  5. icloud family sharing

  6. Step 5. Accept the invitation and start using the shared storage.

With Family Sharing, everyone's info stays personal, so you won't have to worry that someone else is looking at your files.

What Happens If Your iPhone Storage Is Full

When your iPhone is full, it can cause many problems that affect the way that your phone is working.

Lack of iPhone storage
  • Can't Download or Update Apps.
  • Can't Take Any Photos or Videos.
  • Can't Receive New Messages or Emails
  • Your iPhone Performance Will Be Slow
  • App Crashes
  • Can't Install iOS Updates

Conclusion

So, that's how to get more storage on iPhone. Managing your iPhone storage is key to ensuring  your phone works smoothly and preventing download failure. With these simple tips, you can free up space, store files safely, and keep your iPhone in working order without any hassle.

FAQ

1. Why is my iPhone storage full even though I don't have many apps?
Elsa
Elsa
Your iPhone's storage is also going to be full since system files, cached files, pictures, videos, and messages also take up storage space. Even when you do not use many applications, application caches, software updates for iOS, and downloads can take up storage space over time.
2. Can I recover storage after deleting apps on iPhone?
Elsa
Elsa
Yes! When you delete an application, that space it occupied will be freed up immediately. If the application stored files in iCloud, that file is going to remain there until you manually delete it from your iCloud storage.
3. What's the best way to free up iPhone storage without deleting anything?
Elsa
Elsa
If you do not want to delete something, you can upload your files, videos, and photographs to iCloud to save storage space. Alternatively, you can use a USB flash drive to store files externally to free up storage space on your device.
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Elsa
Elsa
Elsa has worked on a number of iOS & Android solutions, she can always find her way around almost any application. She is an accomplished, skilled and versatile writer with more than 7 years of technical article writing experience.
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