Last spring my iPhone started nagging me: "iPhone Storage Almost Full." It popped up right as I was trying to take a picture of our granddaughter blowing out her birthday candles. So that evening I did what the phone seemed to be asking. I paid for more iCloud storage. A couple dollars a month. Problem solved, I figured.
The next morning at breakfast, the same message was waiting for me. "iPhone Storage Almost Full." Cindy looked over my shoulder and said, "Bob, didn't you just pay to fix that?"
Well, folks, I had paid to fix a different closet. It turns out your phone has two kinds of storage, and I'd bought more of the wrong one.
What's the difference between phone storage and cloud storage?
Phone storage is the space inside your phone itself, where your apps, downloads, and the photos on your device live. Cloud storage is space in an online account, like iCloud or your Google account, where copies of your things are kept safe on the internet. Apple explains that these are separate. Buying more cloud space doesn't make the inside of your phone any bigger.
In plain words, phone storage is inside your phone and holds your apps, downloads, and the photos kept on the device. When it's full, you'll see a message like "iPhone Storage Almost Full." Cloud storage is in your online account and holds backups and synced copies of photos. When that's full, the message names the account, like "iCloud Storage Is Full." Read the exact words before you buy anything.
How do I see what's filling up my phone?
On an iPhone, open Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. Apple's storage guide shows how this screen lists your biggest apps and offers recommendations. On an Android phone, open Settings and search for "Storage." Either way, look at the list for a minute before you delete anything.
Start with things you recognize. For me, it was old downloaded TV episodes from a vacation and a video app I hadn't opened in two years. Leave anything unfamiliar alone, especially items labeled "System."
How do I free up space without losing photos?
Here's the order, in plain words. First, confirm your photos are really backed up. Cindy's guide on checking your photo backup before deleting walks you through it. Second, optimize your photos. On an iPhone with iCloud Photos turned on, go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Photos, and choose Optimize iPhone Storage, which keeps smaller copies on the phone and full versions in iCloud. On Android, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, and choose "Free up space," which removes only device copies that are already backed up.
Third, delete old downloads you recognize, like shows you've already watched. Fourth, remove apps you don't use. iPhones can "offload" unused apps, which frees space but keeps your information in case you reinstall. Fifth, clear big old video attachments in your text messages.
Should I pay for more cloud storage?
Only if the warning is about your cloud account, or if you've run out of room to back up your photos. More cloud space is useful for keeping everything backed up. It just won't fix a full phone by itself. And remember, with iCloud Photos, deleting a photo on your phone deletes it everywhere that library syncs.
If you'd like someone to help, be specific: "Please show me what's taking up space. Don't delete anything without asking me first." And if you'd like to learn it yourself, our guide to free tech classes includes a course on cloud storage.
What fixed my phone
I turned on Optimize iPhone Storage, deleted two gigabytes of vacation TV episodes, and offloaded four apps I'd forgotten I had. The warning disappeared that afternoon, and every single photo is still there. I kept the extra iCloud space, too, because now all our pictures fit in the backup. Turns out it was a good purchase. Just not the fix I thought it was.
Read the message before you reach for your wallet, folks.
What's taking up the most space on your phone? Check Settings and tell us in the comments. I bet a few of you have old downloads hiding in there too.
