If your phone displays the message "storage full," you're not alone.
It's one of the most common problems for 32GB or 64GB smartphones, which are now insufficient for photos, videos, and apps.
In this guide, we explain how to free up space on your phone step by step, without deleting important memories.
🔍 1. Check what's taking up the most space
Go to:
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iPhone: Settings > General > Storage
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Android: Settings > Storage
There you'll see exactly what's filling up your device:
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Photos and videos
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WhatsApp
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Applications
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System files
👉 This first step is key before deleting anything.
🟢 2. Clean WhatsApp properly
Go to:
WhatsApp > Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage
There you can:
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Delete large videos
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Delete frequently sent files
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Clean up groups that take up gigabytes without you realizing it
Extra tip: disable automatic download in groups.
☁️ 3. Use the cloud to save your photos
Services like:
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Google Photos
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iCloud
Allow you to save your photos online and then use the "Free up space" option without losing your memories.
If you live in the Canary Islands and take a lot of photos (beach, travel, family…), this option is almost mandatory 😉
📲 4. Delete apps you don't use
Check which apps you haven't used in months.
Many phones accumulate:
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Forgotten games
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Duplicate apps
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Apps used only once
On iPhone, you can automatically enable "Offload Unused Apps."
🧹 5. Clear the cache (especially on Android)
On Android, you can clear the cache without losing personal data:
Settings > Apps > Storage > Clear cache
This removes temporary files that can take up several gigabytes.
🎥 6. Watch out for 4K videos
One minute of recording in 4K can take up hundreds of MB.
If you don't need such high quality:
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Switch to 1080p
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Delete duplicate videos
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Save old ones to an external drive
📦 What if your phone is already running out of space?
If after cleaning everything you still don't have space, the problem might not be memory… but capacity.
Nowadays, it's recommended to have:
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128GB minimum
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256GB if you take many photos or videos
Often, upgrading to a refurbished phone with more storage is more affordable than buying a new one.
At El Trueque, in Lanzarote, we offer inspected and warranted refurbished phones, an interesting alternative if your device can't keep up anymore — especially if you're in the Canary Islands and looking for local options.
