iPhone users typically have good experiences with their phones, with only minor bumps in the road. However, sometimes, when its storage is too full, or it’s running too slowly, it can be tempting to get rid of it.
Like any smartphone, there are lots of reasons why someone’s iPhone is out of storage, whether it’s too many photos, texts, apps, etc. Something important for users to keep in mind when using their iPhones is that when they have no more storage space, it can lag and run slowly. This is why utilizing certain settings that can optimize your experience is essential. Read more about three iPhone features and settings that can help free space and keep your phone running smoothly below.
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1. Get Rid Of Streaming App Downloads
Most smartphone users are subscribed to at least one kind of streaming service, whether that be something like Spotify for music or Peacock for shows. Additionally, many users tend to have app versions of these platforms downloaded to their iPhones, where, with premium subscriptions, they can often download certain songs, episodes, or files to their device so they can watch them without service or WiFi. However, having too many of these downloaded files can take up a lot more space than you'd think.
"Downloading streaming media applications, including but not limited to Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, and podcast applications, is also a major cause of wasted space," explains tech pro Tomas Novosad. "Offline episodes, playlists, and videos stored in these applications are easily missed due to their location within each application vs. being located in the primary file management section."
1. Keeping Background App Refresh On
When it comes to settings that you might not notice, tech pros would say you should keep on your radar is Background App Refresh, as it can drain battery life and slow down devices.
"Turn off Background App Refresh located in Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh for apps that you do not use on a constant basis," suggests tech pro Paul DeMott. "This feature allows applications to update the content in the background even when it's closed, which uses processing power and drains the battery all the time. Social media apps, news apps, and games are refreshing every few minutes, whether you need them or not. Disabling this for non-essential apps will free up CPU cycles and RAM that can be utilized by your active apps, making your device much faster."
2. Texts Claiming To Be From Your Bank Or Impersonating Another Source
This night sounds obvious, but scammers today are getting better and better at sending out texts that impersonate important sources, including your bank, a go-to delivery service, and more. In these texts, scammers will often include links they want you to click on to further give them your information.
"Attackers send texts pretending to be from delivery companies, banks, HMRC, Apple, or Google, urging users to click a link or 'verify' their account," adds tech pro Darren Kimuli. "These messages often look authentic and use urgency to push quick action. Clicking the link can lead to credential theft or malware installation."
"Never tap links in unsolicited texts, even if they look official. Instead, log in through the organization's real website or app to check for alerts," he continues. "Enable two‑factor authentication so even if credentials are stolen, attackers can't easily access your accounts. Blocking unknown senders and reporting spam also reduces exposure."
