Introduction
It’s a common problem for iPhone users: you had all the storage you needed at first, but now you’re running out. Suddenly, you’re faced with the dilemma of which precious memories or important work documents to delete. But don’t fret – our guide will show you how to buy more storage on iPhone so you never have to face this problem again.
In this post, we’ll take you through a complete guide on how to buy more storage on iPhone. We’ll start with money-saving tips, then outline different approaches to expanding your iPhone’s storage capacity. We’ll also give you detailed step-by-step instructions for upgrading your iPhone’s storage and maximizing its potential. Finally, we’ll break down the different ways you can buy more storage on an iPhone and which option is right for you. By the end of this article, you’ll be confident in your ability to upgrade your iPhone’s storage and have a phone that works for you!
Money-saving tips for buying more storage on your iPhone
The best way to buy more storage on your iPhone is to reduce the amount of space your phone takes up. Here are some of the practical strategies you can use:
Clean up your phone’s storage
First, give your phone a good old clean-up. Delete all unnecessary files, such as old screenshots, downloaded files, and your recently deleted photos folder. Also, check your social media accounts to see if they’re taking up space on your phone. If you’re not ready to let go of all your favorite photos and videos, you can transfer them to an external storage device, like an external hard drive or a cloud service.
Optimize your phone’s existing storage before upgrading
Before you upgrade your iPhone’s storage, optimize its existing storage. Start by turning on iCloud backups which will ensure you don’t have to store backups of your phone on your iPhone’s own storage. Additionally, take advantage of offloading unused apps. Mostly on iOS 11 and above, you can offload unused apps which will delete the app but still hold onto its relevant data. Therefore, when you download it again later, it will be like nothing changed.
The ultimate guide to expanding your iPhone’s storage capacity
There are two main ways of expanding your iPhone’s storage capacity: by using external storage options or by physically upgrading your iPhone’s storage.
External storage options
External storage options include cloud services, external hard drives, flash drives, and wireless mobile storage. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks:
Cloud Services
Cloud services make storage a breeze, especially for people who enjoy on-the-go technology. They offer unparalleled convenience and are effective for freeing up space on your device. You can use Apple’s iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Amazon Cloud Drive. To use these services, you need to upload the data to the cloud, where it can be stored.
External Hard Drives
External hard drives are also a reliable and great option when it comes to storage capacity. However, like other external storage like flash drives and wireless mobile storage, it’s not as convenient as cloud services. This option offers speed and capacity. You can use the hard drive on multiple devices and they can be bigger than flash drives, ranging from 1TB to 8TB, therefore providing enough space for all of your files.
Physically upgrading your iPhone’s storage
To upgrade your iPhone’s storage, you can replace your phone’s existing storage chip with a larger one. Unfortunately, there are no user-serviceable parts on iPhones, so you need to take it to an Apple Store or authorized repair provider. Here are some benefits and drawbacks:
Benefits
The upgraded storage becomes a part of your phone, so it’s easier and simpler to use. This option has a faster transfer speed between applications than external storage options.
Drawbacks
The options are not as flexible, so once you make the upgrades, you can’t easily remove and replace the storage chip. This option is also more expensive than external storage options.
Step-by-step instructions for upgrading your iPhone’s storage
Upgrading your iPhone’s storage is a simple process. Here are detailed steps to guide you through the process:
Step 1: Check your iPhone model
Before anything else, you need to check and confirm which model of the iPhone you have. Proceed to the Settings app, then General, and finally select ‘About.’ Scroll down until you see your iPhone’s model number. This will let you decide which storage option is available for your iPhone.
Step 2: Back up your iPhone
Next, you need to back up your iPhone to either iCloud or iTunes. Whichever method you choose, ensure it’s securely backed up with a password. This ensures that your important data is secure, and you can easily restore it to ensure you don’t lose any important data when upgrading to the new storage plan.
Step 3: Purchase upgraded storage
You can upgrade the storage in-store at an Apple Store or by calling Apple Support. However, the most convenient method is to purchase the larger storage chip online. Simply select the storage option you want on Apple’s website, add it to your cart, and proceed to checkout. Ensure that you’re getting the correct storage chip for your phone.
Step 4: Replace the storage chip
This step requires a level of expertise. Unfortunately, due to iPhones being non-user-serviceable parts, you may need to visit an authorized repair provider to assist in replacing the storage chip. You can also schedule a Genius visit or go directly to an Apple Store.
Step 5: Restore iPhone data
Lastly, restore your iPhone data that you backed up in step 2. This ensures your iPhone is working normally and all the data you backed up is now restored.
Maximizing your iPhone’s storage potential
To better manage your iPhone’s storage, consider the following tips and tricks:
Enable iCloud
iCloud takes care of your backups automatically, ensuring that your photos, contacts, and other critical data are backed up daily. Simply select what data you want automatically backed up and ensure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi when charging.
Use third-party apps
There are several third-party apps that can help you manage your iPhone’s storage. These apps go above and beyond the basic iPhone Storage options. Some of the apps include Documents, Google Photos, Clean Doctor, among others. They also provide various features including deleting duplicate files, temporary files, and unused files.
Offload apps automatically
Turning on the Offloading unused apps option in the iPhone Storage options guarantees your used apps are all up and running while your unused apps could be taken off your phone. Therefore, it will take less space on your iPhone.
How to determine how much storage you need and how to add it to your iPhone
How to assess your storage needs
To determine your storage needs, check how much space is currently used and how much space is remaining. Go to the Settings app, select General and Storage & iCloud Usage to see what’s taking up your space. If you realize that you need more space and want to buy more storage, ensure you check which iPhone storage works with yours between iCloud storage and onboard storage.
Storage capacity
The storage capacity varies with your iPhone model, and it is advisable to get an iPhone with the larger storage capacity. The storage options currently available are 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
The different ways to buy more storage on an iPhone and which one is right for you
Option 1: iCloud storage
You can purchase more storage for your iCloud account by heading to the iCloud storage & backup option in your iPhone settings app. Here, you can select the amount of storage you want and subscribe to an iCloud storage plan.
Benefits
- iCloud storage is inexpensive, with plans starting at $0.99/month for 50GB of storage
- Easy to set up and manage
- Allows you to share storage with your family group
Drawbacks
- After the free tier, iCloud storage plans are not cheap
- iCloud storage has a cap and may not be the ideal fit, especially when you have boats loads of data.
- Dependent on an internet connection, which could be expensive at times.
Option 2: Physically upgrading your iPhone storage
You can also upgrade your iPhone storage by physically replacing your iPhone’s existing storage chip with one that has more memory.
Benefits
- Your storage capacity is unlimited
- Guaranteed fast transfer speed between applications
- You can choose a storage capacity that fits your exact needs
- You own the storage, and the could levels of data security and privacy are guaranteed
Drawbacks
- It’s costly, with prices ranging from $50 to $300
- Not user-friendly unless you’re tech-savvy
- Requires professional assistance, which can be a hassle and time-consuming
Why upgrading your iPhone’s storage is worth the investment and how to do it
Upgrading your iPhone’s storage is definitely worth the investment. It’s possible to free up enough space by deleting unnecessary files and using cloud services, but it’s easier to maintain storage capacity that is greater than required. Therefore, the best course of action is to buy more storage on your iPhone. By upgrading your storage, you’ll guarantee that your data is secure and you’ll enjoy more space to store more photos, videos, music files, and other important documents.
To get started, assess your storage needs, and determine which storage upgrade option is best for you. If you’re not into an expensive option, consider cleaning your iPhone up regularly and use external storage services like iCloud. Whatever option you choose, ensure it’s the right fit for your specific situation.
Conclusion
Upgrading your iPhone’s storage capacity can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By following the steps outlined above, you can avoid the frustration of running out of storage on your iPhone. The most important thing is to assess your needs and determine which storage upgrade option works best for you. Whatever you choose, make sure your investment works to your advantage and guarantees you the storage space you need!
We hope this article provides you with the confidence and knowledge to upgrade your iPhone’s storage capacity.