Clean Out Your Phone
- Stephanie
- Sep 9, 2020
- 4 min read
I know I'm not the only one who's had to delete apps to take photos or have not been able to download a funny gif in messages because there was simply no room in my phone storage.
But I think what finally pushed me to look for every possible opportunity to clear up space on my phone was Venmo. I stumbled across people on my friends list who I hadn't spoken to in years and definitely have never interacted with on the app. I unfriended plenty of people and then had my ah-ha! moment- it was time to clean up my phone.
I do it every now and then.
Here's how.
First, I like to start off with checking my storage levels. I recently got a new phone with 64 GB and have somehow already used 60 GB.
I make a note of which apps take up the least amount of space. Usually, it's apps I downloaded but haven't really used much. I'll start with deleting these.
Today, I'll be deleting a game I didn't care for and a fast-food app that always only ends with me eating too much and feeling bad.
Next- what's taking up the most space? Messages, Photos, and Instagram, mostly.
I now know which will need the most combing-through. Instead of heading straight to those big ballers, I go through each folder in my phone and take apps on one-by-one.
I find that starting with the apps that take up the most space can be overwhelming and I lose interest in tackling the others quicker.
Here's what to look out for in each app:
Notes
Delete any notes you don't need. Remember to also delete them in the 'Recently Deleted' folder.
Photos & Videos
Delete things, ya hoarder!
Delete the random albums you have.
Weather
Delete locations you don't need the weather for.
Maps
Delete locations you don't need. For example, I drop pins to remember where I park sometimes and never remember to remove them.
Messages
Delete old messages. I came across texts asking the manager-on-duty if someone could cover a shift I had- in 2016.
Delete large attachments.
Voice Memos
Before I knew how to use apps to make TikToks, I'd record on Voice Memos then transfer recordings to iMovie. No excuse to keep those old recordings around now!
Contacts
This is a tough one and can be time-consuming but is definitely worth it. Remove contacts you don't talk to or wouldn't need to talk to.
Find My
I share my location with plenty of friends and family but also noticed some friends I don't speak to or see regularly are also on the list. Delete as needed.
Delete old devices.
Clock
I don't need 700 alarms. Especially not in a COVID world. Delete unneeded alarms, set them as you need them.
Wallet
Remove old tickets and passes.
Venmo
Delete friends you don't interact with on the app, duh! I went from over 200 friends to around 40. And that's just on round one of unfriending!
There are so many subreddits I just don't ever check out anymore. Later!
Safari, Chrome, or any other browsers
I have a terrible habit of never closing out my tabs. Taking the time to do it now.
Delete bookmarks you don't need.
Extra: delete history
Quip
I started using this app when I worked at a small company that used it to stay on the same page and communicate. Since then I've used it to make lists. Groceries, to-do, bucket list, it's all in there. Erasing things I don't need in there now.
VSCO
I don't use the social-media part of this app. The things I edit are pretty much exclusively for Instagram. I like to keep the 'Studio' section as empty as possible so I don't keep photos in there just taking up space.
TikTok
So I'm definitely a video-hoarder. I will 'like' something and never watch it again, simply because it gets lost in a sea of 'likes.' Sometimes I'll run through and unlike a few that I saved for temporary reasons. So I'll probably do so with all of the "August 27th" videos I've saved.
Also unfollowing anyone who I followed based on 'follow me for this to come true for you' content.
YouTube
Unfollow anyone you don't really pay attention to or honestly, whoever's content doesn't bring positivity to your life.
Shazam
Save the songs on Spotify, delete them from your Shazam.
Spotify
Clean up your playlists. Delete that one you made for a flight- there are like 10 songs on there and they're all in your 'likes.'
I understand that this one is pretty much impossible. I have THOUSANDS of pins, tons of boards, and I rarely reference most of them. Do your best to slim your boards down. Let's be real, the trends you saved in 2011 are just plain tacky now.
Snapchat
Unfriend that random chick you met in a bathroom at a bar if you never talk or view her story.
I know sometimes it's straight up painful but delete memories that don't serve you. There are plenty of memories I'd just rather not be reminded of.
Shopping Apps
I have the Target app, as should everyone. But I never remember to unsave offers I don't use and empty my cart.
Unlike/ unsave any items you aren't going to buy or that have sold from apps like Poshmark and Curtsy (shameless plug: use code STEPHANIER54 for $10 off your first purchase).
Unfollow accounts that make you feel negative stuff! You don't need to compare yourself to other people or feel like your life isn't as fun as theirs is.
Delete or archive posts that don't serve you.
Delete old messages.
Unfriend racists.
Delete old messages.
Unsave videos you never get around to watching.
Unlike pages you don't interact with or support anymore- looking at you, meme page from 2009.
I also delete embarrassing posts as they come up on my memories. Delete and deny.
Delete old messages.
Delete drafts that you won't ever tweet.
This round, I ended up freeing up nearly 10 GB on my phone!
It gets easier the more often I do it and is so satisfying. I still have plenty more to clean up but this was a great start!
Bonus
What's just as satisfying as cleaning out your phone contents? Cleaning your actual phone.
I won't scare you with the details I'm sure you've heard but phones are gross, dude.
The best is using alcohol-based glasses cleaners on your entire phone and case.
Happy deleting!
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