Whether you are using a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone, it is common to encounter various issues. It helps if you are tech-savvy and know how to overcome them on your own, but not everyone has the necessary knowledge, meaning that they might be stuck with a problem for a while. Read this article carefully to free up storage on your digital devices.
One of the examples of such a problem is the lack of free storage. If there is not enough available space, you are bound to encounter sluggish performance, random crashes, and freezes, to name a few.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to deal with the problem. If you have some time that you can dedicate to better storage management, then you should make the most out of the six tips mentioned in this article.
Stick to Streaming Services
Streaming services like Netflix and Spotify changed the way we consume media. Music, movies, TV shows, and other types of entertainment, such as sports, are available on demand.
Instead of hoarding media files on your device, you can access the desired medium on streaming platforms. Of course, in the case of a tablet or a smartphone, it is not like you can keep that many large files, but music tracks, for example, do not consume that much space individually. However, if you are not careful, the number of files accumulates, and you will have an issue.
Sure, streaming networks require subscription fees, but they are worth it not just as a means to solve potential storage issues but also because they offer a great way to consume media.
This particular piece of advice is valuable not just because it solves some storage problems, but also because it offers a more convenient way to watch movies and TV shows and listen to music.
Get Rid of Unnecessary Files
Deleting files permanently is one of the best ways to solve issues with a device’s storage. There are bound to be some redundant data, such as old downloads, temporary system junk, localization files, and so on.
Carefully look through the device’s folders and figure out which files are not necessary. It might take a while to look through everything, but it is inevitable if you wish to become better at managing the storage of your devices.
If you want to remove data from a computer permanently, remember that dragging files in the Trash Bin or using the Delete key (depends on what operating system you have) is not necessarily enough.
You also need to empty the Trash Bin after putting files in it. Or, as an alternative, use keyboard shortcuts that remove files.
For example, if you are on a MacBook, you need to hit (Option + Command + Delete). On MS Windows, the combination is (Shift + Delete). In both instances, there is a popup that functions as a safety net. You need to confirm the popup to get rid of the file or files for good.
Transfer Files to Different Locations
Even though deleting redundant files is a good approach, you can also use a different methodology. External storage solutions are a solid option, and it makes even more sense if you have files, you do not want to lose. So it’s always recommended to free up storage on your digital devices.
As far as external storage options go, you can pick between accessories and clouds or combine the two. Let’s look at both in more detail.
- External Storage Accessories A hard drive is usually the go-to accessory for external storage needs. You can get a decent option for somewhere between 30 and 50 dollars. And since HDDs provide up to a couple of TB of total space, it should be more than enough. Other than an external HDD, you could also consider a USB flash stick.This option is cheaper and more compact, but flash sticks do not provide as much space. One other thing to note about external storage accessories, particularly when you compare them to cloud services, is that physical hardware is still likely to break, so do not rely on an HDD or a USB flash stick to last forever.
- Cloud Storage Thanks to the benefits of cloud storage, you have great services, such as iCloud and Dropbox. The two are the most popular, but you can also find alternatives. Most cloud services offer a few gigabytes of storage for free with an option to expand it, though it requires a monthly fee. For example, iCloud offers 3 different monthly plans, including 50 extra GB for $0.99, 200GB for $2.99, and 2TB for $9.99.
Safety and flexibility to move files back and forth between your device and cloud account are two notable benefits in addition to having the means to free up storage. Moreover, you can create a mini ecosystem for your digital devices and share files between them hassle-free so long as each device (a computer, smartphone, tablet) is synced with the cloud account and has access to an internet connection.
Check If Malware Is Consuming Storage
There are different kinds of malware and viruses, and you face one that slowly consumes drive space. Unless you have a reliable anti-malware tool that can solve the threat problem, you should not expect to manage the situation yourself.
Some cybersecurity threats attack a device and start to consume its storage. In most cases, this consumption is quite slow, and users cannot identify the problem.
Rely on antivirus software and use it to detect and eliminate malware and viruses. And remember that investing in such a tool is worth it, not just to solve storage issues. A secure device is also a benefit, right?
Use Cleaner Apps for Efficiency
Some of the best mac cleaner apps are a great example of how you can use a tool to solve potential storage issues.
Since temporary system junk like cache, backups, and extensions can snowball and consume a significant portion of a device’s drive storage, you want to get rid of them. However, the problem is that accessing these files and deleting them manually comes with its own challenges.
You risk deleting an important file accidentally if you do not understand what different files do. Moreover, it is not efficient if you need to look through files and get rid of them individually.
Archive Some Files
The last bit of advice might feel like a bit of a stretch, but it is still worth considering, particularly if you are missing just a little bit to make file management on your devices optimal.
Archiving files and keeping them in ZIP or RAR format is a bit inconvenient, but this option still allows you to have the file on the device and reduce its size.
Reinstall the Operating System
Sometimes, you might be left with an option to give the device a clean slate because the storage issues persist despite your best efforts.
If that is the case, you need to reinstall the operating system on a computer or reset your mobile device to factory settings.
Keep in mind, though, that resetting to factory settings or reinstalling an operating system means losing the files on your device. As such, you want to back up important files you wish to keep.
Conclusion
All in all, storage issues on your computer or mobile devices occur and can snowball if you are not careful. As soon as you notice that there is less free space, do not hesitate and take some action. The tips mentioned in this article should work as a reference to free up storage on your devices so that there are more than just a few free gigabytes on them. Hope this article will help you to free up storage on your digital devices.
