How to increase your phone storage without deleting photos

In an age dominated by selfies, screenshots, and high-resolution memories, smartphone users around the world are facing a frustratingly common issue: running out of storage space.

With photo galleries rapidly growing thanks to social media, cloud syncing, and 4K video capabilities, many users find themselves at a digital crossroads, delete cherished memories, pay for and buy extra storage or lose access to essential apps and updates.

But tech experts say there is no need to delete your photos to reclaim valuable space.

A range of innovative and accessible solutions exists to expand storage or manage media more efficiently.

Cloud storage: the digital lifeline

One of the most effective and widely adopted solutions is cloud storage.

Services like Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive allow users to automatically upload photos to the cloud, freeing up local space on the device.

“By enabling the ‘Free Up Space’ option in Google Photos, for instance, users can remove the local versions of images that are safely stored online,” says Francis Mwangi, a phone expert in Nairobi.

“It’s seamless and keeps your memories safe.”

Apple users can activate “Optimise iPhone Storage” through iCloud settings.

This keeps lower-resolution versions of photos on the phone, while the originals remain in the cloud, accessible at any time.

External storage: portable and practical

For those who prefer physical backups, external drives offer a reliable solution.

Devices like SanDisk iXpand for iPhones or USB-C flash drives for Android phones provide expandable storage that plugs directly into your phone.

“Many users don’t realise that modern smartphones support external storage via OTG (On-The-Go) USB,” explains Mwangi.

“You can offload photos in bulk and carry them with you like a digital photo album, but this time, save them in a hard drive, which is external storage.”

Additionally, wireless hard drives like the WD My Passport Wireless connect via Wi-Fi and let users back up photos without cables.

Transfer to a computer

Although it is very old school, you can transfer your photos to your computer.

This can be done via USB connection, followed by manually moving images from the device to folders on the computer.

“It’s a tried-and-true method,” says Mwangi.

“If you’re concerned about privacy or data plans, using a computer is straightforward and secure.”

Compress, do not delete

Apps that compress images can also make a significant difference.

By reducing file sizes while maintaining image quality, users can retain their photos and gain storage space.

Popular options include: Photo compress 2.0 (Android), photo shrink and compress (iOS), JPEG mini (cross-platform).

“People are often surprised how much space they can save without a noticeable difference in photo quality,” Mwangi adds.

MicroSD cards

Many Android phones still offer microSD card slots, allowing users to move photos off internal storage.

This can also be set as the default save location for the camera app, ensuring future photos do not consume the phone's memory.

iPhones, unfortunately, do not support external memory cards, making cloud storage even more essential for Apple users.

Beyond photos: clear cache and junk files

Mwangi suggests that cleaning up space used by app caches and temporary files, which can silently consume gigabytes of storage, is very easy.

Navigate to the Files by Google (Android) or access your phone settings and turn off unused Apps (iOS), this can help free up space without touching your photos at all.

As phone cameras improve and image libraries swell, storage management has become a digital necessity.

Fortunately, with the help of cloud services, physical backups, and smart tools, users no longer have to make the painful choice between keeping their memories and maintaining functionality.

“Make backups a habit, and your photos will never be at risk, or take up all your space,” Mwangi says.