Pre-installed apps often get a bad rap, but the truth is, many of them are essential and we wouldn’t want to live without them. From messaging and navigation to managing our calendars and capturing video and photo memories, these built-in tools are apps most of us wouldn’t dream of deleting them. However, just because they’re useful doesn’t mean they’re without drawbacks. Some of these default apps take up significant storage, run in the background, and can even contribute to battery drain if left unchecked.
Two of the biggest culprits when it comes to storage usage are also two of the most beloved: Photos and Apple Music. These apps can easily balloon in size over time, especially if you’re not paying close attention to how content is being downloaded or backed up. The good news is that you don’t have to give them up—you just need to manage them smarter. Here are a few tips for making the most of Photos and Apple Music without letting them eat up all your device’s storage.
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Photos
iPhone photos and videos can take up a significant amount of storage space. To reduce its impact, try taking a few smart steps. Start by enabling iCloud Photos with the “Optimize iPhone Storage” option turned on—this keeps full-resolution images in the cloud while storing smaller versions on your device. Regularly clear out unnecessary screenshots, duplicates, and videos (which take up a ton of space), and consider using a third-party app to help identify clutter.
Apple Music
To reduce the amount of storage that Apple Music takes up on your phone, go into Settings > Music and check Downloaded Music. Delete songs or albums you no longer listen to, and turn off “Automatic Downloads” so music isn’t saved to your device every time you add it to your library. You can also stream playlists instead of downloading them and limit high-quality downloads unless you truly need them. This can help to keep both your storage and your battery in better shape.
