Whether you own a 64GB iPad or the smaller capacity 16GB iPhone, space will be an issue at some point or another. The fact that you keep downloading and adding apps, music, videos, and images to your device means that one day you will find, you have hardly any space left. What do you do then?

Most iPad and iPhone users don’t dive too deep into their gadgets. This means that they are not aware of how much space is being taken up by useless files. Get to know your gadget and learn how to conserve space.

Before we jump into a few simple tips on how to do so, you need to know what takes up most space on your iOS-running phone or tablet.

Apps: let’s face it. The iOS App Store is a treasure trove that you just won’t grow tired of. From smashing free apps to paid ones, the Apple store has everything for everyone. But you need to apply the brakes at some point. Constant downloading will take up all the free space because an app comes with zipped IPA files as well as unpacked files. This means that once you install it, the app will take up space that is nearly twice of its download size.

Let’s go through a few tips and tricks on how to manage space on your iPhone or iPad.

#1

Checking and deleting apps without synchronizing: Apps can be managed from iTunes, but that requires you to sync your device, which could take a long time. The current iOS allows you to manage and delete apps directly from your gadget. Go to Settings >General >Usage >Show All Apps. Here you will find apps arranged in order of the space they take up on your iPad or iPhone. The “Delete” option pops up when you swipe horizontally across an app. This is a convenient addition that allows you to get rid of an unnecessary app that is taking up too much space.

#2

Deleting photos/videos or moving them: Taking photographs with your latest iDevice would mean that each image takes up about 2MB of space. If you’ve been video recording, then expect each file to be above 100 MB depending on the length.

The smartest move is to transfer photos and videos to your PC or Mac on a regular basis. This frees up a lot of space and even acts as a backup. You won’t even have to delete media files just to manage your storage capacity.

#3

Dealing with music files: A lot of people find it hard not to store their favorite tracks on their iPhone or iPad. This means that MP3 files will take up most of your space. All you need to do is set up iTunes Home Sharing to listen to music on your computer at home or in the office.

Because of iCloud, you can now try iTunes Match. This service allows you to stream music from your personal iTunes library while on the move. Moreover, music apps like Spotify, Rdio, Pandora, etc. let you stream music whenever you’re in the mood. Save a few favorite albums on your iDevice, but not too much.

#4

iCloud: As the name suggests, users are offered a “cloud” that has a storage capacity of 5GB with an option for paid expansion. This means that any iDevice can be backed up by storing documents, images, and mails. Everything you store can be exchanged between various devices you use. This cloud computing option offered by Apple can be a major benefit for iPad and iPhone users. iTunes in the Cloud is another added feature if you want to download any song to your iDevice.

These few tips should help you manage storage without any hassle. A major frustration for many Apple fans is that the device does not come with unlimited space. While that could be possible in the future, for now you need to make do with what you have.

If you’re using the 16GB iPad or iPhone, managing space becomes a little more challenging. If you get rid of useless and unused apps, sign up for iCloud, and learn about device settings, things could be much easier. Always clean your device on a regular basis.

Editor’s Note

This is a guest post by Sharon Thomas of thecornersuite.com, a site that offers savings and current information on dish network internet. You can email her here.