Running out of storage? No problem. There are so many ways you can store your data without clogging up your device storage and slowing it down. There’s nothing worse than endless pop-up notifications warning you of depleting space, shutting down your tabs, or preventing you from downloading any new files. We’ll walk you through the ins and outs of the best solutions out there.
Cloud Storage
Photos are a killer when it comes to storage. Although the size depends on the format you’re shooting in, they’re generally a lot bigger than docs, for example. They can take up space very quickly and leave little room for anything else. The easiest and most obvious solution is to turn to an online photo storage option. Storing photos, or any data, in the “cloud” means it exists in a server owned by the company rather than on your specific device.
Cloud storage can serve as your digital photo album, filing cabinet, and insurance plan. The problem with storing your data on your device only doesn’t just stop at limited memory space. There’s also the issue of backing it up – where do you store the backup? And if you don’t back it up, what happens when your storage device finally packs in? You might risk losing your files forever. However, cloud storage offers peace of mind that you can restore or recover all of your stored data from 30-180 days after accidental deletion, a virus, or the like.
The benefit of storing files locally, on your device, is the ease of access this provides. All of your files are immediately available to you when using your device. However, cloud storage offers this benefit and more, meaning that you can access all of your data from any device, anywhere.
External Hard Drives
If you don’t want to pay a monthly fee to store your files in the cloud, why not pay a one-time fee for an external hard drive? Depending on your career, lifestyle, and the gigabytes you opt for, it could take you many years to fill it up or run out in just one. There are many external hard drives on the market, ranging from high-end to basic, but they all offer a simple solution for when your device has run out of storage.
All you have to do is connect the external hard drive to your device using the appropriate wire, and transfer your files over. This is a great place for storing old work and files, but less convenient for storing files you need immediate access to regularly. Once you transfer files over to an external hard drive and remove them from your device, you’ll only ever be able to access them when the hard drive is connected.
Memory Sticks/ Flash Drives
A memory stick/flash drive is essentially a mini external hard drive. They tend to be smaller in storage capacity, which means they’re smaller in physical size too. If you’re looking for a conveniently small, and cheaper option, to store a few excess files, this could be for you. Bear in mind that their size does correlate with their price, so it’s possible to find some that are more expensive than hard drives if they can hold more gigabytes.