“I just checked the storage space last month!”
“I only use this laptop for Youtube and homework!”
These are common phrases said when users discover their remaining storage space. It doesn’t matter if you have 16, 32, or 1,000 gigs of storage, eventually, that space will be filled up. Performing virtually any task on an electronic device is going to use up memory. Downloading files, watching movies, even saving passwords will slowly eat away at precious storage space. Here are some common ways to remedy this problem, and hopefully, prevent it from happening in the future.
Clear Caches, Cookies, and Downloads
Using the internet in any capacity will eventually lead to a buildup of a few main data users: caches, cookies, and downloads. Caches hold temporary data that allows websites to load faster; cookies are tiny bits of information stored on your device from a website such as a language preference; and lastly, downloads are anything a device receives from the internet. Go to your device’s personal settings and then your internet settings to empty out the data stored in caches, cookies, and downloads from time to time. This may slightly slow down a few memory-based features of your favorite websites, but your data storage will be freed up because of it.
Photos and Videos
An overlooked data sink is digital media. Photos – like snowflakes – might seem insignificant, but they can slowly build and grow, creating a massive data avalanche. Videos are the same concept. Seeing as how videos are just many photos stitched together with audio, the file size and data taken up by them can be enormous. An average video on a smartphone can easily be 5 to 50 megabytes. More resolution and length of time can even exceed gigabytes. Having trouble turning on your smartphone? Here a 6 ways to address that problem.
Big Data
Have too much data but don’t want to get rid of it because it’s too important? Big Data has got you covered. Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Apple’s Cloud-based services can store many gigabytes of data for a subscription-based plan. Being a new invention, check out exactly how Big Data works with the data management professionals at Amitech Solutions.
External Drive
Lastly, like mentioned above, if you don’t want to remove precious data from your device but don’t have internet access, an external drive is the perfect solution. Ranging from small 100 megabytes flash drives to some serious 1 terabyte or higher options, external drives come in many different sizes for most personal needs.