Expanding your phone's storage: everything you need to know
Running out of storage? Discover how to make smarter use of your phone's memory, what your options are, and when a refurbished handset with more storage is the better choice.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-06-17
You're about to take a photo when the message appears: "Insufficient storage space." Frustrating — especially when it happens at the worst possible moment. The immediate question is: can you expand your phone's storage, and if so, how? The answer depends largely on your device, but there's always a solution. From free decluttering tips to an SD card or a refurbished upgrade — we cover all your options in this article.
Quick summary: You can expand your phone's storage via a microSD card (on Android), cloud storage, smart decluttering, or by switching to a device with more internal storage. iPhones don't support expandable storage, but Apple offers iCloud as an alternative.
Why does your phone storage fill up so fast?
We see it every day in our workshop: customers who think their phone has slowed down, when the real culprit is a full storage drive. Apps grow larger with every update, high-resolution photos and videos swallow gigabytes, and WhatsApp folders quietly pile up for months. A phone with 64 GB fills up surprisingly fast — especially if you're also storing apps, music and podcasts.
Sound familiar? You're far from alone. The real question is: what's the smartest approach for your situation when it comes to expanding your phone's storage or using it more efficiently?
Option 1: Clear out what you already have
Before spending any money, it's always worth doing a quick internal clean-up first. You'll be surprised how much space you can reclaim without buying a thing.
- WhatsApp media: Go to Settings → Storage and Data → Manage Storage. Large files can be deleted with a single tap.
- Clear app cache: Especially on Android: Settings → Apps → select an app → Storage → Clear Cache.
- Duplicate photos: Google Photos and the iPhone Photos app both have a built-in tool to find and remove duplicates.
- Unused apps: When did you last open that step-counter app? Exactly.
- Downloads folder: Easily overlooked, but often packed with PDFs, APKs and videos you no longer need.
For some customers, this frees up 5 to 10 GB with ease. Not bad for ten minutes of work.
Option 2: Insert a microSD card (Android)
For many Android users, this is the easiest way to expand your phone's storage. A 128 GB microSD card can cost less than €15 and takes a minute to install. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Which Android devices support an SD card?
Not all Android phones have a microSD slot. The higher-end Samsung Galaxy S series (S21 onwards) no longer includes one, for example, but the Galaxy A series still does in many cases. Always check the specifications of your device on the manufacturer's website.
What can you store on an SD card?
Photos, videos, music and documents are easy to move to an SD card. Moving apps is trickier: not all apps allow it, and some run more slowly when stored on external storage. Use your SD card primarily for media, not as app storage.
SD card speed classes
| Class |
Minimum write speed |
Suitable for |
| Class 10 / U1 |
10 MB/s |
Photos, music, documents |
| U3 / V30 |
30 MB/s |
Recording and playing back 4K video |
| A1 / A2 |
10–30 MB/s + IOPS |
Apps and fast access |
For everyday use, a U1 or A1 card from a reputable brand (Samsung, SanDisk, Lexar) is more than sufficient. Avoid the cheapest no-name options — they're notoriously unreliable.
Option 3: Set up cloud storage
Cloud storage is the go-to solution for iPhone users, but works just as well on Android. Your photos and videos are automatically synced to a server, after which you can delete them from your device without losing them.
The most popular services:
- iCloud — 5 GB free, then €0.99/month for 50 GB (ideal for iPhone)
- Google Photos — Storage shared with Google Drive; 15 GB free, then €2.99/month for 100 GB
- OneDrive — 5 GB free; Microsoft 365 subscribers get 1 TB included
- Dropbox — 2 GB free, paid plans from €9.99/month
One thing to bear in mind: cloud storage works best with a stable Wi-Fi connection. If you store a lot of large video files, your mobile data will drain quickly unless you set your uploads to Wi-Fi only.
Can you expand an iPhone's storage?
Honest answer: no. Apple doesn't build SD card slots into iPhones, and the internal storage can't be replaced or upgraded. That's a deliberate choice on Apple's part — and it means you need to think carefully about which storage variant you choose when buying.
Based on our experience at The Phone Shopper, many people regret opting for the smallest storage option. With iPhones especially, it pays to go one step higher. It'll save you years of that annoying "storage full" notification.
The practical alternatives for iPhone users:
- Activate iCloud and let it automatically upload your photos
- Transfer media to your Mac or PC via iTunes or Finder
- Use an external storage dongle (Lightning or USB-C) — it works, but isn't practical for daily use
- Switch to a refurbished iPhone with more internal storage
That last option makes more sense than you might think. We stock refurbished iPhones ranging from 128 GB to 512 GB — at a fraction of the new price.
Step by step: how to expand your Android phone's storage
- Check whether your device has a microSD slot — consult the manual or look up your model on GSMArena.com.
- Buy a reliable microSD card — choose at least 64 GB, preferably 128 GB or more from Samsung or SanDisk.
- Insert the card — use the included SIM ejector pin to open the tray. Click the card into place and slide the tray back in.
- Format the SD card on your phone — go to Settings → Storage → SD card → Format. Choose "Portable storage" for maximum flexibility.
- Move your media — open the Files app and move photos, videos and downloads to the SD card.
- Set your camera to save to the SD card — go to the Camera app → Settings → Storage location → SD card.
Done. Your phone now has significantly more working space, without having to delete a thing.
When is a new (or refurbished) device the better choice?
Sometimes a storage problem is a symptom of a bigger issue: your device is simply too old or too limited for your current needs. If your phone is also slowing down, the battery drains quickly or apps crash regularly, then expanding your phone's storage is a plaster over a deeper wound.
In that case, it's worth looking at a refurbished device with more storage. At The Phone Shopper in Nijverdal, we sell refurbished smartphones that have been checked by our technicians across more than 100 points. They come with a 2-year warranty, free shipping within the Netherlands and a 30-day return policy. You can trade in your current device directly with us — we offer a fair valuation and pay out within 24 hours.
Want to know what your Samsung is worth? Browse our Samsung range and check your trade-in value — it can sometimes make a new device much more affordable than you'd expect.
Customers from Almelo, Rijssen, Hengelo or Enschede often find it well worth a visit to our shop in Nijverdal (Willem Alexanderstraat 11). We'll give you honest advice about what's the best choice for you — even if that means recommending you stick with your current device.
Frequently asked questions
Can I expand my iPhone's storage with an SD card?
No, iPhones don't have a microSD slot and the internal storage cannot be expanded. Your best alternatives are iCloud for automatic photo backup, or switching to an iPhone with more internal storage. At The Phone Shopper, refurbished iPhones are available in variants up to 512 GB.
How much storage do I actually need on my phone?
For light use — calls, messaging, the occasional photo — 64 GB is sufficient. For average use, including apps, photos and videos, we recommend at least 128 GB. If you shoot a lot of high-quality photos or download videos regularly, go for 256 GB or more. It's better to get it right once than to keep running into a full storage warning.
What's the difference between internal storage and RAM on a phone?
Internal storage is where your apps, photos and files are saved — similar to a laptop's hard drive. RAM is the working memory your phone uses to run active apps smoothly. You can expand your phone's storage via an SD card or cloud, but RAM is always fixed and cannot be upgraded.
Is cloud storage safe for my photos and files?
Generally, yes. Services like iCloud and Google Photos use encryption to protect your files. That said, we'd recommend never relying solely on the cloud. A local backup on your PC or an external hard drive adds an extra layer of security — especially for irreplaceable photos.
Does it matter which brand of microSD card I buy?
Absolutely. Cheap no-name SD cards have a significantly higher risk of data failure and can even corrupt your media files. Stick to brands like Samsung, SanDisk or Lexar. They cost a little more, but you're paying for reliability — and that's worth it when your photos and videos are at stake.
Can The Phone Shopper help me with my full phone?
Of course. Whether you need advice about storage, help setting up cloud storage, a , or help finding a refurbished device with more memory — you're welcome in our shop in Nijverdal. Give us a call on 0548-549536 or just pop in at Willem Alexanderstraat 11.
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