TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps, allowing users to watch, create, and share short videos. However, all those videos can quickly eat up storage space on your iPhone. If you find your phone low on storage, there are several ways to reduce the amount of space TikTok takes up.
Delete the Cache and Data
One of the easiest ways to clear up TikTok storage is by deleting the cache and app data. The cache contains temporary files stored by TikTok, while the app data includes your profile information, preferences, and other saved details. Here’s how to delete both on iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on General.
- Tap on iPhone Storage.
- Wait for the page to load, then select TikTok from the list of apps.
- On the next screen, tap on Offload App, then tap again to confirm.
This will delete the TikTok cache and clear the app data. Your videos and favorites will not be deleted. You can simply reinstall TikTok from the App Store to get the app back.
Remove Downloaded Videos
If you have videos saved to your device for offline viewing, they can quickly consume storage. To remove downloaded videos from TikTok:
- Open TikTok and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap on the three-line menu icon in the upper right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy.”
- Tap on “Data and storage.”
- Under “Storage usage,” tap on “Clear cache” to delete the cache.
- Under “Downloads,” tap “Delete” next to each video to remove it.
This will delete all the TikTok videos you have stored on your device. You can always re-download them later if you want to watch them offline.
Adjust Video Download Settings
To prevent TikTok from saving videos for offline viewing in the future, you can adjust the download settings:
- Open TikTok and tap your profile picture.
- Tap the three-line menu and go to “Settings and privacy.”
- Tap “Data and storage.”
- Turn off “Auto-download videos on Wi-Fi.”
- Under “Video quality,” select “Lower video quality.”
This will stop TikTok from automatically saving videos for offline viewing. Lower video quality will also reduce the file size of any videos you manually download later.
Avoid Reposting Videos
When you repost or download a video from TikTok, a copy of that video gets stored on your device. Avoid reposting videos you want to save or downloading videos just to share them elsewhere. Here are some tips:
- Use the TikTok share button to share videos to other platforms rather than downloading and then reuploading.
- Bookmark videos you want to save rather than reposting them.
- Screen record short clips if you want to share just a portion of a video.
This will prevent duplicate copies of videos from being stored on your device.
Reduce Photo and Video Storage
All the videos and photos you take in the TikTok app count against your storage. To reduce how much media TikTok saves:
- Go to TikTok Settings > Data and Storage.
- Tap Media Storage > Photos or Videos.
- Tap on any video or photo to delete it.
- Toggle off “Save to Camera Roll” so videos are not saved by default.
Fewer photos and videos will be stored locally on your device. You can manually save media you want to keep.
Use TikTok Lite
TikTok Lite is a lightweight version of the TikTok app, designed for areas with limited internet connectivity and slower smartphones. As the name suggests, it takes up much less space on your phone.
TikTok Lite has most of the same features, like creating and viewing videos, liking, commenting, etc. However, video quality is limited to 480p instead of 1080p. The main advantage is it requires just 10MB of storage space, versus over 100MB for the regular TikTok app.
You can find TikTok Lite on the App Store. Just search for “TikTok Lite” and download it to replace the regular TikTok app.
Offload Unused Apps
In addition to clearing TikTok’s cache and stored data, you can offload other apps you no longer use. Offloading removes the app itself but keeps documents and data. To offload unused apps:
- Go to iPhone Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Review the list of apps and select one you no longer need.
- Tap “Offload App” to remove it.
Rinse and repeat for other apps. This frees up storage taken up by the apps themselves while retaining your app data.
Delete Large Files
Check your iPhone storage and see if you have any files like photos, videos, or app documents taking up significant space. Then delete files you no longer need:
- Open the Files app and browse for large documents, downloads, etc. to delete.
- Go through your photo gallery and videos to remove unwanted media.
- Use the iPhone Storage setting to find large app documents like offline playlists or maps that can be removed.
Getting rid of any old, unused files can quickly free up storage on your iPhone. Focus on the largest files first for maximum impact.
Use iCloud or Cloud Storage
Storing files in iCloud or using cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox can reduce the amount of local storage used. Some ways to leverage the cloud:
- Enable iCloud Photos to store all photos and videos in iCloud.
- Use iCloud Drive for document storage.
- Back up iPhone data like messages and WhatsApp chats to iCloud.
- Store files in Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. instead of directly on your device.
This ensures files are safely backed up to the cloud rather than filling up your iPhone storage. Just be sure you have enough cloud storage to fit your needs.
Upgrade iCloud Storage
If you are relying on iCloud for storage, consider upgrading your iCloud plan for more capacity:
- 5GB free – Basic plan that comes with your Apple ID
- 50GB for $0.99 per month
- 200GB for $2.99 per month
- 2TB for $9.99 per month
Upgrading provides more iCloud storage for photos, videos, backups, and files. It ensures you have room to enable useful features like iCloud Photos without filling up your free 5GB.
Get a Phone With More Storage
If you find yourself constantly struggling for storage space, it may be time to upgrade your iPhone model. Newer iPhone models come with more base storage:
- iPhone 14 – 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB
- iPhone 13 – 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB
- iPhone 12 – 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB
Buying a model with higher internal storage means you are less likely to run out of space even with storage-heavy apps like TikTok. You can get by with fewer optimizations when you have more storage.
Conclusion
Running out of storage due to TikTok and other apps can be frustrating. Luckily there are many techniques to reduce TikTok’s storage footprint and reclaim space on your iPhone. By cleaning cached and temporary files, removing downloaded videos, adjusting settings, and offloading little-used apps, you can quickly get back gigabytes of storage. Moving files to the cloud and upgrading your iCloud plan or iPhone model provides more permanent solutions. Use a combination of these tips to keep TikTok videos flowing without filling up your phone.