iphone XR storage full despite Cleaner app+all tips here -help w new phone pls

BertieB

Hi
Urgently need to know if possible to transfer whatsapp messages to a new iphone (will be second hand) as ongoing storage issues despite all I've done ((see below)to clear storage on iphone XR & I'm out of time/patience/sanity! BUT nervous of getting a new phone as then I'll have to tackle set up -more time/stress esp Whatsapp transfer etc

Details:
iphone XR storage issues for weeks (month+)so can't add apps/it closes down (esp Whatsapp) even though I've deleted photos, videos manually & done ALL that Apple, Google, Chat GPT suggested (repeatedly!)to clear storage & since this morning actioned all brilliant suggestions here inc installing/using clean up app & going through 'similar' photos etc.

BUT it's not working, phone now saying 'storage full' (probably cos I had to download HP printer app - also not working!) & I'm out stuck & desperate as going away (abroad, from UK first time in years) on weekend & I NEED a working phone

But nervous of getting a new one (well, second hand in reality) as seems impossible to saves whatsapp & I really struggle with tech (ADHD & it's not 'intuitive' to me though I did hyperfocus on research & followed/did EVERYTHING re storage issue possible!)

Can't keep trying to solve this & totally stuck & desperate as risks whole trip w/o phone (tickets, accomm etc!)

Any help asap be most appreciated (Please be aware I have read & actioned all suggestions on this topic here so appreciate no repeats of that as think I'll have to cut my losses, buy new phone but don't want issues with that! As have to spend time on other things now!!)

Thank you in advance

Britt

anna-halchenko

Hi BertieB
Sorry to hear the storage cleanup suggestions didn’t help. If you’ve already tried everything and the phone still reports that storage is full, a factory reset may be the only thing left that could fix it.

As for WhatsApp, your chats can be transferred to another iPhone. But before you set up the replacement phone, do these two things:

Enable WhatsApp in iCloud:
Open Settings > tap your name at the top > iCloud > See All under Saved to iCloud > make sure WhatsApp is enabled.
Create a WhatsApp chat backup:
WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now.

When you set up the new iPhone and sign in with the same Apple ID, your WhatsApp chats will be restored.

As for your other important data, such as tickets, bookings, photos, and app data, you can use iCloud for that as well. You can either sync specific data types individually (for example, iCloud Photos for photos and iCloud sync for supported apps) or create a full iCloud backup of your iPhone. If you don’t want to keep paying for extra iCloud storage long-term, you can simply upgrade your storage for a month, create the backups, transfer everything to the new iPhone, and then cancel the subscription afterward.