Ever feel like your devices are overstuffed and hard to sort through? It may be time for a digital declutter—clearing out your phone, laptop, and other personal or business devices of what you don’t need. This way, you can organize and make room for what you value, like your favorite photos and videos or useful apps.
Understandably, it can be hard to delete photos that are tied to memories. According to our photo overload survey, nearly half (48%) of Americans have more than 1,000 photos saved on their phones, with 4% holding 15,000 or more.
That said, creating space on your devices makes them more organized, run faster, and feel more user-friendly. Here are five steps to kick-start digital organization in your life.
Where to focus when digital decluttering
Before getting started, it helps to direct your energy where it counts. For example, you can make a go-to digital declutter checklist for the places that tend to collect stuff:
- Email inboxes pile up fast
- Photos, especially those accidental screenshots
- Desktops that collect too many random icons
- Download folders, where files tend to hang out forever
- Unused apps, like that game you played once back in 2019
- Old accounts you forgot you signed up for
This is an easy activity to accomplish at home on a rainy day. Once you clear space on all your devices, you’ll have more room to download and store what you need.
Step 1. Take a digital inventory and back up
Take a quick tour of your digital world. Look at what’s living on your phone, tablet, and laptop, including work files, personal photos, and even the random memes your best friend sent you last month. You don’t have to clean anything yet—just take stock of what’s there.
While you’re exploring, save the files that matter in another safe location (for example, on the cloud or an external hard drive). You might also take the time to digitize old photos and store them on an external hard drive or in a cloud-based service.
Backing up important digital files helps ensure nothing meaningful disappears during the declutter. After that, you’re ready for the next step.
Step 2. Delete and organize files
Now, you can start deleting what isn’t serving you anymore and sorting things into places that make sense. The goal is simple: Make it easy to find what you need without hunting through a digital maze.
Here’s how to declutter digital files and keep them organized:
- Create a consistent naming system (e.g., folders by subject and date to make files easy to search for).
- Move or delete files from your downloads folder.
- Delete duplicate files.
- Clean up bookmarks so only helpful ones stay.
- Refresh your inbox by archiving or deleting old messages.
- Store photos in digital albums where you can easily organize media.
When everything has a home, your devices run faster and more smoothly.
Step 3. Consolidate apps and devices
Remember those apps you downloaded and never opened again? It’s time to let them go. This step is all about trimming the fat to free up storage on your devices. When you streamline what you use every day, your mind gets a little more clarity, too.
Try these quick hacks:
- Delete unused apps (so long, random coupon app).
- Remove apps that do the same job (pick your fav and stick with it).
- Clean up your homescreen with only the essentials.
- Organize apps into relevant folders by category.
- Sync connected devices so files and photos stay up-to-date everywhere.
Once you tidy up your digital toolbox, you’ll spend less time searching around and more time focusing on your tasks.
Step 4. Create control over social media and notifications
Constant notifications and endless scrolls are daily distractions many of us face. This fourth step will help pull in the reins. The goal is to choose what gets your attention and when, keeping your devices helpful instead of constantly demanding.
For phone notifications, start with the alerts that pop up on your lock screen. Go through your notification settings and decide what doesn’t need your immediate attention. For example, messages from close family or time-sensitive apps might stay on, while everything else can be muted or turned off completely.
Next, tackle social media clutter. Inside each app, you can turn off notifications for likes and comments. You can also clean up and curate your feed by unfollowing accounts that repeat content or no longer inspire you. This will make your time spent on these apps feel lighter and more intentional.
No more pop-ups competing for your attention—you get to decide what earns a notification and what can wait until you’re ready.
Step 5. Maintain the digital organization
You’ve done the hard work—now you just need to keep up the routine. A little upkeep and care will keep your devices clutter-free. Think of this step like tidying up as you go: Everything has a designated place, so nothing piles up.
All you need to do is adopt a few simple habits as your new normal. Daily tasks, like archiving or deleting emails, can make the process easier. You can also do a digital “spring cleaning” every month. For instance, if you download a new app, delete one you don’t use. Put new photos into their respective folders and remove those you don’t want.
Reduce your digital clutter with photo books from Mixbook
Once you complete a digital declutter, you’ll have space for the moments that deserve it. Organizing your photos helps the best ones stand out—perfect for adding to a photo book keepsake.
Now that your tech feels refreshed, it’s time to give those memories a home you can hold. Upload your favorite shots into Mixbook Studio™ and start creating something meaningful. A simple cleanup today means more room to celebrate tomorrow.
