I’ve seen this done on YouTube, but haven’t done it myself. It works as long as they know what they are doing. The phone recognizes the storage without issues. You, of course, have to have a backup of all your data as the new storage will be empty. Answer from jw154j on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/iphonehelp › upgrading iphone storage from 64gb to 256gb? anyone with experience?
r/iphonehelp on Reddit: Upgrading iPhone Storage from 64GB to 256GB? Anyone with Experience?
August 18, 2023 -

Hey all,

I've been hearing about a service available in China where you can upgrade the storage of an iPhone XR from 64GB to 256GB for around $60. It seems like most of the phone repair shops there offer this service. I'm quite intrigued by the idea, but I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience with it.

Has anyone actually gone through this upgrade process? If so, could you share your experience? Were there any complications or issues? Did the upgraded storage function just like the original, or did you face any unexpected problems? And most importantly, are there any specific sequences or steps one should follow to ensure a successful upgrade without losing data or damaging the phone?

I'm really tempted to give this a shot, especially considering the significant cost savings compared to buying a new iPhone with higher storage. But I want to hear from people who have firsthand experience before taking the plunge. Your insights and advice would be greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to hearing your stories and opinions. Thanks in advance!

People also ask

Can I physically upgrade my iPhone’s internal storage?
No, iPhones do not support internal storage upgrades. Apple designs them with fixed storage, so there’s no way to add more capacity like you would with a microSD card or by replacing a hard drive in a computer. · Some repair shops offer storage upgrades by replacing the NAND chip, but this is not an official solution.
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insanelymac.com
insanelymac.com › blog › upgrade-iphone-storage
11 Ways to Upgrade iPhone Storage (Software, Cloud and Hardware)
How much storage should I have free for my iPhone to run smoothly?
At least 10–20% of your total storage free is ideal for smooth performance. iPhones need extra space for background processes, temporary files, and software updates. If storage drops too low, you may notice slowdowns, app crashes, and failed updates.
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insanelymac.com
insanelymac.com › blog › upgrade-iphone-storage
11 Ways to Upgrade iPhone Storage (Software, Cloud and Hardware)
Can I use an external hard drive with my iPhone to store files?
Yes, iPhones running iOS 13 or later support external storage devices, so you can move files on and off your iPhone. You can connect flash drives, SSDs, external HDDs, and memory card readers, but there are a few requirements. Your external drive must be formatted as APFS, macOS Extended (HFS+), exFAT, or FAT32 and have a single partition to work with iOS. If the drive isn’t in a compatible format, you’ll need to reformat it using a computer. Power can also be an issue—large-capacity hard drives that require external power will need to be plugged into a power source to work with an iPhone.
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insanelymac.com
insanelymac.com › blog › upgrade-iphone-storage
11 Ways to Upgrade iPhone Storage (Software, Cloud and Hardware)
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Fixsquad
fixsquad.ae › upgrade-iphone-storage-with-fixsquads-expert-solutions
Upgrade iPhone Storage with FixSquad's Expert Solutions
At Fixsquad, we perform physical iPhone memory upgrades by replacing the original NAND storage chip with a higher-capacity one. Fixsquad has been specializing in iPhone repairs for over 10 years. We have developed a meticulous process for upgrading iPhone storage, ensuring each device is handled with the utmost care. We utilize advanced techniques and specialized equipment to expand the storage capacity of iPhones, effectively increasing it from 64GB to 128GB, 128GB to 256GB...
Price   $$
Address   Saeed Tower 2, 403, 4th Floor, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre 1, 00000, Dubai
(4.9)
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255360199
64gb to 256gb - Apple Community
July 3, 2024 - There is no way to do that. That’s a SIM card slot, not an SD card slot. You can not increase the internal storage on an iphone.
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Upgrade Storage iPhone 11 Pro Max 64gb to 256GB 😲 - YouTube
In this video we are going to learn how to upgrade the memory of an iPhone 11 pro Max from 64GB to 256GB.Tools I used:Holder: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/...
Published   March 6, 2024
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Amazon
amazon.com › iphone-memory-upgrade › s
Amazon.com: Iphone Memory Upgrade
MFi Certified Flash Drive 256GB for iPhone Thumb Drive Photo Stick, High Speed USB Memory Stick iPhone Flash Drive for Photos Videos, External Storage Jump Drive for iPhone/iPad/Android/PC (Blue) · MFi Certified 256GB Flash Drive for iPhone Photo Stick, USB Memory Stick High Speed iPhone Flash ...
Find elsewhere
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GSM-Forum
forum.gsmhosting.com › vbb › f1036 › upgrade-iphone-x-64gb-storage-256gb-5-steps-irepair-dfu-box-2848818
Upgrade iPhone X 64GB Storage To 256GB in 5 Steps With iREPAIR DFU Box - GSM-Forum
REWA LAB will show you how to upgrade the storage of iPhone X from 64GB to 256GB with the help of iRepair DFU Box instead of traditional NAND chip
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InsanelyMac
insanelymac.com › blog › upgrade-iphone-storage
11 Ways to Upgrade iPhone Storage (Software, Cloud and Hardware)
February 27, 2025 - Upgrading to a newer iPhone model through Apple’s Trade-In program is an obvious way to increase storage. For example, moving from an older model with 64GB to a newer version offering 256GB or more can provide ample space for apps, photos, and videos.
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Quora
quora.com › How-can-I-get-the-supplies-to-upgrade-my-iPhone-12-internal-storage-especially-the-256g-NAND-from-https-www-ifixit-com-Guide-Upgrade-iPhone-12-64GB-Storage-to-256GB-140298
How to get the supplies to upgrade my iPhone 12 internal storage, especially the 256g NAND (from https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Upgrade+iPhone+12+64GB+Storage+to+256GB/140298) - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Before getting all excited, read the conclusion to the link you provided. What they’re saying is that you can upgrade to 256GB, but you need a ton of special tools and experience. Without experience, buying the tools and trying this out on your phone will almost guarantee ...
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EaseUS
mobi.easeus.com › ios questions and answers › can i upgrade iphone memory from 64gb to 128gb
iPhone Memory Upgrade 64GB to 128GB: Is That Possible?
July 31, 2024 - Unfortunately, iPhones do not support physical memory upgrades as the storage components are integrated and cannot be removed or replaced. Upgrading the internal storage of an iPhone from 64GB to 128GB directly is not possible also because the iPhone's memory is not expandable through conventional ...
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 252963380
I have 64GB But i want to have more GB on… - Apple Community
I have iPhone11 64GB But it seems i have too much app but i all need. Is there a way that i can purchase more GB instead of changing a phone? Not iCloud. Just regular device storage ... You'll need to get a new phone with more storage. Phones cannot be upgraded to add storage.
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REWA Tech
rewa.tech › home › videos › upgrade iphone 12 64gb storage to 256gb – the easiest ever?
Upgrade iPhone 12 64GB Storage to 256GB - The Easiest Ever? - REWA Tech
July 18, 2024 - However, REWA technicians recently discovered that the NAND on iPhone 12 does not store serial number, WiFi address, and Bluetooth address, which means that the NAND of iPhone 12 can directly be replaced by an iPhone 12 NAND and activated. Therefore, REWA technicians speculate that the storage upgrade of the iPhone 12 will be easier than previous models.
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AppGeeker
appgeeker.com › resource › how-to-upgrade-iphone-storage.html
How to Upgrade iPhone Storage: 4 Methods
If you are going to directly upgrade the storage on an iPhone that has been used for a long period from 128GB to 256GB, then there is no any official solution from Apple.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/mobilerepair › upgrading iphone storage from 64gb to 256gb - anyone with experience?
r/mobilerepair on Reddit: Upgrading iPhone Storage from 64GB to 256GB - Anyone with Experience?
June 22, 2023 -

Hey fellow Redditors,

I've been seeing that in China, there are repair shops offering the service of upgrading iPhone XR storage from 64GB to 256GB for around 60 USD. This sounds like an incredible deal considering the significant storage boost. I'm wondering if anyone here has had any experience with this service or knows about the feasibility of doing it yourself?

I'm especially curious about whether there are any sequences or steps that need to be followed for a successful upgrade. Are there any risks involved that I should be aware of? I'd love to hear from anyone who has gone through this process or knows someone who has.

Your insights and advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and experiences. 📱✨

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iRobinPro
ask.irobinpro.com › iphone q&a
iPhone 11 storage upgrade - iPhone Q&A - iRobinPro
February 20, 2023 - Hi, can i upgrade my iPhone 11 storage 64gb to 256gb using third party service centre??. Is it recommendable.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/iphone › i did upgrade iphone 11 storage from 64gb to 256gb ✌️
r/iphone on Reddit: I did upgrade iPhone 11 storage from 64gb to 256gb ✌️
July 16, 2025 -

Hello all iPhone users, i have had my nand chip replaced on my iPhone 11 which was normally born with 64GB and now the storage is 256GB, and i can confirm that everything works as before and the only thing that has changed is that i have got more storage and it has only cost me $28 including labor in Pakistan. Is there anyone else besides me who has had their iPhones storage upgraded, if so, please tell me in which country and what it has cost you.

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Walmart
walmart.com › electronics
Iphone Memory Upgrade
From $31.99iDiskk MFi Certified 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for iPhone, 3in1 External Memory Photo Stick for iPhone, OTG Android Phone, PC
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/mobilerepair › iphone 12 mini 64gb upgrade to 128 or 256?
r/mobilerepair on Reddit: IPhone 12 mini 64gb upgrade to 128 or 256?
April 28, 2024 - It’s possible to expand storage by replacing the onboard SSD, but advanced soldering is required and if I remembered correctly, older iPhones still require NAND programmers to fix the serial/board codes on replacement NAND before installation or the iOS instance won’t activate properly.
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Quora
quora.com › Will-it-be-possible-to-upgrade-my-iPhone-hardware-storage-from-16GB-to-64GB
Will it be possible to upgrade my iPhone hardware storage from 16GB to 64GB? - Quora
Answer (1 of 7): Let’s see… you didn’t mention the version of the iPhone you’re using, so let’s take a look at the latest iPhone, the iPhone 16. Here are the two boards that constitute the iPhone 16…where, exactly, would you like to swap out the memory?