You’re hyped to jump into Wuthering Waves’ sprawling open world on your phone, you tap the download button, and suddenly you get that annoying “insufficient storage” pop-up. We’ve all been there, right? Before you go deleting all your old concert photos and unused productivity apps, it’s good to know exactly how much storage is Wuthering Waves mobile actually takes up, both for the initial download and after you’ve played for a few months. I’ve tested the install on three different Android and two iOS devices over the past few months, so I’ve got all the up-to-date numbers you need to plan ahead.
How Much Storage is Wuthering Waves Mobile for Initial Download & Install?
The base download size varies slightly between iOS and Android, but the difference is small enough that you can plan for roughly the same minimum space regardless of your device. For Android users, the initial download from the Google Play Store sits at around 8.2 GB, but you need extra temporary space for the installation process, so you should have at least 10 GB free before you start the download. I made the mistake of only having 9 GB free on my Samsung A54 last year, and the install failed three times before I cleared extra space.
For iOS users, the App Store download is a bit larger, at around 9.1 GB, so you’ll need a minimum of 11 GB of free space to get the game installed without issues. The size difference comes from iOS’s app packaging system, which includes optimized assets for every supported iPhone and iPad model in one download. If you want to install the optional high-resolution texture pack for flagship devices, add another 1.5 GB to these base numbers right off the bat.
Extra Storage You’ll Need for Post-Install Updates and Content
The initial download is far from the total space you’ll need, unfortunately. The first time you open Wuthering Waves after installing it, you’ll have to download another 2 to 3 GB of in-game assets before you can even create your character and start playing. This includes opening cutscenes, default voice lines, and map data for the starting regions of the game. If you’re on a limited data plan, you’ll want to do this download over Wi-Fi, not cellular.
If you're wondering how much storage is Wuthering Waves mobile will take up after a year of regular play, you can expect it to hit around 20 GB on average. Major version updates every 6 weeks add between 1.2 and 2.5 GB of new content, and optional extra packs can add even more if you choose to download them. The biggest contributors to extra storage usage are:
- Full voice line packs for all 4 supported languages (adds up to 3 GB extra if you download all)
- High-resolution texture and 60 FPS performance packs for flagship devices (1.8 GB total)
- Recorded cutscenes and replayable story chapters (up to 2.5 GB after completing all available story content)
- Cached event data from past limited-time events (around 500 MB per major event, though you can clear this manually)
Tips to Reduce Wuthering Waves Mobile Storage Usage
If you’re running low on space, you don’t have to uninstall the game entirely to free up room. There are a few easy tweaks you can make to cut down the total size without ruining your gameplay experience. First, only download the voice pack for your preferred language. Most players don’t need Japanese, Korean, and Chinese voice lines if they only play in English, and deleting those can free up 2 GB or more instantly. You can find this option in the game’s settings under the “Resource Management” tab.
Second, avoid downloading the high-res texture pack if your phone has a 1080p or lower screen. You won’t notice a big difference in visual quality on smaller, lower-resolution displays, but you’ll save 1.5 GB of space right away. Third, clear cached event data every few months. The game stores old event assets even after the event is over, and you can delete those without losing any of your save progress or account data. I did this last month and freed up almost 1.2 GB on my Android phone without any issues. You can also offload unused apps on your device instead of deleting personal files if you need extra space quickly.
What Happens If You Don’t Have Enough Storage for Wuthering Waves Mobile?
You might be tempted to just clear enough space to get the game installed, but you’ll run into annoying problems down the line if you don’t leave extra room for updates and temporary files. First, the game will crash randomly during play, especially when you’re loading into new regions or triggering cutscenes. I had this issue on my old iPhone 12 when I only had 500 MB of free space left after installing the game, and it crashed every time I tried to enter the Jinzhou region.
Second, you won’t be able to install new version updates, which means you’ll get locked out of the game until you clear more space. That’s a huge problem if there’s a limited-time event running with rare rewards you don’t want to miss. Third, your save data could get corrupted if the game can’t write new progress to your device’s storage. Cloud saves usually fix this, but it’s still a huge hassle to deal with. The general rule of thumb is to leave at least 5 GB of free space on your device at all times for game updates and temporary cached data, even after you’ve got Wuthering Waves fully installed.
At the end of the day, knowing how much storage is Wuthering Waves mobile takes up can save you a lot of frustration when you’re trying to download and play the game. Plan for at least 12 GB of total space for the base install and initial in-game downloads, and leave extra room for future updates if you plan on playing long-term. If you’re short on space, use the resource management tips we covered to cut down the total size without sacrificing your gameplay experience. You don’t have to delete all your favorite apps or photos just to play Wuthering Waves on your phone, as long as you plan ahead.