These days most budget Android phones will come with at least 16GB of internal storage, but there are still plenty of devices out there with less. And when you’re playing with such a tiny amount of space for your files, the operating system itself can take up such a huge proportion that just a couple of apps and the odd photo are enough to put you over the edge.
When Android’s internal storage is seriously short, the “insufficient storage available” is a common annoyance – especially when you want to update an existing app or install a new one.
You’ve probably done everything obvious, such asremoving every app you don’t use, installing a microSD card to offload data, clearing out your Downloads folder, and deleting all your photos and video. You’ve done everything save factory resetting your phone and yet still you don’t have space for that app.
Why? Cached files.
In an ideal world you would replace your handset with a device that has more internalmemory so you won’t have to scrimp and save on storage quite so drastically. But if that’s not an option right now, let’s show you how to remove cached files in Android.
Empty Android’s cached files
If you’vedeleted all the files you don’t need and you’re still receiving the “insufficient storage available” error message, you need to clear out Android’s cache.
On most Android phones this is as simple as opening the Settings menu, browsing to the Storage menu, tapping on Cached data and selecting OK to the pop-up when it prompts you to clear cached data.
You can also manually clear the app cache for individual apps by going to Settings, Apps, selecting an app and choosing Clear Cache.
(If you are running Android Marshmallow or later, go to Settings, Apps, select an app, tap Storage and then choose Clear Cache.)
FAQs
Cached Data: Sometimes, apps store temporary data or cache files on your phone's internal storage. Even if you delete files, these cached data may still occupy space. Clearing the cache of specific apps or using a cache cleaner app can help free up storage.
How to fix not enough storage on Android? ›
- Close apps that don't respond. You don't usually need to close apps. ...
- Uninstall apps you don't use. If you uninstall an app and need it later, you can download it again. ...
- Clear the app's cache & data. You can usually clear an app's cache and data with your phone's Settings app.
Cached Data: Sometimes, apps store temporary data or cache files on your phone's internal storage. Even if you delete files, these cached data may still occupy space. Clearing the cache of specific apps or using a cache cleaner app can help free up storage.
How do I clear insufficient space? ›
How to Free Up Disk Space on Windows
- Perform Disk Cleanup. Your computer may run slow because your hard drive has used up almost all its hard disk space. ...
- Uninstall programs that you no longer need. ...
- Remove unnecessary files. ...
- Store files in the Cloud.
Clear the cache of your Android phone: You can clear cached data from a single app by going to Settings > Apps and tapping on the individual app. In the app info, tap Storage > Clear cache. Some Android phones have the option of clearing cached data from all apps; go to Settings > Storage and tap Cached data.
How to free up storage on Android? ›
Clean up storage through Google One
- On your Android device, open the Google One app .
- At the bottom, tap Storage. Free up account storage.
- Select the category you want to manage.
- Select the files you want to remove. To sort files, at the top, tap Filter . ...
- After you select your files, at the top, tap Delete .
Last resort: Perform a factory reset on an Android device
- Open up the Settings app.
- Tap on General Management and tap on Reset.
- Select the Factory data reset option.
- On the final screen, confirm by tapping Reset Device and Delete All.
Sometimes, cached data and temporary files may still take up space even after deleting files. Try clearing cache through the device settings or using storage cleaner apps. Additionally, check if there are large apps or system files using substantial space.
Why does my phone keep saying not enough storage space? ›
You can free up space on your Android in multiple ways. Your storage might actually be occupied by your operating system, so you may need to uninstall some apps to make more room. If this doesn't work, you can also use a cleaner app to free up some space on your phone.
How to solve storage full problem? ›
Managing Full Phone Storage: 10 Solutions to Free Up Space in Your Android Phone
- Removing Unwanted Downloads: ...
- Disabling Bloatware: ...
- Removing Cached Data for Android Apps: ...
- Deleting Photos and Videos: ...
- Install and Run GOM Saver: ...
- Transferring Data to an SD Card: ...
- Clean Up WhatsApp Cache: ...
- Optimize App Settings:
How to Free Up Storage on Your Phone
- First, See What You're Storing. Both Android and iOS make it easy to see exactly what's on your phone and how much space it takes up. ...
- Next, Optimize Your Storage. ...
- Move Your Files to an SD Card. ...
- Optimize Your Photos. ...
- Clear Your Cache. ...
- Delete Old Files. ...
- Pare Down Your Apps.
Windows suggests different types of files you can remove, including recycle bin files, Windows Update Cleanup files, upgrade log files, device driver packages, temporary internet files, and temporary files.
Why is my storage still full after deleting photos? ›
One sneaky culprit is cached data. Android loves to hold onto those bits of information from your apps to make things faster, but it can pile up over time. Go to your settings, then "Storage," and check out the cached data. Clearing that out might give you a surprising amount of space back.
Why does my Android phone say storage full when it's not? ›
Usually, an Android app uses three sets of storage, for the app itself, the app's data files, and the app's cache. Usually, the application cache takes up a large part of the space. In this case, emptying your app cache is a useful way to fix the Android insufficient storage error.
Why does my Android phone say storage is full but it's not? ›
Sometimes, cached data and temporary files may still take up space even after deleting files. Try clearing cache through the device settings or using storage cleaner apps. Additionally, check if there are large apps or system files using substantial space.
What happens when your storage is full on Android? ›
This can lead to slower performance, especially when you're trying to open apps or load websites. Your phone may run out of storage space. When your phone's storage is full, you won't be able to download new apps, take new photos or videos, or save new files. Your phone may not be able to update its software.
