How to Free up Internal Storage on Android

Free up Internal Storage on Android: Android as an OS become quite efficient in recent years. Now, Google focuses a lot on its file management system. Also, the engine that drives ads on your smartphone becomes a lot faster and more efficient. As it comes to the cost of storage space. Also, your operating system files have become larger and apps have become heavier.

However, your Android device can fill up fastly rather than its large storage capacity. While you can instantly identify which images, videos, files, apps, documents, and games are consuming the storage real estate. However, some files put under the ‘Other’ category by the system.

Make sure the system puts any unidentified storage files under the ‘Other’ in your Android device’s stock memory analyzer. If you have been searching for a solution to this issue, then you are in the right place.

In this article, we’ll cover all the reasons for your storage filling up, and provide most if not all the solutions that will be applicable to your device. Come let’s begin.

What’s in ‘Other’ category in your device storage usage list

Here’s what is filling/occupying the storage marked as ‘Other’ on your Android device.

Private App Data

The major reason for your storage space under the ‘Other’ tag has been identified to be Private app data. However, it might be downloaded files, failed OTA updates, cloud sync files and so on so forth.

Some apps and games nowadays have fewer installation files but need heavy downloads over the internet to be completely operational. Also, there are apps that will sync to the cloud and constantly install and upload data depending on your choice.

Also, streaming services can also glitch out and fail to remove cache files which can also the cause of storage space on your Android device.

Failed Backups

Google provides you the choice to recover your mobile data to the cloud in Google drive. There are also other services that enable you to do the same with attractive pricing choices.

Keeping your device synced to the cloud has a lot of benefits. However, you’ll have a recovery of all your data also if you lose it. You can also access all your files on the go despite having low storage space on the local storage of your device.

Also, Cloud services offer perks like password vaults, free storage space, game data backups, file hosting and much more. But some of these services can glitch out because of regular updates and the latest features.

Even though most of these problems get fixed instantaneously. However, there can be failed backups on your android device locally. The backup might not be recognized by the backup service itself. There can also be copied files on your device that might be taking up extra room which will display up under the ‘Other’ category.

Failed OTA Updates

The latest devices are usually eligible for some major OS updates in their lifetime and regular privacy updates as well. However, in the past decade, some of these updates provided OTA that is quite simpler for the consumer as the device can be updated remotely without the need for a computer.

Alternatively, the disadvantage of OTA updates is that they can easily fail on a slow Wi-Fi or a network that frequently resets. Higher network ping can also lead to the failure of OTA updates. But you don’t mention that they are virtually impossible if you are traveling for long hours.

All these half-installed updates and temporary installer files can also display up as ‘Other’ data in your device and might need you to clean it up manually.

Hidden Cache & Temporary Data

Your apps, browsers, and games constantly connect to the Wi-Fi and download more data in the form of text, pictures, and videos. These are all consumer files, ads, content and much more. All of these files are programmed to get cleaned upon exit to keep your local storage free from clutter.

But there are conditions when these files get leftover. This is a common occurrence in the case of Android browsers. If you fail to wipe up your website data then your browser’s local storage could finish taking a proper amount of storage on your device.

All of these files and cache files will display up as ‘Other’ when you check your filesystem using Android’s stock settings app.

How to free up internal storage on Android and clean ‘Other’ section in storage

Here’s how to wipe the files and data in the ‘Other’ category of storage. Follow the steps carefully to free up internal storage on Android:

Use the ‘Clean up’ choice on your device

Almost all Smartphones these days provide you a choice to wipe up the storage of your device in the Settings app itself. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1:

Initially, Open the Settings app on your device.

Step 2:

Move down and find the Storage option. On Samsung devices, it’s located under Device Care. Otherwise, you can just search for ‘storage’ by using the search bar at the top.

Step 3:

Under Storage, the UI may be slightly different from Android phones. But you can click on any item to find more info about its content, and then can selectively remove stuff.

Use a Storage Analyzer/File manager app

The efficient way to get the best solution is to understand your issues completely. Having an efficient file manager helps you to get a more clear look at the larger files on your local storage.

You would also be able to sort them according to their size. It’ll help you to check large files much more easily. Also, you can view hidden files and system files on your local storage. These files might be the root cause of your huge ‘Other’ data. Here are some file analyzers and file managers to free up internal storage on Android.

File Manager By Flashlight + Clock

A file manager is one of the most popular and amazing apps for managing your storage. However, the app is currently available on the play store. Also, It gives a comprehensive look at your local storage, SD card and also external storage choices that are attached via OTG.

However, the file manager will categorize your files into predetermined categories like videos, images, audio files, system files, downloads, etc. The File Manager also provides you the ability to sync to the cloud and remote services for on the go access also enables a storage analysis of your file system.

Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage By Anton Patapovich

Disk Usage and Storage Analyzer concentrate more on the cleaning aspect of your local storage. Also, it comes with an efficient and detailed UI and an inbuilt cache cleaner for your device.

Also, it has virtualization parameters that will show graphs, pie charts and more according to various variables like storage size, last opened, date created and more. However, It comes with a widget that can put on your home screen and a Top 10 feature that will show your largest files for easy cleaning.

Disk Usage By Ivan Volosyuk

Disk usage is a comprehensive file manager that focuses on privacy and security. It is an open-source code project that shows visual data on all your files for easy wiping.

Also, it has detailed diagrams to check the files and directories on your filesystem. These programs and files can then be cleaned manually.

Ghost Commander By Ghost Squared

It is another privacy-based dual-panel file manager that is also a dropbox client. However, It enables easy sorting of files based on extension, size, name, and date.

The file manager has the ability to change partitions also supports compressing and decompressing files as well. The ghost commander also has an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client built-in and its own text editor and photo viewer.

Check data used by proprietary apps

Android has an in-built stock memory scanner that can be a huge help if your app data is blocking your local storage. However, if you want to make use of this feature just follow this simple guide. Follow the steps to free up internal storage on Android:

Step 1:

Initially, Open your ‘Settings’ app.

Step 2:

Then navigate to ‘Storage Options’ and open it.

Step 3:

However, if your manufacturer enables, then sort the apps according to their size. If not, then simply scan the apps to find the ones with excessive data sizes.

Step 4:

Open the app and tap on clear cache.

Step 5:

If that does not help, then tap on clear/wipe all data.

Check Android/OBB & Android/data directories

Removed apps are sometimes leftover in your filesystem due to some glitches of incompatible updates. However, these files are also caused due to third party launchers that can’t be optimized for your device.

If you are can’t wipe your ‘other’ storage using the above-mentioned methods then you should resort to this method. Also, there might be leftover app files from your removed apps in your android local storage.

Steps:

Step 1:

Initially, open your required File Manager.

Step 2:

Then navigate to settings and allow ‘Show System Files & Folders’.

Step 3:

Also, navigate to ‘/Android/OBB’ in your file manager.

Step 4:

Some files in this section of your android local storage will be named in the following format ‘com.ABC.XYZ’. ABC stands for the developer name and XYZ being the App name.

Step 5:

Now scan this section for names of removed apps and clear the ones that you find.

Step 6:

Once done in ‘/Android/OBB’ navigate to ‘/Android/data’.

Step 7:

Then follow the steps as the earlier folder to view left-over data from removed apps. Remove the ones that you find and then check your ‘Other’ storage.

Move data to SD card & reset your phone

If the above-mentioned methods can’t work then it might be time to adopt severe solutions to fix this issue.

You should begin by using the SD card method as it’s quicker, easier and does not need a full backup of your device. Follow these steps.

Step 1:

Initially, put a high capacity SD card into your device. Remember if your device does not have an SD card slot then consider using an OTG card reader.

Step 2:

Once done, create a manual local recovery or backup of all your important data files.

Step 3:

Now locally backup your contacts and store passwords onto the SD card.

Step 4:

Also, reset your device to its factory settings.

Step 5:

Now set up your device as new and backup your files and local contacts recover from your SD card.

Your ‘Other’ storage should have wipe up and things should be back to normal by now.

Clear device cache in Recovery mode

An alternative method to try and wipe your ‘Other’ category in your file system is to wipe your UI cache in Recovery Mode.

Nuclear option: Factory reset your phone

If nothing else looks to work then it’s a good idea to simply reset your device back to its factory settings and then set it up as the latest device. However, It may also speed up the phone a bit, for what it’s worth. This will definitely wipe up your storage and provides you a fresh start.

Step 1:

Recover your device appropriately. Also, you can force Android to restore your data to Google Drive. And for Samsung devices, simply using smart switch for backup is a good idea.

Step 3:

Then open the ‘Settings’ app.

Step 4:

Once you open it, use the search bar at the top to look for the ‘Factory reset’ option.

Step 5:

Click on the ‘Factory reset’ option.

Step 6:

Next, proceed to perform the factory reset depending on the UI of your phone.

Step 7:

Also, backup your data back to your device and analyze your device storage.

Another method: You can also reset your android device using the recovery mode. If you are not able to begin your phone or use your phone properly, you can then switch it off. Then reboot to recovery mode, and perform a factory reset from there.

Conclusion: