Are you seeing the “Not enough memory” message again when you try to install an application or take a photo? Even 128 GB on a smartphone melts like snow in the spring - the system “eats” gigabytes on its own, and games and instant messengers take up more and more space. The problem is not that you are recording or downloading too much, but how Android manages storage by default.

In this article - non-abstract tipsand specific actions with explanations of why they work. We will look at how to free up memory without losing data, what settings are secretly eating up gigabytes, and what to do if, even after cleaning, the space “disappears” within a day. And for those for whom the built-in storage is not enough - instructions for safe memory expansion using microSD cards and cloud services.

Spoiler: on 90% of devices you can get back 5-15 GB of space in literally 10 minutes, simply by disabling one hidden Android function (see the section on backup copies). But let's start with the base - diagnostics.

1. Diagnostics: who ate your memory?

Before cleaning everything, you need to understand what exactly takes up space. On different versions of Android, the storage analysis interface is different, but the essence is the same: the system shows the distribution of memory by category. Here's how to do it correctly:

Open Settings → Storage (on some firmware the path may be Settings → Memory and backup → Internal memory). Here you will see a diagram divided into:

  • 📱 System —firmware, updates, pre-installed applications (usually 10–20 GB).
  • 📁 Applications — installed apps and their data (cache, settings, downloads).
  • 🎵 Media — photos, videos, music (most often the “culprit” of lack of memory).
  • 📄 Other files — temporary data, logs, downloads from browser.

Pay attention to the item “Other- if it takes up more than 3-5 GB, it means that there are accumulated files on the device junk filesthat are not visible in the gallery or file manager. They can only be deleted with special tools (see section 3).

📊 What takes up the most memory on your phone?
Photos and videos
Apps & Games
I don’t know, I haven’t checked
System files
Category Normal size Signs of overflow How to clean
System 8–15 GB More than 20 GB on bare Android Factory reset or flashing
Applications Depends on the quantity More than 10 GB for 10–15 applications Clearing the cache, removing unnecessary apps
Media Individually Photos weigh 5–10 MB each Compression, transfer to the cloud, removing duplicates
Cache 1–3 GB More than 5 GB Manual or automatic cleaning

If there is no detail in the "Storage" section, use third-party tools like DiskUsage or Files by Google. They will show the exact size of folders and identify “invisible hogs” of memory, for example, downloads from Telegram or cache TikTok.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (especially Xiaomi, Realme, Oppo) in the “Storage” section may be displayed inflated size of occupied memory due to the firmware features. To check the actual status, connect the phone to the PC and look at the properties of the drive.

2. Clearing the cache: why it doesn't work as you think

Application caches are temporary files that speed up apps. But over time, they grow to gigabytes, especially in games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact) and social networks (Instagram, Facebook). Many people advise just clicking “Clear cache” in the settings, but this is a half-measure:

  • 🔄 Cache will be restored after a few days of using the same applications.
  • 🚫 Clearing the cache of some system applications (for example, Google Play Services) can break functionality.
  • 📉 Real space savings - 1-3 GB (if the cache has not been cleared for years).

How clear cache correct:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications.
  2. Sort apps by size (click on the three dots in the upper corner).
  3. Select the application, occupying more than 500 MB, and click “Storage → Clear cache”.
  4. For system applications (for example, Google Chrome) use the "Manage space" button - it deletes unnecessary data without risking stability.

To automate the process, install SD Maid or CCleaner (but be careful with the “deep clean” - it may delete important files). It is best to configure automatic cache clearing when the memory level is low:

  1. Open Settings → Memory → Memory settings.
  2. Activate option “Clear memory automatically” (the name may vary).
  3. Set a threshold, for example, “Clear when 1 GB of free space is available.”
💡

Do not clear the cache Google Play Market i Google Services Framework - this may lead to errors during the update applications.

3. Removing junk files: where to look and how not to delete unnecessary ones

Android creates a lot of temporary files that are not deleted automatically. They accumulate in folders like /data/log, /cache or Download. Here where to look for garbage:

  • 🗑️ Download folder - here are all the files downloaded through the browser or instant messengers. Often they weigh tens of gigabytes.
  • 📂 .Thumbnails folders —thumbnails of photos and videos (can take up to 1–2 GB).
  • 📜 Logs and dumps —files with the extension .log, .dmp (formed during crashes).
  • 🎮 Residual game files — after deleting a game, folders with data often remain (for example, Android/obb).

To search for garbage:

  1. Use a file manager with root access (for example, FX File Explorer) or a standard one Files by Google.
  2. Turn on the display of hidden files (the "Show hidden files" option in the manager settings).
  3. Sort files by size and modification date - old and large files can be deleted first queue.

Be careful with folders:

  • ❌ Android —contains application data (delete only folders of uninstalled apps).
  • ❌ DCIM —photos and videos are stored here (delete only duplicates or unnecessary files).
  • ✅ Download, Bluetooth, Pictures/Screenshots —you can safely clean them.

Outdated APK files in the Download folder|Screenshots older than 3 months|Error logs (.log, .dmp)|Cache of deleted applications in the Android/data folder-->

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Samsung with a file system F2FS) manual deletion of files from system folders can lead to data corruption. If you are not sure, use the built-in cleaning tools.

4. Multimedia optimization: how to compress photos and videos without losing quality

Photos in HEIF format (or HEIC on iPhone) and videos in HEVC take up 2-3 times less space than JPEG and MP4But by default, Android saves. media files in old formats. Here's how to save space:

  • 📸 Photo: Use Google Photos with the “Save Space” option enabled (photos are compressed to 16 MP, videos to 1080p).
  • 🎥 Video: In the camera settings, select resolution 1080p instead of 4K (save up to 70% space).
  • 🔍 Duplicates: Applications like Remo Duplicate Photos Remover will find the same or similar photos.

For advanced users:

  1. Install Simple Gallery - it can convert photos to WebP (30% easier JPEG).
  2. For video use Video Compress - it reduces the file size without visible loss of quality.
  3. Set up automatic uploading of media to the cloud (for example, Google Photos or Yandex Drive) and delete originals from the phone.
Format File size (10-second video) Android support How to enable
MP4 (1080p) 30–50 MB All devices Standard camera mode
HEVC (H.265, 1080p) 15–25 MB Android 9+ In the camera settings, select “Save space”
4K MP4 100–150 MB All devices Not recommended for everyday shooting

If you often shoot video, consider purchasing a phone that supports AV1 codec (for example, Google Pixel 6 or Samsung Galaxy S22This format compresses video even more efficiently than HEVC.

5. Transferring data to a memory card: myths and reality

MicroSD cards seem like a simple solution, but in practice everything is more complicated. Firstly, not all applications support transferring to an external drive. Secondly, cheap cards of the class slow down the phone. Here Class 10 slow down the phone. Here how to use microSD correctly:

  • 📲 For applications: Only if the phone supports Adoptable Storage (Android 6–8). On new versions, transferring applications to the card is blocked.
  • 📁 For files: Photos, videos, music - no problem. Use cards UHS-I U3 or A2 for speed.
  • ⚠️ Risks: Cards may fail and you will lose data.

How to set up a memory card:

  1. Insert the card into the phone.
  2. In the window that appears, select “Use as portable storage” (not as internal, if you don’t want problems!).
  3. Transfer files manually or via Files by Google (option "Clear space → Transfer to SD card").

To transfer applications (if supported):

  1. Go to Settings → Applications.
  2. Select an application and press “Storage → Edit → SD card.”
  3. Confirm the transfer (some data will remain in the internal memory).
⚠️ Attention: On Android 9 and later, transferring applications to the SD card disabled due to performance and security issues. There is no such option in the settings - do not try to bypass the restriction via root or ADB: this will lead to crashes.
Why did Adoptable Storage disappear in new Androids?

Google removed this feature due to frequent problems: memory cards are slower than built-in memory, which led to lags. In addition. encryption of data on SD cards was unstable, which created security risks.

6. Backups and cloud storage: how to free up space forever

The most reliable way to free up memory is transfer data to the cloud and delete them from the phone. But there are pitfalls here: some services (for example, Google Photos) continue to store thumbnails on the device, even if the originals are in the cloud. This takes up to 3–5 GB of “invisible” memory.

How to use correctly clouds:

  • ☁️ Google Photos: Turn on "Save space" and set up automatic upload. After synchronization, delete the originals manually via Settings → Free up space.
  • 📦 Yandex Disk / Mail.ru Cloud: Upload files manually (automatic upload may duplicate data).
  • 🔗 Synchronization: Disable auto-sync for unnecessary folders (for example, Download or Bluetooth).

For complete cleaning:

  1. Upload all photos and videos to the cloud.
  2. Make sure the files are accessible from another device.
  3. Use the "Free up space" option Google Photos or manually delete folders DCIM and Pictures.
  4. Check the folder .thumbnails —it can weigh several gigabytes even after deleting the originals.

If you use WhatsApp or Telegram:

  • Open the messenger settings.
  • Go to Storage and data → Storage management.
  • Delete unnecessary media files (especially videos and GIFs).
  • Disable automatic file downloads in chats.
💡

Even after transferring files to the cloud, their “shadow” copies may remain on your phone. Always check the .thumbnails and .cache folders after cleaning.

7. Hidden memory eaters: what you don’t notice

Android reserves up to 5–10 GB memory for system needs, but sometimes this space grows to inadequate sizes. Here where to look for hidden reserves:

  • 🔄 Backups. data-i="275">Settings → Google → Backup → Delete data: Android automatically creates backups of applications and settings. They can weigh up to 3-4 GB. To delete:
    • Settings → Google → Backup → Delete data
  • 📥 Offline maps: Google Maps and Yandex.Maps download regions, which can take up 1-2 GB each.
  • 🎵 Offline music: Spotify, YouTube Music i Yandex Music caches songs (up to 10 GB!). Cleared in application settings.
  • 📺 Streaming services: Netflix, Kinopoisk and OKKO save movies for offline viewing.

How to find and delete:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Find an application (for example, Google Maps) and go to “Storage”.
  3. Click “Clear data” or “Manage space”.
  4. For streaming services, open the application itself and find the section “Downloads” or “Offline.”

Another hidden eater is system updates. Android downloads them in the background, and these files can take up to 2-3 GB, even if the update is not installed. To remove:

  1. Go. in Settings → System → System update.
  2. If there is an update downloaded but not installed, delete it.
  3. Check the folder /cache via a file manager with root access (update files are usually named like update.zip).

8. Radical methods: reset, root and alternative firmware

If none of the methods helped, and the phone still does not have enough space, despite 128 GB of memory, it is time to consider extreme measuresThey are suitable only for experienced users and can lead to data loss or cancellation. guarantees.

  • 🔧 Reset to factory settings: Removes everything, including system junk. Important: make a backup first!
  • 🛠️ Root access: Allows you to remove pre-installed applications (bloatware) and clean up system folders Risks: loss of warranty, security problems.
  • 📱 Custom firmware: Light versions of Android (for example, LineageOS) take up less space, but require unlocking the bootloader.

If you decide to reset:

  1. Save all important data (photos, contacts, messages) to the cloud or to PC.
  2. Go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Delete all data.
  3. After resetting, do not restore the backup completely - select only the necessary data (photos, contacts).

For uninstall bloatware without root:

  1. Activate Developer mode (click 7 times on the build number in Settings → About phone).
  2. Enable USB debugging.
  3. Connect your phone to the PC and use ADB to disable unnecessary applications: 
    adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.bloatware
⚠️ Attention: Removing system applications can lead to phone inoperabilityBefore experiments, study which packages can be safely removed for your model (for example, on the forum XDA Developers).

If you're willing to take drastic measures, consider buying a phone that supports expandable memory (for example, Samsung Galaxy A54 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro). Modern flagships (for example iPhone or Google Pixel) often lack a microSD slot, which makes them less flexible in terms of storage.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about memory on Android

Why does memory run out again after a day after cleaning?

Android and applications constantly create temporary files. To avoid this:

  1. Disable automatic downloading of media in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
  2. Set up automatic cache clearing (see section 2).
  3. Check whether backups are being created in the background (for example, Google Photos or Mi Cloud).
Can microSD be used as internal memory on new Androids?

No. Starting with Android 9, the function Adoptable Storage (using an SD card as internal memory) disabled. You can only transfer files to the card, but not applications. The exception is some custom firmware.

How to find out which applications take up the most space?

Go to Settings → Applications, click on the three dots in the upper corner and select “Sort by size.” You can also use Files by Google —it shows large applications in the “Cleaning” section.

Is it true that formatting a memory card in FAT32 limits the file size?

Yes. FAT32 does not support files larger than 4 GB. For 4K videos or large backups, it is better to format the card in exFAT or NTFS (if the phone supports it).

What to do if the phone says “Not enough memory”, but in fact Is there room?

This could be a firmware bug or a problem with memory layout. Try:

  1. Reboot the phone.
  2. Clear the partition cache /cache via recovery (to do this, you need to turn off the phone and hold down the button combination, usually Power + Volume Up).
  3. If the problem persists, do a factory reset.