The pop-up notification “The phone is low on memory” instantly blocks the capabilities of the Android device: the camera refuses to take pictures, applications are not updated, and instant messengers stop receiving calls. The system forcibly stops recording any new data in order to prevent critical failures in the operating system kernel due to full storage.
The reasons for the internal storage overflow can be very different: from the accumulation of a cache of popular instant messengers to forgotten high-definition videos. Often, users do not even suspect which storage section takes up the lion's share of gigabytes. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithm for diagnosing and cleaning the device in order to restore it to its former speed and functionality without losing important data.
Do not panic and immediately run to the store for a new model. In most cases, the problem can be solved using software methods, spending only 15-20 minutes of your time. Proper organization of file storage and regular maintenance will allow you to forget about “Not enough space” errors for a long time.
Storage diagnostics: finding the main space eaters
The first step before any cleaning actions is to determine exactly what is taking up space on your disk. In modern versions Android (from 6.0 and higher) there is a built-in analysis tool that clearly shows memory allocation. Go to menu Settings → Storage (or Memory) to see a color load chart.
Pay attention to the “Applications” category. Often they occupy up to 60-70% of the total space. Inside this section, the system sorts apps by the amount of space they occupy. Cache applications, especially social networks and video services, can grow to several gigabytes, although in fact this data is temporary and is not critical for the operation of the app.
It is also worth checking the “Images and Videos” section. Users often forget about folders DCIM or Downloadwhere unsuccessful duplicate photos and downloaded files from the browser have been copied for months. If you use cloud services, make sure that the auto-upload function works correctly and the original files are actually synchronized with the server.
For deeper analysis, you can use third-party utilities, such as Files by Google or DiskUsage. They visualize the file system as a map, where the size of the square is proportional to the file size. This allows you to instantly find forgotten archives or installation files .apkthat have not been needed for a long time.
Clearing the cache and application data without losing information
The fastest way to free up space is to clear the cache of specific applications. It is important to distinguish between the concepts of “Clear cache” and “Clear data”. The first operation deletes temporary files (pictures, scripts), speeding up work, but without affecting your personal settings. The second operation completely resets the application to its factory state, deleting logins, passwords and progress.
To safely clear the cache, go to Settings → Applications, select the heaviest app (for example, Telegram, YouTube or Chrome) and press the button Storage. In the menu that appears, select the option Clear cache. For messengers like WhatsApp or Viber it is better to use built-in cleaning tools so as not to delete the contact database.
⚠️ Attention: Never click the “Clear data” button for banking applications, authenticators (Google Authenticator) or instant messengers if you do not remember your account password or have not made a backup copy of your chats. This will lead to a complete exit from the application and the need to re-authorize.
In some shells, for example MIUI from Xiaomi or One UI from Samsung, terdapat built-in memory optimizers. They may automatically suggest deleting the cache of all applications at once. Use this function with caution: after such cleaning, applications may load a little slower on the first launch, since they will have to re-download the necessary resources from the network.
Regularly clear the cache of your Chrome or Yandex Browser. Over a month of surfing, up to 1-2 GB of temporary files can accumulate there, which do not affect your browsing history in any way, but take up space.
If the built-in tools fail to clear the space, you can use the developer mode or ADB commands to force cleaning, but this requires a computer and certain skills. For the average user, manually sorting through the largest applications in the settings is enough.
Managing media files: photos, videos and duplicates
Media files are traditionally the largest type of data on a smartphone. Modern cameras shoot in high definition, where one minute of 4K video can take up to 400 MB. Regular audit of the gallery is necessary to maintain order. Start by deleting blurry pictures, screenshots and photographs of documents that are no longer relevant.
Pay attention to the folder Corrupted or Lost.dir at the root of the internal memory. There the system resets files whose recording was interrupted due to a power failure or removal of the memory card. Often, “broken” video files accumulate in these directories that cannot be opened, but which continue to take up space.
| File type | Approximate size | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Photo (12 MP) | 3–5 MB | Store in the cloud, delete duplicates |
| Video (1080p, 1 min) | 100–150 MB | Transfer to PC or external drive |
| Video (4K, 1 min) | 350–500 MB | Keep only masterpieces, delete the rest |
| RAW image | 25–40 MB | Process and convert to JPEG |
Use the “Search for Duplicates” function, available in many file managers. Often we take a series of 10 identical frames to select the best one, and forget to delete the remaining 9. Also check the messenger folders: Telegram and WhatsApp by default, they save all received pictures and videos to the general phone gallery, clogging it with other people’s content.
☑️ Audit of media files
To compress existing photos without visible loss of quality, you can use special compression algorithms. However, it is easier to configure the camera to shoot in HEIC (if the device supports), which takes up half the space compared to standard JPEG quality.
Transferring applications and files to a memory card
If your smartphone supports installing memory cards microSD, this is the most efficient way to expand storage. You can transfer not only media files, but also some applications to external storage. However, it is worth considering that the speed of apps from a memory card may be lower than from an internal flash drive.
To transfer files, insert the card into the slot and in the settings select the “Portable storage” (for storing photos and music) or “Internal memory” (for installing applications) operating mode. In the second case, the card will be formatted and encrypted, so it will not be possible to use it on other devices without resetting.
⚠️ Attention: When formatting a memory card as internal storage, all data on it will be permanently deleted. Be sure to back up important files from the card to your computer before starting the procedure.
To transfer applications, go to Settings → Applications, select the desired app and press Storage → Edit. If the button is active, you can select the memory card as the installation location. Please note that system applications and some critical services (for example, Google Play Services) cannot be transferred.
Why can't some applications be transferred to the card?
Application developers may prohibit installation on external media for security or performance reasons. Widgets and live wallpapers also often lose functionality when transferred to an SD card.
It is recommended to use memory cards of at least a speed class U3 or V30. Slow cards can become a bottleneck for the system, causing the interface to freeze when trying to open heavy files or run a game.
Using cloud services to offload the device
Cloud storage is a modern alternative to physical memory cards. Services like Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox allow you to store terabytes of data on remote servers, leaving only thumbnails or links to files on the phone.
Set up automatic photo uploading. The application Google Photos has a “Free up space” function, which finds pictures on the device that have already been uploaded to the cloud and deletes their local copies. This instantly frees up gigabytes of space without the risk of data loss, since the originals remain in your account.
It is convenient to use synchronized folders for documents and work files. The files are stored in the cloud and are downloaded to the phone only when opened. This approach requires a constant connection to the Internet, but allows you to have access to the entire archive without taking up space in the internal memory.
Cloud storage is not just (a backup copy), but a full-fledged expansion of memory. Correctly setting up startup allows you to forget about the lack of space forever.
Remember about the limits of the free plan. Usually this is 15 GB for the ecosystem Google. If that's not enough, consider a subscription, which often costs as much as the price of a cup of coffee per month, but eliminates the headache of memory management.
Dramatic Action: Factory Reset
If none of the above methods helped, and the system continues to report a critical lack of space, there may be errors or hidden system garbage accumulated in the file system. In this case, a full reset of the device to factory settings helps (Factory Reset).
This operation completely deletes all data from the phone: contacts, messages, applications and files. The phone returns to the “as from the store” state. Before starting the procedure, be sure to create a complete backup of all important data on your computer or in the cloud.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → System → Reset settings and select Delete all data (factory reset). The device will reboot and the cleaning process will take a few minutes. After turning on, you will have to set up your phone again and install applications.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure you remember your password Google account. After the reset, the protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection)will work, and without entering the login and password for the account that was synchronized earlier, it will be impossible to turn on the phone.
Often after a reset, the amount of occupied system memory is reduced by 1-2 GB compared to the “before” state, since the remnants of old updates and error logs are deleted. This is an extreme measure, but it is guaranteed to solve the problem of software overflow.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is space not freed up after deleting files?
Check the trash in the gallery or file manager. In many modern shells, deleted files are moved to the trash, where they are stored for 30 days, continuing to take up space. You may also need to reboot the device to recalculate the storage indexes.
Is it possible to delete system applications to free up space?
Without superuser rights (Root), you cannot delete system applications, you can only disable them. Disabling hides the application from the menu and prevents it from launching, but the installation file itself remains on the system partition. Removing system components can lead to unstable operation of the phone.
What is "Other" in Android storage?
The “Other” section usually contains files that the system could not classify: cache of streaming services, game data, temporary update files, archives and documents. Often, clearing the application cache reduces the volume of this particular category.
How to prevent rapid memory filling in the future?
Disable auto-downloading of videos in instant messengers, set up automatic uploading of photos to the cloud with the deletion of local copies and regularly (once a month) check the “Downloads” folder in the browser.