Why Android runs out of memory: 7 reasons and working solutions

Are you again seeing the “Not enough memory” message on your smartphone, although it would seem that you haven’t installed anything new? This problem is familiar to most users Android even on devices with 128 GB or more internal memory. Unlike iOSwhere the system strictly controls the distribution of resources, Android gives more freedom, but also requires the user to pay attention to “digital hygiene.”

In this article we will not just list banal advice like “delete unnecessary files.” We will look at why memory runs out even on new smartphones, including hidden mechanisms, operating features, and the impact on background space consumption. You will also learn how to system reasonswhy memory runs out even on new smartphones, including hidden mechanisms Android 12-14, features of work Media Provider and influence Google Play Services for background space consumption. You will also learn how disable automatic caching of messengers like Telegram i WhatsAppwhich eats up to 30% of memory active users.

Spoiler: in 80% of cases, it’s not you, but architectural miscalculations OS itself. But the good news is that almost all problems can be solved without root access and data loss. Let's start with diagnostics.

1. Application cache: why does it take up gigabytes and can it be deleted?

Caches are temporary files that applications create to speed up work. For example, YouTube caches videos, Google Maps caches maps, and Instagram caches photo thumbnails. In theory, the cache should be cleared automatically, but in practice:

• 📱 Applications do not monitor limits. For example, Telegram by default caches all media files from chats, even if you did not open them.
• 🔄 Android does not always calculate priorities correctly. The system can delete the cache of a rarely used application, but will leave gigabytes of garbage from system services.
• 🚫 Manual cleaning is often useless. Many applications (like Facebook) restore the cache immediately after a restart.

How to check? Go to Settings → Storage → Other applications and sort the list by cache size. You will be surprised how much space it takes, for example Google Play Services (up to 2-3 GB) or Chrome (up to 500 MB even with rare use).

⚠️ Attention: Do not clear the cache of system applications like Android System WebView or Google Play Services unless absolutely necessary. This may cause your smartphone to malfunction. It is better to use the built-in “Optimization” function in the storage settings.

What to do:

1. For instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber): go to the application settings and limit media caching. For example, in Telegram this Settings → Data and memory → Autoload media.
2. For browsers: in Chrome disable page preloading in Settings → Privacy → Preload.
3. For games: use the built-in cache clearing function in Settings → Applications → [Game] → Storage.

2. Junk files: where they are hidden and how to find them

By “garbage” we mean not only obvious things like downloaded memes, but also:

• 📁 Residual files after deleting applications (folders Android/obb and Android/data often remain untouched).
• 🔍 Logs and dumpsthat the system creates during failures (a folder /data/tombstones can weigh hundreds of megabytes).
• 🎵 Duplicate media filesthat are created by the gallery and cloud services (Google Photos can store up to 3 copies of one photo).
• 📥 Incomplete downloads from browsers and torrent clients (folder Download often contains “broken” files).

The easiest way to find garbage is to use the built-in storage analyzer (Settings → Storage → Free up space). However, it doesn't show everything. For deep scanning, we recommend:

Application	What is looking for	Features
Files by Google	Duplicates, large files, unused applications	Free, but does not show system folders
SD Maid	Residual files, cache, empty folders	Requires root for complete cleaning
CCleaner	Cache, browser history, temporary files	Aggressive cleaning can remove the necessary data
Storage Analyzer	Visualizes occupied space by folder	Shows hidden system files

Pay special attention to the folder Android/data. This is where data from applications that you deleted a long time ago are stored, but the files remain. For example, after uninstallation PUBG Mobile up to 1.5 GB of unnecessary files may remain in this folder.

3. System updates and “shadow” partitions

One ​​of the little-known reasons for low memory is partitions for updates. Starting from Android 10, the system reserves up to 5–10 GB for:

• 🔄 Delta updates (partial updates that are downloaded in the background).
• 📦 Full firmware images (if the update is interrupted, the system can download it again).
• 🔒 Protected sections (for example, /vendor or /productthat are not visible user).

The problem is that these files are not displayed in the standard file manager and are not deleted even after a successful update. For example, after upgrading from Android 12 to Android 13 in the folder /data/ota_package there may be an archive weighing 2–3 GB.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete files from the folders /system, /vendor or /boot manually. This may lead to briku (inoperability) of the device. For cleaning, use only official tools like Settings → System → Reset → Wipe cache partition.

How to free up space:

1. Go to Settings → System → System update and delete downloaded but not installed updates.
2. Use the ADB command to clear the update cache:

   adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gsf

   (requires connection to a PC and USB debugging enabled).

3. On some devices (for example Samsung or Xiaomi) there is a hidden menu for clearing partitions: enter in the telephone dialer *#9900# and select Delete dumpstate/logcat.

4. “Invisible” applications: what eats up memory in the background

Even if you haven’t installed anything new, memory can go to:

• 🤖 Pre-installed system applications (Bloatware), which cannot be deleted without root. For example, Samsung Knox or Mi Browser on Xiaomi.
• 🔄 Background services like Google Play Servicesthat constantly synchronize data (for example, backups Google Photos).
• 📊 Analytical modulesthat collect data for the manufacturer (for example, Huawei HiCare or OPPO Software Update).
• 🎮 Game launchers (Game Space on Xiaomi, Game Launcher on Samsung), which cache games even if you do not play them.

How to detect such memory "eaters":

1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications and sort by size.
2. Pay attention to applications with names like com.sec.android.app.launcher (this is the system launcher Samsung) or com.miui.gallery (gallery Xiaomi).
3. Use ADB to deactivate unnecessary services:

   adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.bips

   (replace com.android.bips with the package name of the unnecessary application).

List of system applications safe to disable

On most devices you can deactivate (but not delete!):

- com.android.bookmarkprovider (Browser bookmarks)

- com.android.dreamservices (Screensavers)

- com.android.egg (Android Easter eggs)

- com.android.stk (SIM menu)

Warning: Disabling the wrong services may disrupt operation phone!

On devices Samsung i Xiaomi there are built-in tools for managing bloodware:

• For Samsung: Settings → Device care → Memory → Advanced → Applications that cannot be deleted.
• For Xiaomi: Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Pre-installed.

5. Cloud synchronization: how they steal your memory

Services like Google Photos, Dropbox or OneDrive create local copies files, even if you have enabled the “Cloud only” option. Here's how it works: Google Photos data-i="215">caches the latest open files in

• ☁️ Google Photos by default saves thumbnails of all photos in the folder DCIM/.thumbnails (up to 1 GB).
• 📄 Google Drive caches the most recently opened files in /Android/data/com.google.android.apps.docs/files.
• 🎵 Spotify or Yandex Music download tracks for offline listening to hidden folders.

How to disable unnecessary synchronization:

1. V Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → Device memory → Clear.
2. V Google Drive: Settings → Offline files → Clear cache.
3. In music services: disable auto-downloading of playlists in the offline mode settings.

Particularly insidious are “smart” functions like Google Lens or Samsung Gallery, which automatically analyze photos and create additional files (for example, .lens or .exif). These files can take up to 500 MB per month with active use of the camera.

6. Viruses and malware: how they disguise themselves as system files

If memory runs out for no apparent reason, there is a risk of infection advertising viruses or miners. They act like this:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Disguise as system processes (for example, com.android.system.update).
• 📦 Download advertising banners or cryptocurrency wallets into hidden folders.
• 🔄 Run background tasks that constantly write data to disk.

Signs of infection:

• Memory runs out even after complete cleaning.
• In Settings → Battery unknown processes are visible with high consumption.
• Pop-up windows with advertisements appear outside the browser.

How to check and remove:

1. Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light and perform a deep scan.
2. Check the list of installed applications for suspicious ones (for example, with names like System Update or Android Security).
3. Use ADB to search for hidden packages:

   adb shell pm list packages -f | grep -i "suspicious_keyword"

   (replace suspicious_keyword with part of the name of the suspicious package).

⚠️ Attention: Some viruses block the installation of antiviruses. If you cannot download Malwarebytes from Play Market, try installing the APK file through a browser (for example, from the official website APKMirror).

7. Physical memory wear: when is it time to change your smartphone

If everything the above methods did not help, the problem may be in flash memory. The fact is that (used in smartphones) have a limited write resource. After ~3000–5000 rewrite cycles, the cells begin to “fail”, and the system marks them as hardware wear flash memory. The point is that NAND chips (used in smartphones) have a limited recording resource. After ~3000–5000 rewrite cycles, the cells begin to “fail”, and the system marks them as bad-blocks (faulty).

Signs of wear:

• Memory “disappears” on its own (for example, there was 10 GB free, now 2 GB without user actions).
• The smartphone often reboots or produces errors when writing files.
• The writing/reading speed drops by 2-3 times (can be checked via AndroBench).

What to do:

• Check the health of the memory with using AIDA64 (section Storage → Memory status).
• If the smartphone is under warranty, contact a service center (memory wear may be considered a manufacturing defect).
• For older devices (manufactured before 2018), consider replacing the memory module (on some models, for example Samsung Galaxy S7, this is possible).

Unfortunately, on most modern smartphones the memory soldered in is in the motherboard, and it is impossible to replace it. In this case, the only option is to transfer data to SD card (if supported) or use cloud storage.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer applications to an SD card on modern Android?

Starting from Android 9, most manufacturers blocked this function due to performance issues. However, some brands (for example Xiaomi or Huawei) allow you to transfer part data:

1. Insert SD card class A1 or A2 (regular memory cards will not work).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → [Select an application] → Storage → Change → SD card.
3. Please note that the transfer may fail if the card is slow or damaged.

Important: System applications and games (for example, PUBG or Genshin Impact) cannot be transferred.

Why does it quickly run out again after clearing the memory?

This is due to trimming mechanism (TRIM) in Android. When you delete files, the system does not erase them immediately, but only marks them as “free”. The real cleanup happens later, during defragmentation. To speed up the process:

1. Restart your smartphone - this launches TRIM.
2. Use the command fstrim via ADB:

   adb shell fstrim -v /data

3. Disable background optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing applications.

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

The standard file manager does not show everything. For in-depth analysis:

1. Install Storage Analyzer or DiskUsage from Play Market.
2. Connect your smartphone to the PC and use WinDirStat or WizTree (developer rights are required and ADB).
3. Check hidden folders:

   /data/app-lib
   /data/dalvik-cache
   /Android/obb

Warning: Do not delete files from /data manually - this can damage the system.

Is it true that formatting a smartphone solves the memory problem?

Yes, but temporarilyAfter resetting to factory settings (Settings → System → Reset) you will get a “clean” system, but after 1-2 months the problem will return if:

• You install the same applications again with aggressive caching.
• Do not disable background synchronization Google and other cloud services.
• Do not limit the operation of system applications (bloatware).

Formatting should only be used if:

• You suspect a virus infection.
• The system is unstable (frequent reboots, recording errors).
• You are planning to sell a smartphone.

Is it possible to increase the memory of a smartphone without an SD card?

Indirectly - yes, here are several ways:

1. Use cloud storage (Google Photos, Yandex Disk) with the "Free up space" option (will delete local copies after uploading to the cloud).
2. Connect an external drive via OTG (flash drive or hard drive). Some applications (for example, VLC) can work with files directly from external devices.
3. Optimize applications:
   • B Spotify or YouTube Music reduce the quality of offline tracks.
   • In games, disable loading additional resources (for example, HD textures in Call of Duty Mobile).

Use data compression:

• Enable Settings → System → For developers → Do not save actions (will reduce the size of logs).
• Install Files by Google and enable the “File Compression” option.

Important: These methods will not increase physical memory, but will help you use it more efficiently.