How to free up storage space on your Android phone or tablet

posted by Nick T. / Jul 04, 2014, 8:43 AM

How to free up storage space on your Android phone or tablet

Storage space – our smartphones and tablets never seem to have enough of it. Sooner or later, it runs out completely, and a dreadful notification lets us know that it is time to do some mandatory housekeeping. But how should one go about it? Where do they begin? And what options are there? Well, the good news is that freeing up storage space on an Android phone or tablet is a fairly simple task. Just follow the 8 steps below to clean up as much room as possible.

Is there anything we've missed? Do you know any other tricks for clearing up storage space? Let us know down in the comments!

How to free up storage space on Android

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37 Comments

1. hafini_27

Posts: 949; Member since: Oct 31, 2013

I just can't gather the courage to delete my Hentai.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 8:47 AM 12

2. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

Move it to the cloud :)

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 8:52 AM 0

15. WahyuWisnu

Posts: 1001; Member since: May 29, 2014

Not the microsoft cloud, they will delete any hentai uploaded to their cloud.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 11:37 AM 3

18. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

OneDrive is the best.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 11:43 AM 0

24. WahyuWisnu

Posts: 1001; Member since: May 29, 2014

but according to microsoft, microsoft will scan our photo and delete hentai&porn. I think Google drive is the best

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 11:01 PM 0

25. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

They really do that? Well. Doesn't matter since I don't have any lol.

posted on Jul 05, 2014, 2:39 AM 0

26. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

Don't lie you teen ;) also they are 18+ stuff :D

posted on Jul 05, 2014, 3:18 AM 0

27. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

Lolllz

posted on Jul 05, 2014, 3:30 AM 0

28. WahyuWisnu

Posts: 1001; Member since: May 29, 2014

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100557330 quote: "......While cloud storage providers are required by law to respond to known or suspected instances of child pornography, not all scan users' accounts looking for them. .....and Microsoft, along with Verizon Online, state in their user agreements that they reserve the right to actively search stored files......." more: Why won’t Microsoft let you store porn in the cloud?http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/19/cloud-restrictions-porn-xxx/ Is Microsoft Spying On SkyDrive Users?http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2012/07/19/is-microsoft-spying-on-skydrive-users/

posted on Jul 05, 2014, 10:45 AM 0

3. AfterShock

Posts: 4146; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

I use a steady 12 GB on my nexus, enough music and Twrp back ups that keep me rolling. (Out of 32gb) Rest is in cloud when I need it. USB otg is a nice option.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 8:57 AM 0

4. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Nice, easy yet useful.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:01 AM 0

5. MrKoles

Posts: 368; Member since: Jan 20, 2013

omg how useful, just delete everything, how didnt i come up with this idea, ridiculous

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:06 AM 14

7. Lt.Green

Posts: 397; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

The title should be "How not to maximize your smartphone experience".

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:19 AM 7

11. MartyK

Posts: 1043; Member since: Apr 11, 2012

^^^^ hahahaha^^^ I was thinking the same thing!!...hahahaha

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:38 AM 1

16. kabhijeet.16

Posts: 889; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

ha hahaha... +1 to u

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 11:39 AM 1

6. pintu65430

Posts: 10; Member since: Jul 04, 2014

iyaaaaak

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:16 AM 1

8. karamelakimo

Posts: 109; Member since: May 26, 2014

I usually do that all and really it's helpful to me a lot Except that I can't ever delete my music

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:22 AM 0

9. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

Funny, I had used 42gb of space on my SII with the SD card. But now on my nexus 7, I use ~23gb and I still don't feel the need a SD card slot. On my moto, I always need to delete stuff, the 16gb(available ~12gb) doesn't feel enough. I will never again buy a smartphone with no SD slot or it should have atleast 32gb built in memory.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:24 AM 3

10. ArtSim98

Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

For me 16 is enough. Though if I recorded more 4K video, I would need that 128gb SD card lol.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:32 AM 1

12. buccob

Posts: 2968; Member since: Jun 19, 2012

I only have a problem with the partitions of the Internal Memory of my Xperia. Out of 16 GB, it allows ~11 GB for media storage (and sending apps to "SD" which is still internal memory) Then I have 2 GB for actual app space (apps that can't be moved out to the media storage) and I fill that space rather quickly... Almost every Google App (maps, drive, sheets, docs, earth, keep, goggle, chrome, hangouts, etc) ARE STORAGE HOGS that CANT be moved to media storage. So I constantly have to Clear Cached memory (which is a lot on FB, Chrome, Instagram, 9GAG) to be able to install new apps or update big current ones. I really want a 32 GB phone with a bigger partition size for downloaded apps, or at least a 16 GB one that lets me choose at least 4 GB for downloaded apps

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 9:57 AM 3

17. WahyuWisnu

Posts: 1001; Member since: May 29, 2014

AGREE!!!! And this make me wonder why in the world that Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, etc were making a FLAGSHIP phone with 16GB.. If it's flagship, it should be AT LEAST 32GB!!!

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 11:40 AM 1

29. wilsong17 unregistered

Note 3 is 32gb go come with 26gb free

posted on Jul 05, 2014, 10:48 PM 0

31. buccob

Posts: 2968; Member since: Jun 19, 2012

too big for my likes... I would love to be able to get ZL2 though (but is only in japan :( )

posted on Jul 10, 2014, 10:08 AM 0

13. SupermanayrB

Posts: 1188; Member since: Mar 20, 2012

When customers come in with these problems I generally plug the phone up to the computer & delete all the unnecessary folders that buld up & that would free up 2/3 storage on their phone.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 10:13 AM 0

14. vijaysivakula

Posts: 229; Member since: Aug 17, 2011

Any suggestion that says we should delete our music and videos and data files and save them on the net is not worth it. That would only increase my data / wifi usage and cost me a bomb. An SD card is the best option and I feel cheated because my Nexus 5 doesnt have one. I will never buy any mobile without expandable storage again.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 10:50 AM 0

19. Symon_Fleece

Posts: 351; Member since: May 30, 2014

My phone keep backup my pictures in internal memory eventhough the sync is turned off :(

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 1:48 PM 0

20. user996

Posts: 221; Member since: Feb 25, 2013

PA what device these screenshots are from?

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 2:54 PM 0

21. steelew

Posts: 219; Member since: Jun 04, 2012

I've been uninstalling the updates for preinstalled apps, clearing their data and disabling them. This frees space on the internal storage and prevents me from screwing up my stock ROM when I delete unused apps. I can always re-enable them before I OTA to the next version of android. I also recently uninstalled facebook, twitter & linkedin in favor of a chrome web link to the website. I had disabled their notifications anyway so this seemed like the next logical step.

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 6:21 PM 0

22. GreekGeek

Posts: 1276; Member since: Mar 22, 2014

Using FOLDERMOUNT + 64 Gb card is the trick here.... Those suggestions are fairly predictable to begin with

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 7:38 PM 0

23. Lycan155

Posts: 254; Member since: Nov 24, 2013

I can pretty much send all my apps to my microsd what better is that I have an option in settings to save pic vid audio apps on my microsd write away without going through internal memory :) ihave Lumia 630 btw

posted on Jul 04, 2014, 10:35 PM 0

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