What could be causing my Android storage to not clear up even after deleting files, videos, and apps? (2024)

FAQs

Why is my storage full even after deleting Android? ›

Cached Data: Sometimes, apps store temporary data or cache files on your phone's internal storage. Even if you delete files, these cached data may still occupy space. Clearing the cache of specific apps or using a cache cleaner app can help free up storage.

If it appears that more storage is being used than accounted for then it may be taken up by temporary files and caches. For some users, it appears this may not get deleted normally and instead caches storage continues to grow.

The reason for this is simpler than you might think: “deleted” files are actually just moved to Trash, where they continue to take up storage space. Google does it this way because it's a security measure that prevents users from accidentally deleting important files.

When a file is deleted, the space used on the disk is not reclaimed until the file is truly erased. The trash (recycle bin on Windows) is actually a hidden folder located in each hard drive.

Personal files such as videos, music, photos, and documents can take up a lot of space on your device. To see which files are using the most space: Select File Explorer from the taskbar and find the files you want to move. Under This PC in the menu on the left, select a folder to see what files are saved in it.

When you delete files, they don't disappear; they're moved to the trash. As long as those files are in the trash, they're still there on your Google Drive account.

If a user frequently sends or receives emails with large attachments, it can contribute to the storage quota being used up more quickly. Old Emails and Spam: If a user doesn't regularly delete or archive old emails, especially those with large attachments, their storage space can fill up over time.

Unused apps and hidden data: Apps that you don't use much can still store data on your phone. Sometimes, even when you delete the app, the data stays behind.

Why is my Android storage always full? ›

If you're seeing an "Insufficient storage available" message on your Android, chances are that you've used up most of your device's available memory. To fix this, you'll need to make some space by deleting apps and/or media; you can also add external storage, such as a Micro SD card, to your phone.

In general, the lack of working space is probably the main reason why you have insufficient storage available. Usually, an Android app uses three sets of storage, for the app itself, the app's data files, and the app's cache. Usually, the application cache takes up a large part of the space.

Because so much space is taken up by apps running in the background and unnecessary, cached temporary files, periodically clearing your Android memory will help keep your device running smoothly. Here's how to clean your Android phone memory: Go to Settings > Device care > Memory > Clean now.