Have you ever tried to download a new app, take a photo, or watch a video on your Android phone, only to get a message that says “Insufficient storage space”? If so, you are not alone.
Many Android users struggle with the problem of running out of space on their devices, especially if they have older models with limited internal memory. This can be frustrating and annoying, as it prevents you from enjoying your phone to the fullest.
Fortunately, there are some easy and effective ways to increase storage space on your Android phone without buying a new one.
In this blog post, I’ll show you how to free up space on your phone to improve it’s performance and make room for more important things.
So, if you are ready to solve your storage problem once and for all, keep reading below. You will be surprised by how much difference it can make!
Contents
Understanding Your Android Phone’s Storage
Before you can increase your storage space, you need to understand how your Android phone’s storage works. Android provides two types of physical storage locations: internal storage and external storage.
Internal storage is the built-in memory of your phone, where the system files, apps, and app data are stored. Internal storage is usually smaller than external storage, but it is always available and secure. Other apps or users cannot access the files in internal storage unless they have root privileges. Internal storage is also where your preferences and settings are saved.
External storage is the additional memory that you can add to your phone, such as an SD card or a USB drive. External storage is used to store media files, such as photos, videos, music, and documents. External storage can be removed or replaced, so it is not as reliable as internal storage. Other apps or users can access the files in external storage with the appropriate permissions.
To check how much storage space you have on your Android phone, you can use the Settings app. Go to Settings > Storage and you will see a summary of your total, used, and available space. You will also see a breakdown of how much space each category of files is taking up, such as apps, images, videos, audio, etc. You can tap on each category to see more details and manage the files.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party app like Files by Google to analyze your storage.
Ways to Increase Storage Space
Now that you understand how your Android phone’s storage works, you can start to increase it by following some simple and effective methods. In this section, I will cover four ways to free up space on your phone and make it run faster and smoother.
Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you should choose the one that suits your needs and preferences. I will explain each method in detail and show you how to do it step by step.
Let’s get started!
Deleting Unnecessary Apps and Files
One of the easiest ways to increase storage space on your Android phone is to delete the apps and files that you don’t need anymore. These can take up a lot of space, especially if you have many apps that you rarely use or a lot of media files that you have already backed up or don’t want to keep.
Here are some steps to help you identify and remove unnecessary apps and files from your phone:
Delete unused apps: You can uninstall the apps that you haven’t used for a long time or don’t plan to use again. To do this, go to Settings > Apps and notifications > See all apps. Then, tap on the app that you want to delete and select Uninstall.
You can also use the Files by Google app to find and delete unused apps in a single tap. Just open the app, tap Clean, and then tap Delete unused apps.
Clear cache and data of apps: You can also free up some space by clearing the cache and data of the apps that you use frequently.
The cache is a temporary storage of files that the app downloads to improve its performance. The data is the permanent storage of information that the app needs, such as your login details, preferences, and settings. Sometimes, these files can become corrupted or outdated and cause problems with the app.
To clear them, go to Settings > Apps and notifications > See all apps. Then, tap on the app that you want to clear and select Storage and cache. Then, tap Clear cache to delete the temporary files or Clear storage to delete both the cache and data.
Note that clearing the storage will reset the app to its default state and you will need to log in again or set up your preferences.
Delete unnecessary files and media: You can also delete the files and media that you have downloaded or created on your phone, such as photos, videos, music, documents, etc.
To do this, go to Settings > Storage and tap Files. Then, browse through the categories and select the files that you want to delete. You can also sort them by size or date to find the ones that are taking up the most space or are no longer needed. Then, tap Delete or Move to trash.
You can also use the Files by Google app to find and delete junk files, such as cached files, duplicate files, large files, etc. Just open the app, tap Clean, and then tap on the category that you want to clear.
Using Cloud Storage
Another way to increase storage space on your Android phone is to use cloud storage services.
Cloud storage is a type of online storage that allows you to upload, store, and access your files and media over the internet. You can use cloud storage to backup your important data, free up space on your phone, and sync your files across multiple devices.
There are many cloud storage services available, such as Google Drive, Mega, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more. Each service has its own features, pricing, and compatibility.
Here are some steps to upload files to the cloud and access them from your Android phone:
Choose a cloud storage service: You can compare different cloud storage services based on their storage capacity, pricing, security, and integration with other apps.
For example, Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage and works well with Google Photos and Google Docs. Mega offers 20GB of free storage and uses end-to-end encryption to protect your data. Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage and has a smart sync feature that lets you access your files without taking up space on your phone. OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage and integrates with Microsoft Office apps.
You can also use multiple cloud storage services or upgrade with payment if you need more space or flexibility.
Download the app and sign in: Once you have chosen a cloud storage service, you need to download its app from the Google Play Store and sign in with your account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free.
Some cloud storage apps may come pre-installed on your phone, such as Google Drive or Samsung Cloud.
Upload files to the cloud: To upload files to the cloud, you can either use the app or the website of the cloud storage service.
In the app, you can usually tap a plus icon or an upload button and select the files or folders you want to upload from your phone. You can also choose the quality and size of the files to save space. Some apps may also let you enable automatic backup or sync for certain types of files, such as photos or videos.
On the website, you can drag and drop files from your computer or use the upload button to select files from your phone.
Access files from the cloud: To access files from the cloud, you can either use the app or the website of the cloud storage service.
In the app, you can browse through your files and folders and tap on them to open or download them. You can also share them with others by creating a link or sending an email. Some apps may also let you edit or preview your files within the app or with other compatible apps.
On the website, you can view and download your files from any browser. You can also manage your account settings and preferences.
Adding External Storage
One other way to increase storage space on your Android phone is to use an external storage device, such as a microSD card, a USB flash drive, or a wireless hard drive. External storage devices can help you store more files and media without affecting your phone’s internal storage. You can also easily transfer them to another device or computer.
However, external storage devices have some limitations and drawbacks. For example, not all Android phones have a microSD card slot, and not all apps can be moved to an external storage device. Also, external storage devices can be slower, less reliable, and more vulnerable to damage or loss than internal storage.
Here are some steps to use an external storage device on your Android phone:
Choose an external storage device: You can compare different external storage devices based on their capacity, speed, compatibility, and price.
For example, a microSD card is small, cheap, and easy to use, but it may not be compatible with all phones and apps. A USB flash drive is larger, faster, and more versatile, but it requires an OTG adapter to connect to your phone. A wireless hard drive is the most spacious, convenient, and secure option, but it is also the most expensive and battery-dependent one.
Connect the external storage device to your phone: Depending on the type of external storage device you have chosen, you may need to insert it into your phone’s microSD card slot, plug it into your phone’s USB port using an OTG adapter, or pair it with your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Once connected, you should see a notification that says “External storage detected” or something similar.
Format the external storage device: Before you can use the external storage device on your phone, you may need to format it. Formatting will erase all the data on the device and make it compatible with your phone’s file system.
To format the external storage device, go to Settings > Storage and tap on the name of the device. Then, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and select Storage settings. Then, choose Format or Format as portable (depending on your phone model).
Be careful not to choose Format as internal, as this will make the device part of your phone’s internal storage and prevent you from removing it or using it on another device.
Move files to the external storage device: To move files to the external storage device from your phone, you can use the Files by Google app or any other file manager app.
In the Files by Google app, tap on Browse at the bottom of the screen and select Internal Storage. Then, tap and hold on the file or folder you want to move and tap Move at the bottom of the screen. Then, select SD Card or USB Drive (depending on your device) and choose a destination folder. Then, tap Move here at the bottom of the screen.
Move apps to the external storage device: To move apps to the external storage device from your phone, you need to make sure that both your phone and the app support this feature. Not all phones and apps allow moving apps to an external storage device.
To check if your phone supports this feature, go to Settings > Apps and notifications > See all apps. Then, tap on any app and select Storage. If you see an option called Change under Storage used, then your phone supports moving apps to an external storage device. If you don’t see this option, then your phone doesn’t support this feature.
To check if an app supports this feature, go to Settings > Apps and notifications > See all apps. Then, tap on the app you want to move and select Storage. If you see an option called Change under Storage used, then the app supports moving to an external storage device. If you don’t see this option, then the app doesn’t support this feature.
To move an app to an external storage device from your phone, go to Settings > Apps and notifications > See all apps. Then, tap on the app you want to move and select Storage. Then, tap Change under Storage used and select SD Card or USB Drive (depending on your device). Then, tap Move and wait for the process to finish.
Using Lite or Web Versions of Apps
The final way to increase storage space on your Android phone is to use lite or web versions of apps.
Lite versions are simplified and optimized versions of apps that use less storage, data, and battery than the original ones. Web versions are online versions of apps that run on your browser without requiring installation.
Both lite and web versions can help you save space on your phone by reducing the number of apps you need to install and update.
Some examples of popular apps with lite or web versions are:
- Facebook Lite: A fast and light version of Facebook with basic features.
- Twitter Lite: A web version of Twitter that uses less data and storage.
- Instagram Lite: A small and simple version of Instagram with core features.
- Google Go: A lite version of the Google app that lets you search the web faster and easier.
- Google Maps Go: A web version of Google Maps that provides directions and traffic information.
- Files by Google: A lite version of a file manager app that helps you free up space on your phone.
- Spotify Lite: A lite version of Spotify that lets you listen to music and podcasts online or offline.
Always Maintaining Enough Storage Space
Having enough storage space on your Android phone is important for several reasons. It helps your phone run faster and smoother, it allows you to install more apps and games, and it prevents you from getting annoying notifications or errors.
To always maintain enough storage space on your phone, you should follow some simple and effective habits, such as:
- Regularly clearing cache files: Cache files are temporary files that apps create to improve their performance and functionality. However, they can take up a lot of space on your phone over time. To clear them, you can use the Settings app or a file manager app like Files by Google.
- Keeping a check on app downloads: Apps are one of the main users of storage space on your phone. Therefore, you should be careful about what apps you download and how many you keep on your phone. You can uninstall the apps that you don’t use frequently or don’t plan to use again. You can also use lite or web versions of apps that use less storage, data, and battery than the original ones.
- Regularly backing up and deleting old photos/videos: Photos and videos are another major source of storage consumption on your phone. If you never delete anything, this is probably the area where you need more storage. To save space on your phone without losing your precious memories, you can back up your photos and videos to a cloud service like Google Photos. Once your photos and videos are backed up, you can delete them from your phone’s internal or external storage. You can also use the Google Photos app to delete backed up photos and videos from your device in one tap.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have discussed how to increase storage space on your Android phone using various methods. These methods are:
- Deleting unnecessary apps and files
- Moving apps to an external storage device
- Using cloud storage services
- Using lite or web versions of apps
- Always maintaining enough storage space
By following these methods, you can free up space on your phone and make it run faster and smoother. You can also enjoy more apps and games, as well as store more photos, videos, music, and other files. Managing your phone’s storage is important for its optimal performance and functionality.
I hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you did, please share it with your friends and family on social media using the button below. You can also read more posts from this blog on various topics related to Android phones. And don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading!
