Are you receiving a "storage space is full" notification on your Android phone? With all the things we use on our devices—everything from the music player and camera to the numerous apps you install—it's easy to end up with unused apps and temporary data that take up space. But don't worry, with just a few simple steps, we’ll help you quickly free up storage on your phone.
How to Increase Storage Space on Android Phones
The storage capacity on phones has significantly improved over the years, but with the increasing number of apps, photos, videos, and other downloaded files, storage can fill up quickly. Additionally, there may be some hidden files on your device. Of course, when the memory fills up, the phone's performance tends to decrease. Therefore, finding a way to increase storage is essential.
1. Uninstall Unused Apps
The first thing you should do is check which apps are taking up a lot of space on your phone and uninstall those you no longer need. It's very easy to uninstall apps. If an app is on your home screen, simply press and hold it, then drag it to the uninstall option at the top of the screen. Alternatively, you can uninstall apps from the device settings. The advantage of this method is that the list displays how much space each app is using.
- Open the phone’s settings
- Go to the Apps menu
- Select "View all apps"
- Tap on the app you want to uninstall
- Choose "Uninstall" and confirm by pressing "OK"
2. Use the File Cleaning Feature
Android's operating system includes a useful tool to help free up space and keep your storage clear of unnecessary files. You can find this feature in the Files app.
- Open the Files app
- Tap on "Clean"
- The app will suggest things you can delete to free up space on your phone
- Follow the instructions to clean your device
3. Delete Photos and Videos
Photos and videos can take up a significant amount of space on your phone. To free up some space, use Google Photos to delete local copies while keeping your files safe in the cloud. By following these steps, the backed-up files will be removed from your device, but they'll remain secure in Google Photos.
- Open the Google Photos app
- Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner
- Tap "Free up space" and follow the on-screen instructions
4. Get More Storage Space
Cloud storage is one of the best ways to increase storage on your phone. The great thing is that most of these services are either free or offer a low-cost subscription. Use Google Photos to store your pictures in high quality for free. However, keep in mind that your Google account's storage quota is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
Top Cloud Storage Tools
- Amazon Drive
- Autosync
- Dropbox
- Nextcloud
- Tresorit
5. Delete Downloads
Your phone's Downloads folder may contain many files you no longer need. These could include old travel tickets, restaurant menus, or other files you’ve long forgotten about. You can find these downloads in the Files app or any file browsing app you use. To delete multiple files at once, simply go to the list, select all, and delete them in one go.
6. Record Videos at a Lower Resolution
Another way to increase storage is by recording videos at a lower resolution. Many modern smartphones can record videos in up to 8K resolution, which offers incredible clarity, greater detail, and better image quality. However, high-resolution videos take up much more storage compared to lower-quality videos. If you don't plan to watch your videos on a large, high-definition screen, it's better to adjust your camera settings to record in a lower resolution. This will help you save storage in the long run.
7. Delete Offline Areas in Google Maps
Google Maps allows you to navigate easily without using mobile data by downloading maps for offline use. However, this can take up a significant amount of storage, and you may be surprised at how much space these offline maps occupy.
How to Delete Offline Map Data:
- Open Google Maps
- Tap on your profile picture
- Select "Offline maps"
- Tap the three-dot menu next to a downloaded area
- Tap "Delete"
- Confirm by selecting "Yes"
8. Delete Media from WhatsApp
If you use
WhatsApp, you're likely sending and receiving a large number of photos, videos, stickers, and other files. Fortunately, there's an easy way to delete them and free up storage space.
How to Delete WhatsApp Media:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your phone
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
- Go to "Settings"
- Tap "Storage and data"
- Select "Manage storage"
- Tap "Review and delete items"
9. Clear Cache on Your Phone
The final step to increase storage on your phone is by clearing the cache. If you have an app that’s running slowly or crashing often, clearing the app’s cache can resolve many underlying issues. Clearing the cache removes unnecessary files, but you won’t lose any saved passwords or app data.
How to Clear App Cache:
- Go to your phone's settings
- Open the Apps menu
- Tap "See all apps"
- Select the app
- Go to "Storage & cache"
- Tap "Clear cache"
Please note that if you log into an app with a user account, such as social media apps, you may need to log in again after clearing the app’s cache.
We've covered several steps that will help you easily increase storage space on your Android phone. By following these steps, you'll improve your phone's efficiency. However, if you make it a habit to regularly clear unnecessary files and data that you no longer need, you'll never face the issue of running out of storage space.
