Learn how to fix 'insufficient storage' errors in Android and iOS, and get all your OS and app updates ASAPThinkstock Show
Table of Contents Show More We all know that storage is never much as to appears to be. A device with 32GB of storage, of example, will have a lot less because of the operating system and preinstalled apps, as well as from the wasted space caused by how OSes format the storage medium. Most of us know that, but we still get angrily mystified when we try to install apps or OS updates onto our Android or iOS device, only be told there's insufficient room -- though the update or app takes far less space than what is available. Blame it on poor UI: In most cases, what's really going on is that the OS has insufficient working space to perform the installation. There's enough room at the end of process for the update or app, but not enough to execute the process. If only the error message simply said so! When Android shows the "Insufficient Storage Available" errorLack of working space is the cause of the "Insufficient Storage Available" error that periodically bedevils Android users. Adding insult to injury, there are several possible causes for the lack of sufficient working storage. Android apps use three sets of storage space: for the apps themselves, for the apps' data files, and for the apps' cache. Those caches can grow quite large, yet they are reported as free space by Android -- though in fact that space is not available as a working space for app installation. If you get the "Insufficient Storage Available" error, empty your app cache to see if that clears up enough working space for the installation. How to do so depends on what version of Android you are running, as well as from what device maker. (The screens here are for Android Lollipop running on a Samsung Galaxy S6.) In most cases:
The Android Settings app shows the storage used by each app and lets you purge each app's cache. In some devices, there's a faster way to clear all the apps' cache in one fell swoop:
In some cases, Android can purge all apps' caches in one fell swoop, using the Storage screen in the Settings app. Be warned that clearing the cache may not do the trick in all cases. Android devices that use external storage (SD cards, basically) often have much less usable storage than is reported. That's because many system resources and some apps must be installed on the device's built-in core storage, not on a removable storage medium. There are security and stability reasons for this requirement, but they've varied from one Android version to the next, and in some versions app makers get to decide the rules for what can be stored where. As a result, Android devices with removable storage may need to have apps and data removed to make room for updates and new apps -- not only the cache. But what taketh also can giveth: If an app can removed from internal storage to external storage, do so to free up the internal storage for use as working space for your app installation. If an app can be moved to external storage, you'll see the Move to SD Card button in the Applications Manager for that app. Most Android devices that support external storage usually have too little internal storage (to get to a cheaper price). Thus, you may not be able to install what you think you have room for, even after cleaning up the internal space. Next time, get a device with at least 32GB of internal storage. When iOS won't install an OS update for lack of spaceiOS is much less prone to running out of room for app updates than Android, since apps' cache is contained in the same sandbox as the app itself and its data. iOS walls off each app for security reasons, so there is no purported free space where cache actually resides. Thus, iOS knows if it has enough memory to install an app before it even tries. Well, most of the time -- you might remember the frustration when iOS 7 came out in fall 2013, as many users who tried to download the OS update over the air either got an error message saying they had insufficient space or saw the update get stuck in Update Requested status. Basically, their update never progressed. These users had enough space for iOS 7 itself, but not enough working space to install it while iOS 6 was also running. Apple slimmed the space requirements for the iOS 8 updates, but some people still did not have enough space. There are two solutions for this issue in iOS: Delete apps and/or their data until there's enough room for the over-the-air update (you need about 6GB of free space). To delete an app:
To remove files in apps' sandboxes, such as storage-intensive videos:
The iOS Settings app lets you delete individual files from many apps, using the Manage Storage screens in the General section. How do I clear my devices memory?To clean up Android apps on an individual basis and free up memory:. Open your Android phone's Settings app.. Go to the Apps (or Apps and Notifications) settings.. Make sure All apps is selected.. Tap on the app you wish to clean.. Select Clear Cache and Clear Data to remove the temporary data.. How do I clear my phone storage without deleting everything?Top 7 Ways to Free Up Space on Android Without Deleting Apps. Find and Remove Large Media Files. ... . Delete Downloads From Streaming Apps. ... . Clear Cache for Frequently Used Apps. ... . Try Lite Apps. ... . Use Cloud Storage. ... . Free up Storage From Google Photos. ... . Check Storage Manager.. What takes up memory on your phone?Most of the time, the consistent installation and use of different apps leads to memory congestion. Memory congestion could also be due to your pictures, videos, and other media files. Either way, there's the need to free up memory from time to time.
How do I clear other storage on my Android?You can clear app data by:. Open Settings.. Tap Battery and device care.. Tap Storage. Please note: if you delete files from an app you often use, the app will run slower.. Tap Apps.. Choose an app and uninstall it as required.. |