Freeing up storage on Android: apps, photos, cache and cloud

Step 1: see where the space has gone

Step 2: photos and videos

• Back up first. If you use Google Photos or another backup service, check that backup has finished.
• Use the free up space option in Google Photos (or the equivalent in your gallery app). It removes the copies stored on the phone for items that are already safely backed up, while keeping them in the cloud.
• Delete duplicates, screenshots and burst shots. Screenshots in particular pile up unnoticed.
• Empty the bin or recently deleted folder. Deleted photos often stay on the phone for a while before they are removed for good.
• Move old videos to a computer or external drive if you do not want to pay for cloud storage.

Step 3: messaging apps

• WhatsApp has its own storage manager in its settings, which sorts files by size and by chat so you can clear large forwarded videos quickly.
• Turn off automatic media download on mobile data and Wi-Fi, or limit it to photos.
• Check group chats, which are usually the worst offenders.

Step 4: apps you do not use

• Sort apps by size in the storage or apps screen and remove anything you have not opened in months.
• Use app archiving. The Play Store can archive apps you rarely use, removing most of the app while keeping your data and its icon. Tapping the icon later reinstalls it from the Play Store, so this works only while the app is still available there. Look for the automatic archiving option in the Play Store's settings.
• Check offline downloads in music, podcast, video streaming and map apps. These can run to many gigabytes and are easy to forget.

Step 5: cache and downloads

• Clear an app's cache, not its data. In Settings, Apps, choose the app, then Storage. Clear cache removes temporary files and is safe. Clear storage or clear data wipes the app back to new, including logins and offline content.
• Browsers and social media apps often hold the largest caches. Expect them to grow back over time, so this is a short-term gain.
• Look in the Downloads folder with your file manager. Old PDFs, installers and attachments gather there.
• Use a cleaning tool you trust. Files by Google and the device care tools built into some phones suggest junk files, duplicates and large items to review. Avoid third-party cleaner apps that promise miracles.

Step 6: cloud and card storage

• Know your cloud allowance. A Google account comes with free storage that is shared between Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos, so a full Gmail can stop photo backups. Clearing large old emails and Drive files helps.
• Use a microSD card if your phone has a slot. It works well for photos, videos and music; keep apps on the internal storage, where they run faster and more reliably.

Keep it under control

1. Leave some headroom. Phones behave better when storage is not completely full, and system updates need free space to install.
2. Check the storage screen every few months.
3. Clear messaging app media regularly, as it is the category that grows fastest without you noticing.
4. Choose a larger capacity next time if you keep running out; most phones cannot be upgraded later.