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Geeky stuff

Struggling for space on android phone

19 replies

springbabydays · 10/07/2014 15:16

Ok I need to delete some stuff as everything's on a go slow and I have a low space icon showing.

Lots of apps on here which I don't use but which seem to be part of the phone (as in, I never downloaded them myself). Should I delete them and if so, how?

Also there's a whole list of these apps asking to be updated. I never have as I don't use them. If I update them would they take up less space? (I doubt it but thought it worth an ask).

I need to do something, just not sure what!

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Cindy34 · 10/07/2014 17:52

Try turning auto update of apps off.

Try uninstalling updates to apps you do not use. You should be able to do this from within the apps manager.

Try downloading an app called Clean Master. That can help clear out junk files. It does have ads, though pretty obvious when it is trying to get you to click to install something new, buttons like Try It.

You will probably be unable to uninstall apps that came with your phone. Think you have to Root the phone (whatever that means) to do that from what I read online, so not something for the likes of you and me to try.

prh47bridge · 11/07/2014 09:55

If you didn't download and install an app yourself it is probably built in which means you can't delete it. Updating an app takes up more space but is sometimes necessary. An update may just give you new features but it might plug security holes.

Do you have an SD card in your phone? If not you can free up space by adding one and moving apps onto the SD card. You won't be able to move all of them but the more you can the better.

Seeline · 11/07/2014 10:00

I've got the same problem so watching with interest
prh can you use any SD card - my phone suggests that some aren't suitable/compatible but doesn't give any further advice!

prh47bridge · 11/07/2014 17:25

The short answer is that a modern phone should be able to cope with pretty much any SD card provided it is the right physical size - they come in 3 different sizes. For the long answer take a look at this article. If you are unsure see if the retailer will let you try an SD card in your phone to check it is compatible. You won't do any damage if it isn't.

springbabydays · 11/07/2014 20:17

Thanks for writing. Yes I have an sd card and it says there is 2gb of space on it! No idea how to move apps though. I've got a phone which is around 3 yrs old so maybe it's not possible?

OP posts:

NorbertDentressangle · 11/07/2014 20:22

I've had this problem with my phone right from the start (Samsung Galaxy Ace which is nearly 2 years old now as contract ends soon).

It has a micro SD card in which has space but still tells me there's no space despite me having very little on there app-wise (only have facebook, Instagram and Whats App).

I frequently 'clear memory' but it makes very little difference so I'll be interested to find a solution too.

Cindy34 · 11/07/2014 20:22

What phone. Samsung Galaxy Ace is a bit of a pain, probably best not to run very many apps. Later Galaxy phones have improved the way memory is managed so don't seem to suffer as much.

Clear out things you do not use.

Backup SMS to GoogleMail and delete The messages from your phone.

springbabydays · 11/07/2014 20:26

I've got a Sony Xperia arc.

How do you back up text messages to google mail? Do text messages really take up lots of space? I thought text was pretty minimal?

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Cindy34 · 11/07/2014 20:31

SMS Backup+

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zegoggles.smssync&hl=en_GB

Can be installed to SD card but do not use Automatic backup if doing that. I just manually run it once a month, after manually deleting message threads I do not want to keep. Then once the ones I want kept have uploaded, I delete then from the phone.

Yes, they are small but they take up space. On GalaxyAce every little bit of space in phone memory helps. That may also be the case for other phones based on same Android version (think it was Gingerbread). May dig out my old GalaxyAce.

Cindy34 · 11/07/2014 20:36

It also saves call logs.

History Eraser is a useful app, it can clear call logs, search history, cache.

Cindy34 · 11/07/2014 20:46

On GalaxyAce you can see what space apps are taking up:

Settings
Applications
Manage applications

Along the top it will say: Downloaded, All, On SD Card, Running

Have a look, if you select an app it will display things like Total slace, Cache. The Clear Cache button can be useful.
Do Not Clear Data, as that is often where the app stores things it needs.

Probably best avoiding clicking on All, as that lists everything and there are lots of things there which the system needs to be able to function.

Try focusing on apps you have downloaded, will any let you move them to SD card? Do any have a lot of Cache space being used?

prh47bridge · 12/07/2014 09:17

No idea how to move apps though

If it is an Android handset go into Settings, Applications. Depending on the version of Android you may get a list of installed apps at this point. If you don't you need to select "Manage applications". Once you've got the list of installed apps tap on one of them. It will take you into a settings menu. If you can move the app there will be a "move to SD card" button. Note that some handsets can't run apps from the SD card so won't offer this option. The fact that your handset is 3 years old isn't a problem - you were able to do this on very early versions of Android. But it depends on the restrictions the manufacturer has placed on SD cards.

CruelAndUnusualParenting · 12/07/2014 11:38

For the apps you use, make sure they are set to save data to the SD card, not the phone. The app itself will not be moveable, but the data will. Google for instructions.

Uninstalling updates saves space too. You can't remove preinstalled apps without "rooting the phone", but uninstalling updates will free some space. For apps you use you will probably then want to reapply the latest update, but I believe that just having the latest update instead of a series, will save space.

prh47bridge · 13/07/2014 00:17

The app itself will not be moveable

Depends on the handset. I've owned handsets that allowed apps to be moved to the SD card. I've also owned handsets that don't allow that.

just having the latest update instead of a series will save space

That is correct.

springbabydays · 13/07/2014 06:35

So uninstalling apps and reinstalling them from scratch might help then?

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PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 14/07/2014 18:27

Best place to start is to go to the application manager and sort apps by size, then systematically uninstall the largest apps which you don't use.

springbabydays · 14/07/2014 19:21

Trouble is, I only have about three apps on there that I installed myself. Use all of them. Have had to uninstall others I was using as it slowed the phone down so much

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sunbathe · 14/07/2014 20:18

Have you been through your photos/videos and transferred or deleted any you don't want on the phone?

I've just done it on mine and my low space icon has gone (for the time being, anyway!).

springbabydays · 14/07/2014 22:41

Yes, this is something I definitely need to do. But with 2gb free on the sd card it seems wrong that I'd have to do that first.

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