No matter how large your internal storage is, you cannot install unlimited applications and store large amounts of files all the time. In another word, your Android phone storage will be full sooner or later. When there is no enough storage space, and you need to update your Android or install one important application, what will you do? And what if you want to sell or donate your personal smart phone to someone else? Can you protect your private information effectively?
- How To Clear Internal Storage On Android
- How To Clear Other Internal Storage On Android
- Free Up Android Internal Storage
- How To Clear Internal Memory On Android
- Free Up System Memory Android
Therefore, you had better clear phone storage regularly no matter the phone storage is full or not. Though you can move certain files and apps to microSD card or other external hard drives, it is still important to clear memory Android to maintain the normal operating space. Fortunately, this article collects some useful and easy-to-operate solutions. As a result, you are able to free up storage and memory space with ease.
Part 1: How to Clear Phone Storage
You can try the traditional way to clear phone storage space on Android by deleting useless files. And it is also supported to install an Android cleaner app to save your overstuffed mobile. Moreover, this article also shows how to get more space on your phone without deleting anything. You can read and choose the certain solution to free up space on Android.
Delete Your Downloads
The Android system cannot work properly if the internal device storage is below 150 MB. If under 150 MB, use the following tips to clear more storage: Delete unnecessary text messages (SMS) and picture messages (MMS) Transfer pictures and media to a computer to remove them from the phone memory. Clear storage regularly. Clear storage at least once per week. Check the available internal device storage. It must be over 150 MB; The Android system cannot work properly if the internal device storage is below 150 MB. If under 150 MB, use the following tips to clear more storage: Delete unnecessary text messages (SMS) and picture messages (MMS).
To download more apps and media files, or clear system memory, you can delete some less important files manually. If you are not sure whether you will use those files in the further or not, you can backup Android files to cloud storage space in advance.
Step 1. Locate your download folder
Every Android phone has its own download folder. All your downloaded photos, videos, documents and other files will be stored in the local downloads folder. In some Android models, this folder may be called as 'My Files' as well.
Step 2. Clear internal phone storage on Android
Turn to your download history and find files you want to delete. Just long press one file to select it. Later, click 'Remove' or other trashcan icon to delete downloads when internal storage Android full.
Clear the Cache
Furthermore, you need to clear cached data on your Android phone regularly. And you will not lose any sensitive or important Android data. In most cases, cleaning app cache is the first decision you can make.
Method 1: Clear cached data from an Android app.
Open 'Settings' app. Choose 'Applications' and scroll down to click 'Application Manager'. Later, you can find the target application. When you are in the Application info page, click 'Storage' and then choose 'Clear Cache' to clear the cache on Android.
Method 2: Clear all cached data on Android
Go to 'Settings' and click 'Storage' under its list. Find and click 'Cached data'. When you are prompted with 'This will clear cached data for all apps.', choose 'OK' to confirm. After that, you can clear phone memory Android successfully.
Take Advantage of Google Photos
Actually, Google Photos app is a good cloud storage tool that allows users to backup unlimited photos over the air. Thus, you can move all pictures from Android to Google Photos to free up more space on Android.
Step 1. Turn on Google Photos backup feature
Run Google Photos app on your Android phone. Make sure you have turned on 'Back up & sync' feature under 'Settings' already.
Step 2. Backup Android photos to Google Photos
You can set whether to backup Android photos at high quality resolution or original size. Well, Google Photos only offers unlimited storage space for high quality photos at present.
Step 3. Clear phone storage space on Android
Then go back to Settings app and choose 'Free up device storage'. Click 'Remove' to delete Android pictures that have been backed up.
Move APPs to the Trash
If you have not used the certain application for a long time, and you are sure that you have no interest to use this app any more, then why don't you move it to the trash?
Step 1. Access all Android apps
Navigate 'Settings' app. Head to 'Storage' and click 'Apps'. Later, you can see all installed apps sorted by size.
Step 2. Clear phone storage on Android by deleting apps
Hold and press the app you do not use. then click the 'i' icon besides your app's name. Choose 'Uninstall' and confirm your change.
APP to Clear Phone Storage
By free installing Files Go from Google Play Store, you can visualize the left storage space exactly. And it is easy to clear phone storage on Android by deleting temporary files, downloads and other files easily.
Step 1. See all your Android files organized by Files Go
Launch Files Go and grant storage permissions and app access. Then you can monitor the storage usage including unused apps, duplicate files, temporary files, etc.
Step 2. Clear phone storage Android
Choose the certain category and select items you want to delete. Later, click 'Delete' to clean up your Android, or choose 'Clear' to uninstall apps and free up Android phone storage space.
Part 2: How to Get More Space on Your Phone without Deleting Anything
Android Data Backup & Restore is your best friend, which can backup and restore any Android data to Windows or Mac PC in one click. Thus, you can backup data to your computer to clear phone storage space on Android. It is quite easy to achieve, and no Android data will be overwritten.
- One click to backup and restore data from Android to Windows or Mac PC.
- Preview and select any data to restore to your Android without data loss.
- Set up password to encrypt your Android backup files.
- Work with over 5,000 Android portable devices including Samsung, Sony, LG, etc.
Step 1. Connect Android to PC
Launch Android Data Backup & Restore. Then use a lighting USB cable to connect your Android phone or tablet to your computer. Click 'One-click Backup' to backup all Android files to PC. Otherwise, you can click 'Device Data Backup' to backup certain Android file types without overwriting.
Step 2. Select data type to backup (optional)
If you want to backup Android data to your computer selectively, then you can select the data type in the popping up window.
Step 3. Backup data from Android to PC
Then choose 'Start' to backup Android data to PC immediately. And you can have a check when the backup is over.
After that, you can clear phone storage by deleting all Android files. If you accidentally deleted important files, just use this software as the backup extractor or to get deleted data back.
Well, it is also a good way that can increase internal storage Android in some degree. In addition, even though your Android device is broken or crashed, you can still access all important documents and medias files directly.
Files you downloaded, shared with you, or you created on Android can always be erased. Whether you store it in the internal storage or your external SD card, you can always erase them if you don’t need them anymore. That’s why, when you cannot delete files from the internal storage on your Android device, you go easily panic.
No permission to delete android internal storage? Is it broken? No. Is it because of a virus? Probably, but there are still other reasons why this issue can occur. In this article, this alarming issue will be tackled. The reason, workaround, and permanent fixes will be discussed.
Internal Storage vs. Internal Memory
Before jumping into the issue, it’s better to have a clear idea of what internal storage is all about. Of course, it’s obvious that internal storage is a complete contrast to external storage. However, a few may have confusion between internal storage and internal memory. You should know that in this article, the focus in on the internal storage. For those who aren’t that familiar with internal storage and internal memory, these are discussed below.
The internal memory (RAM) is an allocation in your storage dedicated to the system software. If you won’t root your phone (getting access to the software of the device, a jailbreak in Apple devices), you can’t delete anything from this. This is something that won’t run out.
The internal storage, on the other hand, is where you can store music, apps, videos, documents, and other files. This, you can run out, but you can easily free up space by uninstalling apps or deleting unused files. So, if you can’t delete a file that is stored in your internal storage, something should be off — and you should know why.
Why I Cannot Delete a File from Internal Storage Android?
There are a lot of reasons why you can’t delete files from your internal phone storage. Among the most common causes is either your internal storage is mounted as read-only or it’s because of a virus. Or, sometimes you encounter the problem because you don’t have permission to delete a particular file.
Whatever the reason why you have a problem deleting files on your Android phone, you must know a solution. It’s quite alarming because it isn’t the normal behavior of your phone. The next section will give you a detailed explanation and steps for you to escape from this circumstance.
Reasons Explained and Problem Solved!
Since there are various reasons why you don’t have permission to delete a file that you created or downloaded, there are also various ways to fix this. You don’t need any special IT skills — just have to follow the steps here in order to successfully get out of this dilemma.
Internal Storage is Mounted as Read-Only
Although this isn’t how your internal storage should be, sometimes, whether it is a bug or a virus, Android users can encounter such a problem. And, as a result, you cannot delete any file from your internal storage.
How To Clear Internal Storage On Android
- Connect your phone to a PC or laptop using a cable.
- Depending on your phone, you can automatically mount it as a drive in your PC or you’ll still be prompted whether you connect your phone to charge and other stuff. If you are prompted upon connecting your phone, make sure to select the option to mount your phone as a mass device.
- If you have seen your phone’s storage mounted, go to Command Prompt and remove the read-only settings from there.
- Once you have launched the Command prompt in your PC, make sure that it C:Windowssystem32>.
- Type diskpart.
- It’ll return a list of the mass storage you have. So, you should know what storage you are looking for. Otherwise, your problem will not be solved.
- If you have successfully revoked the read-only setting of your internal storage, you can easily delete any file now.
No Delete Option – Undeletable files in Android?
For Android 6, for example, the Delete option can’t be seen in plain view. So, if you want to delete a file, you need to go to Settings. From there, follow these steps:
- Go to Storage>Internal Storage.
- Tap Explore and select the folder where the file you need to delete is stored.
- Tap More (generally be found on the right-hand corner).
- Tap on Edit, and now, you can select the file/s you want to delete.
- You can now see the Delete option.
- Tap it and you can now get rid of that file.
Still, Can’t Delete File?
If your internal storage isn’t read-only, yet you can’t still delete a file, connecting the phone again to your PC saves many Android users from stress.
How To Clear Other Internal Storage On Android
- Connect your phone as mass storage on your PC or laptop.
- Open File Explorer and tap the storage.
- Navigate to the folder where your file can be found.
- Select it and hit Delete key in your keyboard. Alternatively, you can right-click and Delete it. Whichever way, you should be able to delete it successfully.
Free Up Android Internal Storage
If the issue persists and you still can’t delete the file with these steps, it’s possible that your phone has already been infected with a virus. Use a trusted virus software app and install it on your phone. It should detect any unwanted stuff on your phone.
Or, worse can, you need to reset your phone to factory setting. Remember, it’ll wipe out your data, so you must have a backup. Backup your files in your computer first, then, do the Factory Reset.
The Final Say
If you cannot delete files from the internal storage on your Android mobile, then, something is really off. You need to know the reason why your phone is behaving that way. If you are prompted with a message that you don’t have permission to delete, most likely your internal memory is mounted as read-only. You need to connect to a PC and steps are laid out in this article.
How To Clear Internal Memory On Android
Or, you can also delete the file through your computer. Just connect your phone as mass storage and this method has saved a lot of Android users. However, if the issue still persists, then, there’s no other reason why your phone becomes hardheaded — a virus. You can remove it with an anti-virus app or resetting your phone to factory settings.
Free Up System Memory Android
Whatever the reason, it’s not something you can take lightly because of possible infection. To avoid this problem, keep your phone secure and make sure not to install unknown apps. It always pays to be careful and safe.