How to Fix “Insufficient Storage Available” on Android

If you’re seeing an “Insufficient storage available” message on your Android, it’s likely that you’ve used up most of your device’s available memory. To resolve this issue, you’ll need to make some space by deleting apps and/or media. You can also add external storage, such as a Micro SD card, to your phone. In some cases, this error may appear even when you have plenty of space. This guide will teach you how to fix the insufficient storage available error on your Android device.

What to Do When Your Android Phone Says Storage is Full

You can free up space on your Android device in several ways. Sometimes, the operating system itself occupies a significant amount of storage. Here are some methods to help you free up space:

Method 1: Resetting Your Apps’ Caches

1. Open the Settings App:
   • Tap the gear app icon in the App Drawer or from the Quick Panel (swipe down from the top of your screen).
2. Go to Apps:
   • Tap “Apps” (icon of a 2×2 grid near the middle of the menu).
3. Sort by Size:
   • Tap the icon of three lines with an arrow pointing down, then select “Size” under the “Sort by” header. This will list apps by size so you can easily see which ones are using the most space.
4. Select an App:
   • Tap an app to see more details, including notification settings, permissions, and whether it’s the default for anything.
5. Clear Cache:
   • Tap “Storage” (usually the third item under the “Usage” header), then tap “Clear cache” to reset the app’s cached data and free up space. Repeat this process for multiple apps if necessary.
     • Some Android devices allow you to clear all apps’ caches at once from the Storage section of the Settings app. If available, you’ll see a “Cached” option here—tap it to clear all cached data.

Method 2: Uninstall Unwanted Apps

1. Delete Unused Apps:
   • To delete an app, tap and hold it, then drag it to the “Remove” field (usually at the top of the screen) and drop it there.
     • Repeat this process to delete all unwanted or unused apps.
     • If the app is a system app and cannot be uninstalled, you can disable it to reclaim data space. To disable the app, tap and hold its icon in the App Drawer, then tap “Disable.”

Method 3: Clear the Play Store Cache and Data, and Uninstall Updates

1. Open Settings:
   • Tap the gear app icon or the gear icon in the Quick Panel.
2. Go to Apps:
   • Tap “Apps” (icon of a 2×2 grid near the middle of the menu).
3. Select Google Play Store:
   • Scroll down to find “Google Play Store” (listed alphabetically).
4. Clear Cache and Data:
   • Tap “Storage,” then tap “Clear cache” and “Clear data.” Confirm that you want to delete the data by tapping “OK.”
5. Uninstall Updates:
   • If the “Insufficient storage” error persists, navigate to the Google Play Store app section in settings (Settings > Apps > Google Play Store).
   • Tap the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the top right corner and select “Uninstall updates.” This will reset the Google Play Store to factory settings, forcing it to update and re-evaluate your phone and its storage.
     • You shouldn’t see the error message again; if you do, your OS may be using all the available space, and you’ll need to free up more space.

Method 4: Transfer Photos and Videos to a Computer

1. Connect Your Android to Your Computer:
   • There are multiple ways to do this: using USB, connecting wirelessly, or utilizing a cloud service like Google Drive.
2. Move Photos and Videos:
   • Drag and drop files from your phone to your computer, or install appropriate apps on your Android (e.g., Google Drive mobile app) to upload your photos and videos.

Method 5: Save Photos and Videos to External SD or Cloud Storage

1. Use External Storage:
   • Since pictures and videos take up considerable space, save them outside your internal storage. To change where your camera saves files:
     • Open your camera app, tap the gear icon, and select “Storage Location”. Note: This menu item may not appear if you don’t have an external SD card installed.
2. Utilize Cloud Storage:
   • If you don’t have Google Photos set up, it’s a great cloud service to consider. Once set up, your photos and videos will save to both local storage and the cloud. You can then delete them from local storage to free up space.

Method 6: General Tips and Tricks

1. Check Your Phone’s Available Storage:
   • On older Android models, the “Insufficient storage available” error might result from a system malfunction rather than actual insufficient storage. Verify your phone’s storage status within the “Storage” section of the Settings app.
     • If your phone has more than 15 megabytes of free storage, the issue may not be related to storage.
     • Remember, a large portion of your storage might be occupied by the operating system.
2. Restart Your Phone:
   • Hold down the power button and tap “Power Off”. Once the phone powers down, press and hold the power button until the screen lights up.
     • Restarting resets your system’s RAM, potentially resolving the “insufficient storage available” error if it’s unrelated to memory.
     • Some Androids (like the Samsung S22) have a feature to reclaim memory while powered on: go to Settings > Battery and device care > Memory > Clean now.
3. Delete Unnecessary Media:
   • This includes downloads, pictures (screenshots), videos, etc. Clearing even a few files can significantly improve memory.
     • If you don’t want to delete certain media, back them up to Google Drive.
     • To check storage use by media type (videos, audio), go to Settings > Battery and device care > Storage. Tap each section for suggestions on freeing up space.
4. Invest in External Storage:
   • If your Android has an unused SD card slot, consider purchasing a Micro SD card.
     • If you already have an SD card but aren’t using it, transfer your apps and data to it. In the Application Manager, tap an app and then tap “Move to SD Card.”

By following these methods, you can effectively manage your Android device’s storage and fix the “Insufficient storage available” error. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask!