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Original poster

Idiots guide needed with phone storage issue!

13 replies

SasherinSuite · 04/02/2015 09:24

Can anyone help me with a mobile phone storage issue in plain non-techy speak? I have an android phone with 16Gb of internal phone storage. Trouble is when I try and install apps it tells me there isnt enough disk space and when I check the Storage settings it tells me I only have 1Gb. I have tried other forums but I am lost with all the tech speak about repartitioning, rooting etc Confused so hoping someone may be able to explain what I need to do in plain English!

OP posts:
BabsUnited · 04/02/2015 09:50

lurking for any tips as I have an iphone and my "cloud storage" is full or something and I just don't understand Blush

Original poster
SasherinSuite · 04/02/2015 10:16

Glad it's not just me Babs Grin.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 04/02/2015 18:12

It has 16GB total but 15GB is occupied by the operating system and the apps that are included with the phone. If you want more you will need to find out if it accepts SD cards (memory cards - most Android phones do), check which type you need, buy one and insert it into your phone in the appropriate place.

The question about iPhones is different. They don't accept memory cards. They store some data in the cloud (iCloud - basically some large disks on the internet that belong to Apple). There is an article on managing your iCloud storage here.

Original poster
SasherinSuite · 04/02/2015 19:06

Bloody hell. Seriously!! 15Gb for the OS?? That's a swizz Angry.

Thanks btw.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 05/02/2015 11:23

It is probably more bundled apps than the OS. Android itself is less than 1GB and should be in read only memory which is separate from the 16GB. But manufacturers often include a whole pile of apps that install take up space in the storage. I am, by the way, assuming you haven't installed apps, taken lots of photos or similar. Those all take up space.

CuntWagon · 05/02/2015 11:37

I have a similar issue with my iPad, it was saying storage full but I did t have enough stuff on there for that to be true. Logging out of iTunes and app store, then switching device off worked. I think it was something to stuff with watching TV shows and films, although they were just streamed not downloaded, it had left some sort of "imprint" for want of a better word, behind. You could try logging out of the android equivalents and seeing if that helps.

sparkysparkysparky · 05/02/2015 17:07

Does it take a micro SD card? If it does, you might be able to store your apps on that? It gives you the option to do it per app when you are in Manage Applications or whatever it's gonna be called on your phone. You can get them on Amazon 8 gb should do. BTW I'm a work it out as you go along sort, not a techie.

StrikesMatches · 05/02/2015 17:48

I find clearing the cache on things like MN, news sites buzzfeed and my browser always frees up a good bit of space. it does mean you have to log in again on things and be careful of anything that you have recorded info on (eg my period tracker) so you don't delete useful info by accident.

NetworkGuy · 06/02/2015 21:28

SasherinSuite - that 15GB will not just be OS, but may well include some of your own files if you have music or video, or hundreds of photos.

Some phones have as many as 4 areas of storage:

  1. RAM - memory used by apps currently in use
  2. 'local storage' - some of the internal storage, set aside for holding Apps and data
  3. USB storage (it's the rest of the internal storage, and available not just via Apps but if you plug your phone into a computer) and
  4. external storage (the MicroSD card).

Sometimes the external storage is shown in the file structure (if you use a file manager app like X-plore) as /storage/sdcard1 or perhaps more messy:

Device -> /mnt/sdcard2

(devices are 'mounted' for use, 'unmounted' when not needed, and the MicroSD card, when plugged in, is 'mounted' and then appears in the list of devices, inside the system 'mount' directory "/mnt" hence the name shown)

DramaAlpaca · 06/02/2015 21:40

I had the same problem recently. Got myself an android phone and went mad installing lots of apps but ran out of space.

The solution was to buy a micro SD card and transfer as many apps as I could onto it. Then I made the SD card the default storage so that any apps I install go onto it automatically, and photos etc will be stored on it too. Some apps need to be on the phone itself, but most will happily go on the SD card. I got my micro SD card on amazon, just went for a cheap one.

Also, to create more space I deleted some of the Google applications that came pre-installed on the phone because I know I won't use them.

One last thing, if you get a micro SD card, make sure you check the spec of your phone to see what storage capacity is suitable for your phone. Mine takes a maximum of 32gb.

I'm not a techie person either, I got teenage DS to talk me through it!

Original poster
SasherinSuite · 09/02/2015 17:51

Oops didn't realise I had more replies Blush.

Right so I have taken a closer look at the Storage settings.

I have an 8Gb sd card and 4Gb is available.
internal storage is 1Gb and 300Mb available.
Phone storage is 12Gb and 10Gb available.

So how the jeff do I download apps just to phone storage or the sd card?

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 10/02/2015 09:44

OK. On my android, you do the following:

Settings
Device
Storage
Default storage location - choose SD card if you want apps to go there automatically.

To move apps, go to:

Apps
Manage apps
Click on the app, and you get the option to move it to your SD card, or if it's on the SD card you can move it to your phone.

Original poster
SasherinSuite · 11/02/2015 11:16

Ah brilliant, thanks Drama.

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