Many Android users see the message “Storage space running out” or “Low on storage” even if they don’t install many new apps.
In this guide, I will show you simple steps to free up space on your Android phone without deleting your important photos or apps.
1. Clear cache for heavy apps
Most Android apps store temporary files called cache.
Over time, this cache can take a lot of space.
Steps:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Tap Apps or Applications.
- Select a heavy app you use a lot (for example: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube).
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear cache.
Repeat these steps for a few big apps.
⚠️ Do NOT tap Clear data unless you know what you are doing, because it may reset the app.
2. Use Files by Google to clean junk files
Google has a free app called Files by Google that helps you delete junk and temporary files safely.
Steps:
- Open Google Play Store.
- Search for “Files by Google” and install it.
- Open the app and give it the required permissions.
- Go to the Clean tab
- Tap Clean on:
- Junk files
- Temporary files
- Unused apps (only if you don’t need them)
This can free a lot of space in a few seconds.
3. Delete unnecessary downloads
Many phones have a lot of old files in the Downloads folder, such as:
- Old PDFs
- Images
- APK files
- Documents you don’t need anymore
Steps:
- Open your File Manager or Files app.
- Go to Downloads.
- Check the files one by one.
- Delete any file you don’t need.
This is one of the easiest ways to free up space.
4. Remove duplicate and useless media from apps
Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger save images and videos automatically.
These media files take a lot of storage.
You can:
- Delete old WhatsApp Status saves.
- Delete forwarded videos and memes.
- Remove old voice notes you don’t need.
You can do this from inside the app (Gallery/Media) or using Files by Google under Clean → WhatsApp media (if it appears).
5. Move photos and videos to cloud or SD card
If your internal storage is small, it’s better to move large files.
Option 1: Use Google Photos (Cloud)
- Install Google Photos from the Play Store (if not installed).
- Open the app and sign in with your Google account.
- Turn on Backup & sync.
- After backup is complete, you can use the “Free up space” option inside Google Photos to remove local copies from your phone.
Option 2: Move to SD card
If your phone supports a microSD card:
- Insert an SD card.
- Open the File Manager.
- Move:
- Photos
- Videos
- Large folders to the SD card.
This will free a lot of internal storage.
6. Uninstall apps you don’t really use
Sometimes we install apps, use them once, and forget them.
Steps:
- Open Settings → Apps.
- Sort apps by size if possible.
- Uninstall:
- Games you no longer play.
- Old tools or test apps.
If you need them later, you can always download them again.
7. Check storage usage and monitor what takes space
After doing the previous steps:
- Go to Settings → Storage.
- Check how much free space you have now.
- See which category takes most space:
- Apps
- Photos & videos
- Audio
- Other
If “Other” is very large, it usually means:
- Cache
- App data
- System files
You can repeat the cleaning steps every few weeks to keep your phone smooth.
Final tips
- Try to clean cache and junk files once a month.
- Do not install too many heavy apps or games if your storage is small.
- Always keep at least 2–3 GB free space so your phone can work without lag.
If the “Storage space running out” message still appears after all these steps, your phone may have very low internal storage (for example 16 GB).
In this case, using an SD card or upgrading to a device with more storage might be the best solution.