Android devices are notorious for quickly filling up their storage as one installs applications, music and various other media. The internal storage will start running out and will eventually make your device agonizingly slow and unresponsive, particularly on low-end devices. It may even restrict your full usage of the device by preventing you from accessing the gallery, updating and even downloading applications. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat this issue.
Adding extra storage
Arguably, the simplest way to counter this is by expanding the storage. If your device supports the addition of a micro SD card, it is a wise decision to mount one. Pictures, music and most media, including some applications
can be stored on the SD card, freeing up the internal memory. However, this does come with a possible consequence. The speed at which you can access the information stored on the SD card is determined by its speed class (this is categorized by the maximum speed at which an SD card is able to write and access data). An SD card of class 10, will have a higher speed than that of a class 3.
On the other hand, devices which do not offer SD card slots are on the rise. Since
one can no longer
rely on mounting an SD card, other methods may be used. One such method is by utilizing an OTG adapter. One function among its array of possible uses is to allow you to increase the storage on your device by inserting this adapter into a USB disk drive and then plugging it into your phone or tablet. You will be able to access the storage medium and interact with it via your devices file explorer.
Clearing cache
Your Android device is indefinitely hoarding useless cache and residual files. You can free up some precious space by clearing your device cache and searching for these other useless files via your file manager. If your device does not come with a built-in application for cache removal and storage optimization, you can access the settings to clear the cache by holding the “power down” and “volume up” buttons simultaneously. This will take you to a menu where it is possible to clear your device cache. You will have to use your volume buttons to move your item selection up or down and the power button to choose an option.
Deleting unnecessary applications and content
Many devices come with pre-downloaded applications. You should uninstall the ones which you do not use and other applications which you have downloaded previously and no longer have a use for. Media such as pictures or audio files take up a lot of space as well. Yes, it is arduous to browse through your device to delete unneeded content but the space it frees up is well worth the effort. There are also numerous applications on the Google Play Store which scan your device for any duplicate content. You can use these applications to delete more unnecessary content and pictures which are similar to each other.
Cloud storage
An easy way to free up internal storage is to use cloud services. Storing images, music and miscellaneous documents on a cloud service like the Google Drive, will allow you to maximize your internal storage. You can access all the cloud content from any device provided that you login with your account. Using a cloud to store, sync and back-up your information is essential. The only downside to this is that you must have an internet connection to access the content. It is also possible to downsize the space your pictures utilize. This involves keeping lower resolution images instead of the original, high resolution ones which can be stored on a cloud, in order to make your pictures more space savvy.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the methods above will only help to an extent. They have their limitations. The surest route one can take in an attempt to avoid their device from becoming unusable due to lack of storage, would be to choose a device with a generous amount of memory considering how the device will be utilized and the purpose it serves for the user.