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The Tech Grandkid · thetechgrandkid.com/guides/android-storage-full/

Your Android phone or tablet says it's full. Here's how to make room.

For: Android phone or tablet

Last checked October 14, 2026 against official help from Google. Written for Android 14 and up.

When an Android phone or tablet runs out of room, new photos and apps have nowhere to go. It can show you what's taking up space and help you clear it.

This page is for you if

  • A message says storage is full or almost full
  • The camera won't save new pictures
  • Apps won't download or update

Good to know first

These are Google's steps for Android 14 and up. Samsung and some other phones and tablets put things in different places. If you can't find a button, open Settings and type storage in the search bar at the top.

Before you start

Files you move to Trash will be deleted. Before you delete photos, check that they're backed up. If you use Google Photos backup, your backed-up copies stay in Google Photos when you're online.

Do these steps

  1. Open Settings

    Open your device's Settings app.

  2. Tap Storage

    Tap Storage. If you don't see it, type storage in the search bar at the top of Settings.

  3. Tap Free up space

    Tap Free up space. Your phone shows photos, videos and apps you haven't used in a while.

  4. Pick a group of files

    Scroll to a group, like photos or videos. Tap Select files. If you don't see the group you want, tap Browse.

  5. Choose what to delete

    Tap each file you want to delete. You can also select every file in the list.

  6. Move them to Trash

    Tap Move files to Trash.

Good to know

  • Let the phone do it for you: In Settings, tap Storage, then Free up space. Tap the Menu button, then Settings, and turn on Smart Storage. Your phone will clear photos and videos that are already backed up when space gets low.
  • Archive apps you rarely use: Open the Play Store, tap your profile photo, tap Settings, then General, and turn on Automatically archive apps. The app goes away but your data stays. Tap its icon to get it back.
  • If you delete an app you paid for, you can download it again without paying.

Check it with the source

We wrote these steps from these official pages. If your screen looks different, the official page is always right.

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