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Android storage tips: 83% of phone space issues traced to photos and app cache; Google shows how to clear them via Settings or Files app

A recent poll reveals that 83% of Android phone storage issues stem from photos and app cache, prompting Google to provide users with methods to clear space via the Settings menu and Files app, addressing the growing size of apps and the need for efficient storage management.

Gadgets 360+1 source23 August 2026 · 08:53 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

Google offers two methods for Android users to manage storage effectively, highlighting the importance of identifying apps that consume significant space.1

42% of users attribute storage issues to photos, while 41% blame app cache.23

To access storage settings, users can swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the gear icon to open the Settings menu.45

From there, navigating to Storage allows users to view apps sorted by size, enabling them to clear cache or storage as needed.

Alternatively, the Files app provides insights into large and unused apps, facilitating easier management.

By deleting unnecessary apps, users can free up space for important documents and media.

The growing size of apps has made it crucial for users to regularly monitor their storage, especially for those without expandable memory options.

“You do not need a brand-new phone with extra gigabytes to solve this problem,” experts suggest, emphasizing the need to tackle storage traps effectively.

“Old mobile games take up an outsized amount of space relative to how often we play them,” further complicating storage issues.

Addressing these factors can significantly enhance device performance and user experience.

Key Insight
“Clearing cache does not delete apps but may remove saved passwords and usernames. The Files app offers sections for Large Apps, Unused Apps, and Games, letting you uninstall directly to free space for photos and videos.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
Gadgets 360
“Google offers two different ways to let you see which apps are taking up the most storage space on your Android phone.”
Gadgets 360 →
2
Tom's Guide
“A recent poll of Tom's Guide readers reveals a surprising story about how our devices actually fill up: we are almost evenly divided on what causes the issue.”
Tom's Guide →
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