How to Free Up Space on Android (2026 Guide)

When your Android phone runs low on storage, it slows down, apps refuse to update, and Google Play stops installing anything new. The good news: modern Android (versions 15, 16 and the current Android 17) has better built-in tools than ever, so you rarely need a third-party cleaner.

This guide walks through the fixes in the order that usually frees the most space for the least effort. Menu names below are from a Pixel; Samsung and other brands use slightly different labels, which we note where it matters.

1. Check what is using your storage

Open Settings > Storage. Android breaks usage into categories such as Apps, Images, Videos, Audio, Documents, Games, Trash and System. Tap a category to see the biggest items inside it.

On Samsung Galaxy phones, the same screen is under Settings > Device care > Storage.

Note the top two or three categories. On most phones it is photos and videos, followed by a handful of apps with large caches (browsers, social apps, streaming apps with downloads).

2. Use the built-in Free up space tool

Google's own storage cleaner is built into Settings, according to the official Android Help page:

1. Open Settings > Storage.
2. Tap Free up space.
3. Pick a category, or tap Browse to see everything.
4. Tap Select files, choose what to remove, then tap Move files to Trash.

Files in Trash still count against your storage until they are deleted for good, so open the Trash category in Storage and empty it when you are sure.

Turn on Smart Storage

Smart Storage removes photos and videos that are already backed up to Google Photos whenever your phone gets close to full. Go to Settings > Storage > Free up space, tap the menu, open Settings, and turn on Smart Storage. Google lists this for Android 14 and newer.

3. Clear app cache

Cache is temporary data an app saves so it loads faster next time: thumbnails, images, video chunks, web pages. It rebuilds itself over time, so clearing it is safe and often frees hundreds of megabytes from apps like Chrome, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit.

Steps from Google's Pixel Help page:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps, then See all apps.
3. Tap the app you want to clean.
4. Tap Storage & cache, then Clear cache.

On Samsung, the path is Settings > Apps > (app) > Storage > Clear cache.

Modern Android no longer has a single "clear all cached data" button, so clear the heaviest apps one by one. Sort by size first: in Settings > Storage > Apps, the list is ordered by space used, so the top entries are the best targets. Files by Google (below) can also clear junk across several apps at once.

Clearing cache also fixes a lot of glitches. If Android Auto keeps disconnecting, for example, clearing its cache is one of the first steps in our Android Auto troubleshooting guide.

4. Archive apps you rarely use

Archiving, added in Android 15, removes an app's code but keeps its icon and your data. Tap the icon later and the app reinstalls from Google Play right where you left off. It is the best middle ground for apps you only open on holiday or once a month.

Archive one app manually: open Settings > Apps, tap the app, and tap Archive. You can also long-press the home screen icon, tap App info, then Archive. Some preinstalled apps cannot be archived.

Archive automatically: open the Play Store, tap your profile photo, go to Settings > General, and turn on Automatically archive apps. Play then archives apps you have not used in a while whenever space runs low.

5. Uninstall apps you do not need

Anything you have not opened in months can go. Apps you paid for can be reinstalled later without paying again.

To find the biggest ones quickly, open the Play Store, tap your profile photo, choose Manage apps & device, open the Manage tab, and sort by size. Tick the apps you no longer use and tap the bin icon.

While you are there, check for apps that also run constantly in the background. Our guide on how to stop apps running in the background on Android covers that.

6. Clean up photos, videos and downloads

Photos and videos are usually the biggest category.

• Google Photos: once your library is backed up, open Google Photos, tap your profile photo, and tap Free up space to remove device copies that are already safe in the cloud.
• Downloaded music and video: Spotify, YouTube Music, Netflix and similar apps store offline downloads that can run to several gigabytes. Remove the ones you have already watched or listened to from each app's downloads or storage settings.
• Downloads folder: old APKs, PDFs and installers pile up here. Delete what you no longer need, or move large files to a computer over USB.
• Chat media: WhatsApp and Telegram save every photo, video and voice note you receive. In WhatsApp, open Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage to review and delete large files by chat.

Not keen on Google Photos? See our Google Photos alternatives for other backup options.

7. Use a trustworthy cleaner app

Most "phone cleaner" and "RAM booster" apps on Google Play are ad-heavy and do little that Android cannot do itself. Two are worth installing.

Files by Google

Google's free file manager has a Clean tab with suggestions for junk files, duplicate files, old screenshots, large files, memes and media from chat apps. It can also clear cache, back files up to Google Drive or an SD card, and share files offline with Quick Share. It uses less than 20 MB and has no ads.

Files by Google

GET IT ONGoogle Play

SD Maid 2/SE

SD Maid 2/SE replaces the original SD Maid, which has not been updated since 2023. It goes deeper than Files by Google:

• CorpseFinder finds leftover files from apps you already uninstalled.
• AppCleaner finds expendable files and hidden caches inside apps.
• SystemCleaner finds logs, temp files, empty folders and other clutter.
• Deduplicator finds identical or similar photos and files.
• StorageAnalyzer shows exactly where your space went.

Some tools need extra permissions to work fully, and a few features are part of the paid upgrade. Review each result before deleting.

SD Maid 2/SE - System Cleaner

GET IT ONGoogle Play

For a full file manager that also helps you tidy up, see our best Android file manager apps.

8. Switch to lite apps

Lite apps take a fraction of the space of the full versions while keeping the core features. Google Go is the best-known example, and many popular services offer a lite app or a web version you can pin to your home screen instead of installing anything. We keep a list of lite apps for Android you can pick from.

9. Move files to cloud storage or an SD card

If you run low on space again and again, keep less on the phone itself:

• Back up photos to Google Photos (or another cloud) and remove the device copies.
• Stream music instead of storing whole collections offline.
• Keep documents in Google Drive (15 GB free across your Google account) or Dropbox.
• If your phone has a microSD slot, move photos, videos and music there. Files by Google can move files to the card in a few taps.

Quick checklist

• Check Settings > Storage for the biggest categories
• Run Free up space and empty Trash
• Turn on Smart Storage
• Clear cache for your three largest apps
• Turn on automatic app archiving in the Play Store
• Uninstall apps you have not opened in months
• Remove backed-up photos and old offline downloads
• Run the Clean tab in Files by Google

Want to know what else changed in the latest version of Android? Read Android 17: every feature explained.

FAQs

Is it safe to clear cache on Android?

Yes. Clearing cache only removes temporary files the app can rebuild. You stay signed in and keep your settings. The app may load a little slower the first time afterwards.

What is the difference between clear cache and clear storage?

Clear cache deletes temporary files only. Clear storage (also called Clear data) wipes everything the app saved, including logins, settings and downloads, as if you had just installed it.

How do I clear the cache for all apps at once?

Current Android versions do not have a one-tap button for every app. Clear the largest apps one by one from Settings > Apps, or use the Clean tab in Files by Google to remove junk across apps.

What happens when I archive an app?

Android removes the app itself but keeps its icon and your data. Tap the icon and it reinstalls from Google Play with your data intact.

Why is System taking up so much storage?

System includes Android itself plus space reserved for updates, so it is normal for it to use 10 GB or more. You cannot shrink it directly, but installing pending system updates and restarting the phone can release temporary update files.

Do cleaner and booster apps actually help?

Most do not. Android manages memory on its own, and aggressive cleaners can drain battery. Stick to the built-in storage tools, Files by Google or SD Maid 2/SE.