Phone and Storage 5.25GB - Why so High? I've searched for solution with no luck.

[Android Central Question]

The largest use of internal memory on my Moto Z2 Play is Phone and Messaging Storage at 5.26GB.
I've deleted a ton of contacts and the storage number actually went up.
I've synced textra (saw that on a post) and it doesn't change the size of phone and messaging storage.
I need to figure out how to reduce this to free up internal memory.
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Mooncatt]

Do you have your SMS app set to automatically delete old messages? If not, that can build up over time. If you don't have it set to auto-delete, then I'd turn it on. The initial deletion will likely take a long long time, so you may first want to just manually delete smaller numbers in batches to prevent bogging down your phone.

 

[NSain1]

Thanks for the suggestion.
I set it to delete old messages and that freed up a decent amount of internal memory but unfortunately phone and messaging storage did not change...still 5.25GB.

 

[Mooncatt]

Thanks for the suggestion.
I set it to delete old messages and that freed up a decent amount of internal memory but unfortunately phone and messaging storage did not change...still 5.25GB.

Welcome to the forums. Where exactly are you seeing this space reported? I seem to remember Motorola partitioned the storage space for different uses. So I'm wondering if you are seeing actual space used or total partitioned space.

You could also go through each of your apps in your application manager and check their storage and cache space. "Phone and messaging storage" is kind of vague, and isn't telling us much.

 

[NSain1]

It's an app that shows up on the list when you include "system apps". It also shows up when I use a disk analyzer showing it has the 5.25GB.

 

[NSain1]

Here is a screenshot:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vDfqQaNOUKh5m73ZMza9Okmy-AKUDji4/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[Javier P]

Thanks for the suggestion.
I set it to delete old messages and that freed up a decent amount of internal memory but unfortunately phone and messaging storage did not change...still 5.25GB.

Welcome to the forums. Where exactly are you seeing those 5.2GB? Is it user data or cache? Try this, go to settings - apps & notifications - select one of those apps - storage and take a screenshot of that screen. Repeat the process for the other app and post both screenshots here so we can have a better idea.

 

[Javier P]

Here is a screenshot:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vDfqQaNOUKh5m73ZMza9Okmy-AKUDji4/view?usp=drivesdk

Oooops, you posted the screenshot while I was typing my reply. Tap 'Storage' in that screen and see if it's user data or cache. While on that storage screen select 'clear cache'.

This is your picture.

 

[Javier P]

This is from my phone.

 

[NSain1]

It's mainly user data. Any idea what that may be?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xMK1j5G_1otZeMPcdbvQu7xt_TcLpsht/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[Javier P]

It's mainly user data. Any idea what that may be?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xMK1j5G_1otZeMPcdbvQu7xt_TcLpsht/view?usp=drivesdk

Oh wow, you're not alone. A quick search gave me several reports about this same problem affecting a few different phones since Marshmallow. So far I haven't seen an easy solution or an explanation of why happened. I'll let you know if I find anything.

 

[Javier P]

Have you already tried clearing the call history? Open the dialer - three dots to right - call history - clear.

 

[NSain1]

I just did that and restarted my phone. Unfortunately that didn't change the number.

 

[mustang7757]

Try long press the phone dialer app look at permission make sure storage not checked, also message app clean cache and force stop

 

[mustang7757]

also try force closing that app if you haven't ..
how many contact you have ?