LG Tribute storage problem?

[AC Question]

I have an LG Tribute. I have an SD card inserted but files and apps don't transer to it.

My memory is so low that I can't even open most things without them crashing. My text messages won't come through. The only apps I have downloaded are Twitter and a work schedule app, I have less than 30 pictures, and 1 song.

Yet my memory is 99.99% full. Is there anything I can do to fix this? I'm very frustrated.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Rukbat]

Never depend on moving apps to the SD card. Any system apps can't be. Widgets can't be. Many other apps can't be. Some apps that can be won't run from the card (the "developer" didn't know enough to prevent the app from being moved.)

Most apps can't be totally moved, only parts of them can be. For each part moved, there's a link in internal storage, pointing to where that part is on the SD card (because Android looks in internal storage - it was never designed to run apps from the SD card). So moving apps won't save as much space as you think it will.

Before 4.4, the card was an external storage device - anything could write any data to any part of it. Since 4.4 th card is part of the phone's file system - an app has to have rights to the folder to write to it. (That keeps misbehaved apps from scattering data all over the card, writing to other apps' folders, etc.) If you want to change it back, the phone has to be rooted, and you can run something like NextApp SDFix: KitKat Writable MicroSD (root). (Or just modify /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml by hand - but the phone still has to be rooted).

 

[execute187]

I hate to hijack the thread, but I'm also having storage problems. I have recently rooted and installed TWRP on my tribute, but I'm not able to update my antivirus because I keep getting an "Insufficient storage available". It looks like my system data folder is taking up the majority of my internal storage. Here are some screenshots.



I don't know if it would be safe to move my system folder to my sd card or not. Please help

 

[Rukbat]

To answer your last question - ABSOLUTELY NOT!


IOW, if you do, you'll have to reflash the ROM, at least. The phone would just stop working.

You have a phone with 4GB of internal storage and, today, that's pretty much used by Android. Even moving all your pictures and music (and deleting your downloads) won't give you much space. The phone has about had it, in terms of being able to be used by anything beyond Ice Cream Sandwich (and that's pushing it). (I know it comes with KitKat - a VW Bug that comes with a 10,000 pound trailer doesn't make the car capable of pulling the trailer.)

 

[LukeHimself]

Ok.. Im gonna try to make this font nice n large for these people that dont seem to understand much of anything but still leave replies acting as if they know every little detail about,,,, everything..

I have an LG Volt (ls740 i think) and its running 4.4.2 after an OTA update a while back. which didnt change the 4.4.2 kitkat part of it. only another part of the updatable system things. ANYYWAYY, I just bought my girlfriend a LG tribute which is comparable in size, look, 4GB rom/ 1 GB ram/ up to 32GB external, etc. SOOOO.. her phone had plenty of storage left to play with (just like mine) after booting it up and getting everything going.. Sooo, she gets an OTA update, then BAAMM! 2.2GB of UNDELETABLE "system data" stored under "MISC" upon the internal storage. My LG volt running the exact same everything isnt doing this? AND check this out! NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER!
I, Personally dare anyone, and everyone, to please come up with a real answer!
Give me and the poor person whom started this thread an answer as to why recovery mode wont change that storage hog, and why my volt running on the same system updates and the same build of kitkat are OPERATING VASTLY DIFFERENT ON THE SAME 4GB INTERNAL STORAGE!

I have so many games installed on my phone and half of them are in the 300 to 900 MB size range, whilst her phone after wiping the phone and booting it up after the last update rolled out to her phone ( since wiping the phone doesnt remove that update) she only has 1 gb free internal storage. BTW i have almost as much as her and our phones ARE THE SAME SPECS (memory wise) but she hasnt installed even a contact yet?

MY phone runs great 4.4.2 with the OTA update from a while back, but the SAME ZV5update, which was ZV4, ZV3 or one of those...

Alright guys, the list of random files and programs on my phone would be a baffling document to gaze upon, but i'm gonna try to attach some screenshots of mine and her phone, but keep in mind this is "cache partition wiped" and "Factory data reset" both ways (from boot and from settings menu)

Personally I, and many friends, believe this is a simply a plan to have people ditch the phones they have had for a while, or even just purchased, to purchase a brand new, much more expensive 32GB or higher internal storage phone.
Just a ploy to gain sales. while giving no straightforward solution or answer to why this is happening.
Simply; Android 4.4.2 does not require/need/want to use this amount of internal storage for anything at all. As shown in the screenshots, my LG Volt doesnt do this since its nearing a year old, while the LG Tribute of the same RAM/ROM/CPU and even ANDROID VERSION is doing this!

Something needs to be done about this, im not sure who to even contact. Other techs i know even DUMB DOWN to the answer "android just uses that much" HAH!

 

[Starr Lehner]

Thought I was getting a good phone at good price. Not. Like they say...if seems too good to be true. Absolutely cannot delete photos. Even when I empty trash the photos come back. And also allowed me to load 1 game only. My old ST phone was better. It's BS the way this phone is.

 

[LukeHimself]

The Tribute is on sale for an amazing price, yes! This is why i chose the phone over buying any other device offered.

My LG Volt (4.4.2 kitkat, 4gb internal storage, 1gb ram) is retail 149.99, I checked out every spec on the LG Tribute, the specs are identical except;
Tribute-
5mp rear cam (Volt 8mp),
2100 mah removable battery (Volt 3000 mah removable),
No Flashlight widget (Volt has one stock),
No Infra Red /Quick Remote feature (Volt has IR and Quick Remote),
No NFC on Tribute (Volt has NFC).

The Volt has various other wireless connectivity features, whereas the Tribute shows no sign of Miracast, Android Beam, SmartShare Beam, or Wireless Storage. The "Smart On" sub-settings area, within the "Display" settings menu, is non-existent.
What exactly is using this extra Internal Storage space besides Bloated up, Completely Unnecessary Icon/Image/etc System Cache which never should be allowed to grow to this size in the first place!

So why would the system need to obliterate the remaining 3 +/- Gigabytes of internal storage remaining after first boot/reset?

I Spoke with Google Tech Support the day after my first reply on this thread.
The Girl I spoke with was very nice, she stated that I have done almost every step they would recommend to troubleshoot the problem (Recovery -> Clear System Cache, then Factory Data reset).
The Girl told me to give myself "Developer Mode" options, so I did it.
She wanted me to try "booting into safe mode", so I did, no effect.
So the Android Tech told me, and I quote; "You obviously have a defective phone. No Android phone should use that much of its own internal storage before its first app is downloaded. My advice to you is to try returning the phone to where you originally purchased it, Walmart may let you exchange it for another one. If returning it there doesnt work, LG phones have a 1 year warranty on their new phones, they'll accept it. You could use the insurance you purchased and follow their instructions."
Anyway it had been 1 day longer than the 15 day exchange/refund policy for walmart bought phones (yes it was only 16 days old, factory reset 3 times, cache wiped 2 times)
I'm going with the insurance route, it seems easy enough (unless LG reps are even easier!), but what if it doesnt change anything?
What if the new device does the same thing? This is why im posting here, for the people that are experiencing the same issue who don't have a 32gb device. My friend Rachel has this same problem with her LG G2, ITS EATING 8 FULL GIGABYTES OF INTERNAL STORAGE, but since she has 32gb total, it doesnt matter much to her since NO ONE is OFFICIALLY recognizing that there is a system wide problem here.
Phones from over 8 or so months ago, and that didnt do a new OTA update within this past 8 or so months, they really dont have this issue.
Nor Older releases of android.

So, I think I know what the issue really is.
The peeps down at Google wanted to push out more of their high-end devices with huge onboard storage, what better way to accomplish this than to make everyone, with 16gb or less internal storage, feel like they dont have enough internal memory and need to upgrade. If said Individual searches for a solution to the issue, there will be no "known issue" to be fixed or reported.
The software update pushed out for Android 4.4 was their target audience, Push this unremovable update onto unknowing millions everywhere, and watch the sales climb. How about launch a G4 at the same time?
IF this issue is ever actually acknowledged officially, it'll be long after the profits were reaped, goals met, consumers tricked and ignored, then, and ONLY then, there will be some apology issued, patches released, undeletable "system data" cache files erased. And months later no one will even remember it.
I think its BS.
The update they released was to give more so-called "security" to the (and i quote!) "contents of the user's external storage".
Whats actually happened is the crippling of the MicroSD Card.
Android somehow has encountered a glitch or error that IRONICALLY IS ALMOST ALWAYS EXACTLY -- 50 PERCENT OF THE INTERNAL STORAGE SIZE!---
Just check with your friends that have a Samsung Galaxy S3,4,5 etc. or the LG G2,3,4 etc, See if they have the Ominous multiple GB "system data" folder under "misc" in the storage settings.
BTW SAMSUNG PHONES DO NOT SHOW THIS FOLDER AT ALL! The Internal Storage amount just magically decreases in size!

end rant, but im not done

 

[Sparrow77]

Finally i see this problem addressed! Ive been scouring the net looking for an answer to this. I'm no dev, coder, etc, but i thought it seriously stranger that the SAME file is eating have same amount of space for seemingly no reason at all. I would very much like to know what that is all about.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[jcarrico]

I am curious if anyone has foind a solution oe an answer ro as why so much memory is used by the system data on the lg tribute phone? Mine is less than a month old ans has like 3 apps on it...and HALF my internal memory is used for system data.....absolutely ridiculous

 

[feenom]

I'm having the same issue and kudos to LukeHimself and others for coming to what I also believe to be the correct conclusion. I had plenty of space, then a system update downloaded without my consent and immediately after it's all eaten up. Even after installing the update it doesn't self delete the ROM zip or whatever it may be that's taking up all the space. I think the only solution is likely to root the phone and flash a different ROM or explore internal storage contents and delete the update installer.

 

[Devin Harrolle]

Not to mention, if Android "just used that much" the same amount of data should presumably be taken up on every single factory wiped LG Tribute YET I just factory wiped MINE and it says 2.18 GB are used. Yeah that's only .01 of a difference, but theoretically it should be identical. AND it was 2.28 GB before I factory reset it. And the OP's NOT factory reset with minimal "luggage" is at 1.99 GB. Something is indeed fishy.

The joke's on them, for me at least, because I could just go back to my old phone for free XD There wasn't really anything wrong with it, maybe one minuscule thing, and so I saw that the Tribute had better stats at a great price and went for it since I had the spare $. The thing worked great for like 6 months before it decided the system storage should be, as you said, pretty much exactly half of my internal storage. Gonna contact Virgin Mobile and see what they say since I didn't buy phone insurance and if not I'll go back to my scuba phone (thing is waterproof, I call it the scuba phone XD) until I have more spare $ and I try an iPhone or something. Not gonna go Windows Phone because my bf has a Windows Phone and the thing is horrible (imho).

 

[PinballJules]

Yep, I'm in the same boat with the rest of you. I would have been happy to keep my older HTC phone, had it not been stolen. 2.3 GB System Data is what my storage shows. Can't update a single app. I have one photo stored, can't store any more. I do see past photos periodically, which I can't seem to completely eliminate. This is just the most frustrating thing in the World. I'm not techy enough to root my phone, plus, it sounds like that is not the solution. I will keep watching this thread and see if someone finds the solution. Thx.

 

[louisehawes]

Please let me know VM's response. I have the same problem, same situation. For four months my phone was fine. First system update, and suddenly I have no space. Thanks!

 

[MrMatthewHoffman]

I seem to be having the same problem as others here, namely a bloated MISC file on an LG tribute. Mine is 2.55 Gb, leaving me 1.45 Gb for everything else. Even w/a 32 Gb sd, I can barely use the phone. I'd love help with this, but I expect it can't be fixed. The Community can't and the Devs won't. I just wanted to ad two points. 1) I am using a service called TextNow and having the issue. Not sure if that helps anyone understand it or fix it, but there's my data contribution. 2) To those (the Devs) who could fix this but won't...Many people - I am one of them - can barely handle the Free Crappy Phone With A Cheap, Crappy Plan offer we already have. You can nerf and lobotomize my phone all you want. I can't afford your new phone no mattter how good it is, or how much you cripple my Tribute. Think about it: If I could afford the expensive new phone you want me to buy, why didn't I buy it? Because I can NOT afford it. I don't want the Pinto of phones; that's all I can afford. Now MY rant is over. Time to uninstall my email program so I can download the GPS app to get home. Once home I'll be able to uninstall the GPS so I can re-download my email program again. Fun. My first smartphone. What a Jy.

 

[sethyboy]

Ok.. Im gonna try to make this font nice n large for these people that dont seem to understand much of anything but still leave replies acting as if they know every little detail about,,,, everything..

I have an LG Volt (ls740 i think) and its running 4.4.2 after an OTA update a while back. which didnt change the 4.4.2 kitkat part of it. only another part of the updatable system things. ANYYWAYY, I just bought my girlfriend a LG tribute which is comparable in size, look, 4GB rom/ 1 GB ram/ up to 32GB external, etc. SOOOO.. her phone had plenty of storage left to play with (just like mine) after booting it up and getting everything going.. Sooo, she gets an OTA update, then BAAMM! 2.2GB of UNDELETABLE "system data" stored under "MISC" upon the internal storage. My LG volt running the exact same everything isnt doing this? AND check this out! NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER!
I, Personally dare anyone, and everyone, to please come up with a real answer!
Give me and the poor person whom started this thread an answer as to why recovery mode wont change that storage hog, and why my volt running on the same system updates and the same build of kitkat are OPERATING VASTLY DIFFERENT ON THE SAME 4GB INTERNAL STORAGE!

I have so many games installed on my phone and half of them are in the 300 to 900 MB size range, whilst her phone after wiping the phone and booting it up after the last update rolled out to her phone ( since wiping the phone doesnt remove that update) she only has 1 gb free internal storage. BTW i have almost as much as her and our phones ARE THE SAME SPECS (memory wise) but she hasnt installed even a contact yet?

MY phone runs great 4.4.2 with the OTA update from a while back, but the SAME ZV5update, which was ZV4, ZV3 or one of those...

Alright guys, the list of random files and programs on my phone would be a baffling document to gaze upon, but i'm gonna try to attach some screenshots of mine and her phone, but keep in mind this is "cache partition wiped" and "Factory data reset" both ways (from boot and from settings menu)

Personally I, and many friends, believe this is a simply a plan to have people ditch the phones they have had for a while, or even just purchased, to purchase a brand new, much more expensive 32GB or higher internal storage phone.
Just a ploy to gain sales. while giving no straightforward solution or answer to why this is happening.
Simply; Android 4.4.2 does not require/need/want to use this amount of internal storage for anything at all. As shown in the screenshots, my LG Volt doesnt do this since its nearing a year old, while the LG Tribute of the same RAM/ROM/CPU and even ANDROID VERSION is doing this!

Something needs to be done about this, im not sure who to even contact. Other techs i know even DUMB DOWN to the answer "android just uses that much" HAH!

The fact that you are missing is that the LG Volt is actually 8GB of storage, not 4GB; so of course it has more storage available to use. The Volt just doesn't show the "System Data" folder like the Tribute does.

 

[m0nde]

same with my tribute here's how to fix it:

1. download perk tv on this and all android devices, use the phone for nothing else

2. get a windows 10 phone, use that for everything else

3. replace android phones for perk tv with windows 10 pbones as needed


4. get sick of hitting backspace to correct words because google keyboard is as good as google is as good as lg, unfortunately I don't got me a 10 phone yet but boy oh boy I can't wait and it won't be lg that's for sure lol

even my sister's lg refrigerator is annoying they suck at everything yet everything they do they gotta layer their own suck over the final product just to remind you no matter what you're using you can tell if lg made it from phones to refrigerators if it's especially bad it's probably lg

 

[Quantumnerd]

My misc. file is 2.30GB I just got this a couple of months ago, it was someone else's phone before it was mine. I have no SD card either lol How do I make more room. (LG Tribute 1) Thanks!

 

[EmFord3]

As someone who has had the Tribute (and loved it) for a few months, Ive run into this issue since the first month I had it. Not such a big deal, since I dont need much on my phone anyway, but I have slowly deleted apps until I have only the ones I really use/want/need, and Im still getting the space notification. I really had just accepted it as reality, because the only suggestion is to root, and I would rather not. But I noticed something today that made me start looking for answers again.

In my storage, under the Misc menu, the "System Data" files that are un-deletable.

The size changes. All the time. In a matter of seconds.
Today, I got a low space notification. When I went to my Storage, I clicked into Misc to delete some files that like to pop up in there all the time, but are never counted in the Misc size. System Data was at 1.99 GB. Hit the back arrow, cleared the Cache. Happened to glance at the Misc size again.. 2.1 GB. First thought was that those files popped up again and actually were counted.
Nope. System Data was suddenly somehow 2.1 GB. It has since gone down to 2.01 GB.

What even is that and how does it happen?

 

[Jesse Shroyer]

I have a Volt 2 and my (can't open or look at) System Data under Miscellaneous is at 4.9 gigs...... I'm on this and I will find an answer. What we know is that we all have the same problem so it is an Android OS problem not a phone problem. I have looked at a lot of files with a root explorer while rooted and I still can't find what the "system data" is actually called (file names) so we can find it. What is writing and saving info on a protected file that we can not see? What is the common file we all share? BTW I'm on Android 5.1.1

 

[Leigh306]

After using my laptop for 2 years, I have only used 1.42 GB so I am very confused as to why the phone has to use 4.68 GB of data called System Data in the MISC file. I did talk to the LG people one day, and there is a problem they are aware of, but we were talking about my battering running down too quickly. Now I am wondering if the data usage and the battery usage are connected.