Question Running out of space on old phone

[Sillycat41]

I should buy a new phone with more memory, but in the meantime can someone tell me how to clean up some more space on this phone... I'm running out! I download photos and videos to my computer, but for some reason I can no longer download the recordings... they don't show up in the tree when I attach it to the computer with the USB cable. Photos are the only option but I remember being able to take the recordings off a long time ago.

I removed all the apps that I don't use and I run Smart Cleaning often but I still get a message that I'm low on memory. Thanks

 

[SeeBeeEss]

Welcome to the AC Forums. It would be helpful to have a little more information. What phone are you using? How much total internal memory does it have? Does it have an external memory card slot? How much memory are you currently using?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! When you connect the phone to the computer via USB, can you see other files besides the recordings?

Also, when you connect, make sure the phone screen is unlocked. If the files still don't show up, swipe down the notification panel, tap the USB notification, and make sure it's set to File Transfer (or MTP).

 

[IsHacker]

I should buy a new phone with more memory, but in the meantime can someone tell me how to clean up some more space on this phone... I'm running out! I download photos and videos to my computer, but for some reason I can no longer download the recordings... they don't show up in the tree when I attach it to the computer with the USB cable. Photos are the only option but I remember being able to take the recordings off a long time ago.

I removed all the apps that I don't use and I run Smart Cleaning often but I still get a message that I'm low on memory. Thanks

Same question as @SeeBeeEss. What phone are you using? Do you have an SD card?

 

[Sillycat41]

Welcome to the AC Forums. It would be helpful to have a little more information. What phone are you using? How much total internal memory does it have? Does it have an external memory card slot? How much memory are you currently using?

Okay... it's a older phone... LG model #LML414DL - Android version 8.1.0 16GB storage - using 15.55 GB - Getting message : Storage space running out - no external card slot.

I figure out how to get the recording off the phone and onto the computer. When I plugged the USB cable in I neglected to say all files and it was only allowing photos to be transferred.

Now my question is how to free up more space.

I made the mistake of archiving text messages instead of deleting them. I assume those are taking up some space. Don't know how to get in and delete them??

Also have notes written in Notepad Free that I'd like to move to my computer. Is there a way to do that?

 

[Sillycat41]

Welcome to Android Central! When you connect the phone to the computer via USB, can you see other files besides the recordings?

Also, when you connect, make sure the phone screen is unlocked. If the files still don't show up, swipe down the notification panel, tap the USB notification, and make sure it's set to File Transfer (or MTP).

Thanks... I figured it out. I neglected to select all files to transfer and it only showed photos.

 

[IsHacker]

Okay... it's a older phone... LG model #LML414DL - Android version 8.1.0 16GB storage - using 15.55 GB - Getting message : Storage space running out - no external card slot.

I figure out how to get the recording off the phone and onto the computer. When I plugged the USB cable in I neglected to say all files and it was only allowing photos to be transferred.

Now my question is how to free up more space.

I made the mistake of archiving text messages instead of deleting them. I assume those are taking up some space. Don't know how to get in and delete them??

Also have notes written in Notepad Free that I'd like to move to my computer. Is there a way to do that?

Did you try factory resetting?

 

[magenta]

did you try to go to storage and see what exactly takes space ? like this image

 

[B. Diddy]

@IsHacker and @magenta , looks like the OP figured out what they were doing wrong.

 

[Sillycat41]

Did you try factory resetting?

Don't know how to do a factory reset but will that erase everything??

 

[B. Diddy]

Don't know how to do a factory reset but will that erase everything??

I thought you were able to move everything you needed to your PC? It's not going to be worth trying to continue using that old phone, considering it only has 16 GB of internal storage (and accounting for the OS and any bloatware, it probably only has about 12-13 GB available to the user). Modern apps take up more and more space these days, so unless you're only using a couple of very basic apps, you'll always be running into this problem. As you initially said, what you really need is a newer phone with at least 64 GB of storage, and ideally at least 128 GB.

 

[IsHacker]

I thought you were able to move everything you needed to your PC? It's not going to be worth trying to continue using that old phone, considering it only has 16 GB of internal storage (and accounting for the OS and any bloatware, it probably only has about 12-13 GB available to the user). Modern apps take up more and more space these days, so unless you're only using a couple of very basic apps, you'll always be running into this problem. As you initially said, what you really need is a newer phone with at least 64 GB of storage, and ideally at least 128 GB.

Actually, I'm using a Nokia 3 right now (typing this post from it), it has 16GB internal storage, 1.8 GB RAM and runs android 9 (NOT go edition). I currently have 8.58GB storage and 900MB of RAM free.

 

[B. Diddy]

Actually, I'm using a Nokia 3 right now (typing this post from it), it has 16GB internal storage, 1.8 GB RAM and runs android 9 (NOT go edition). I currently have more than 8.3GB storage and 900MB of RAM free.

Right, but we don't know exactly how the OP is using their phone. If they're using a lot of social media apps, that can gobble up a lot of storage pretty quickly.

 

[IsHacker]

Right, but we don't know exactly how the OP is using their phone. If they're using a lot of social media apps, that can gobble up a lot of storage pretty quickly.

True. As @magenta mentioned, it would be good if the OP posted a screenshot of the storage section.

 

[Sillycat41]

Okay just close this question. I'll find the answers elsewhere. Thanks anyway.

 

[B. Diddy]

There's a pretty good selection of inexpensive yet reasonably capable phones these days, from well-known manufacturers like Moto, Nokia/HMD, OnePlus, and Blu. Many of these are <$200, some of them even <$100, and this is if you buy them outright, rather than go through your carrier. If you want to go through your carrier, you might find other good deals (which tend to vary from month to month), so check their website. Just make sure that the phone you get has at least 64 GB of internal storage (and you'll probably find that most have at least 128 GB), and that it runs full Android and not Android Go (which is the pared-down version of Android designed for cheap low-spec phones).

 

[B. Diddy]

Ok, I think the point on both sides has been made. Let's let it rest, thanks.

 

[Laura Knotek]

I've cleaned up this thread. Please keep the discussion civil by focusing on the issues with the phone, not arguments with each other. If you don't like a post, then just ignore the post rather than insulting people.

If you don't calm down infractions will be given.

 

[Sillycat41]

There's a pretty good selection of inexpensive yet reasonably capable phones these days, from well-known manufacturers like Moto, Nokia/HMD, OnePlus, and Blu. Many of these are <$200, some of them even <$100, and this is if you buy them outright, rather than go through your carrier. If you want to go through your carrier, you might find other good deals (which tend to vary from month to month), so check their website. Just make sure that the phone you get has at least 64 GB of internal storage (and you'll probably find that most have at least 128 GB), and that it runs full Android and not Android Go (which is the pared-down version of Android designed for cheap low-spec phones).

My carrier is Tracfone with a cheap plan. I'm retired and living on a fixed income. Don't need anything fancy... just the basics. I think I paid $30 for this phone several years ago... it was probably obsolete back then. I'll check the Trafone site and see what phones they have with 64 GB storage and full Android.

One more question: Is there a way to transfer my data from the old phone to the new one when I get it? Thanks

 

[Sillycat41]

I've cleaned up this thread. Please keep the discussion civil by focusing on the issues with the phone, not arguments with each other. If you don't like a post, then just ignore the post rather than insulting people.

If you don't calm down infractions will be given.

Thanks. I didn't think their comments were necessary.