Storage mysteriously consumed

[REM_droyd]

How to stop an unknown app or something from gobbling up storage even when the phone is not in use. I've done the obvious of deleteing unused apps, clearing cache, backing up and deleting photos, videos, audio, unused files and docs. Yet with the phone not being used, just sitting around storage continues to go down. At a rate of as much as 0.20 GB per hour!

What could be causing this? Where should I look? What tools should I use?

This began after a recent system update which also has made the phone a bit unstable and troublesome to restart.

Any help or suggestions of how to procede is greatly appreciated!

Samsnung Galaxy s9+, Android 10, recent update.

 

[Rukbat]

Clear system cache (from recovery), make sure that all apps are set to not update (in Play), clear cache for individual apps. (You are using the BACK button when you finish using an app, right? Using the Home button leaves the app running/)

 

[REM_droyd]

Rubkat

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I've cleared cache from recovery. I'll check update on apps in Play. I have cleared cache for individual apps. I am using the back button and have taken the extra step of regularly checking for running apps and shutting them down. Storage still is consumed at the equivalent rate of snapping a pic every few minutes. Even during the night when nothing is running and I'm not using the phone. Very frustrating.

 

[mustang7757]

Rubkat

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I've cleared cache from recovery. I'll check update on apps in Play. I have cleared cache for individual apps. I am using the back button and have taken the extra step of regularly checking for running apps and shutting them down. Storage still is consumed at the equivalent rate of snapping a pic every few minutes. Even during the night when nothing is running and I'm not using the phone. Very frustrating.

Put the phone in safe mode see if it's still a issue

 

[REM_droyd]

Thanks for the suggestion. In safe mode now and will give it some time to see of the storage is still filling up

 

[REM_droyd]

mustang7757

Your suggestion stopped the storage from filling up. Now to find out which app is guilty. Can individual apps be started while in safe mode?

Thank you

 

[mustang7757]

mustang7757

Your suggestion stopped the storage from filling up. Now to find out which app is guilty. Can individual apps be started while in safe mode?

Thank you

No not in safe mode that you'll have to do manually start with the latest one you download work from there . Your welcome!

 

[me just saying]

did you try looking at what apps are using the battery and data in your settings. If you are getting as many downloads as you say, something should show there. also start with recent installs and any that been upgraded just prior to when the problem started

 

[REM_droyd]

me just saying

Yes before trying safe mode I tried looking at battery usage as well as memory usage and closed all apps not in use. Then entering safe mode has stopped the rogue storage usage and proven that one of the installed apps is at fault. I have installed just one app recently, I had the phone the way set up the way I wanted it. Another issue is I have no way of knowing where the rogue app put all that data. But the phone is nearly full. With all pics, vids, audio and almost all files removed I have only 9 Gb space available. My main tool for managing files etc is "My Files" which shows "Other" as 54.33 Gb and that is the part that has been growing steadily. I'm thinking I may need to do a full factory reset and build it to clear the backlog of unwanted data.

The first image shows what "My Files" found the second what "Settings/Device Care/Storage" found

Thank you for you help with this.

 

[REM_droyd]

Many thanks to Rukbat, mustang7757, and me just saying for your help and suggestions.

With your help I've loved part of the issue. The biggest offending app is Samsung Members. Still on the hunt for the rest of the problem apps

 

[Gary_Berg]

I encountered the same problem with my wife's S9+ yesterday, searched the web and ran across recent complaints about Samsung Members consuming Gb's of space. Cleared data on the app. I haven't heard more complaints from her but haven't checked with her about this.

It looks like it may be a recent bug.

 

[REM_droyd]

A little searching turns up numerous uses are having the same problems. The mystery to me is I've never used it, never started it yet it had used up 29 Gigs of storage. I did sign in and take a look, I can't see that there is much value to it. Seems to be mostly advertising. I deleted it.

 

[REM_droyd]

I looked in the Play store and found a lot of 1 star reviews in the last few days regarding Samsung Members being a storage hog. In every case the Samsung reply was:

"Hi <user name here>! We're truly sorry that you have been experiencing some issues with the Samsung Members application. Please contact us at 1-855-795-0509 for help regarding your issue with the Samsung Members app."

 

[mustang7757]

A little searching turns up numerous uses are having the same problems. The mystery to me is I've never used it, never started it yet it had used up 29 Gigs of storage. I did sign in and take a look, I can't see that there is much value to it. Seems to be mostly advertising. I deleted it.

That's fine to uninstall

 

[Denisew 1972]

Check this app.... it was eating 8G of my storage alone. .. I deleted it with no issues and regained 10g of storage after cleaning up unused apps (games I didn't play)
**my apologies, I didn't see you already found this solution** carry on. LOL

 

[BerryBubbles]

Play Store has an update out to fix the Samsung Members App storage consumption issue.

 

[REM_droyd]

Play Store has an update out to fix the Samsung Members App storage consumption issue.

Good to know but I won't be re-installing. A quick look at the app shows it to be nearly useless.

I want to note that reading Play Store reviews after I identified this app as the problem child showed too many people lost important to them pics etc. We must always back up our important data. A phone's storage space just isn't good enough for things we don't want to risk loosing.

 

[BerryBubbles]

Good to know but I won't be re-installing. A quick look at the app shows it to be nearly useless.

I want to note that reading Play Store reviews after I identified this app as the problem child showed too many people lost important to them pics etc. We must always back up our important data. A phone's storage space just isn't good enough for things we don't want to risk loosing.

That's so sad that people lost important data from a bug in this app.
I may just uninstall it also. I never use it.

It's great that you brought up data backup. Better safe than dreadfully sorry...