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[Q] Rooting, Custom ROMs and Available Internal Storage

Hi there!
If I root my Nexus S, will it then be possible to see what's going on in the internal storage? My phone is acting rather strangely when it comes to the internal storage. When I delete an app's cache (from Settings/Apps) the indicated space does not get freed up. On the contrary, an equivalent amount of space gets subtracted from the indicated amount of free internal storage! On most occasions when I uninstall an app the space gets freed up. However, recently I had 300 MB available when I installed Chrome browser. That took up about 50 MB, so I had a remaining 250 MB available. I uninstalled it again and now I only have 200 MB free. I often get notifications that there is too little storage space available when updating rather small apps (typically less than 20 MB).
With a rooted phone, will I be able to see what's going on and easily locate and delete redundant files? (Back in the days I felt I had a lot better control and overview over my Pocket PC. With my Android I struggle to make sense of what's going on. Well, not that I´m going back...)
I'm not really asking for a quick solution to the problem because it seems from other discussions that this isn't possible. But I'd like to avoid running into the same problem again after a hard reset, rooting, or ROM change.
Cheers,
Larry
Nexus S I9023 (unrooted)
Jelly Bean 4.1.2

hey Larry,
first of all after you're rooted you can see all of your files and folders from...well..root directory
before doing so i'd try to move apps to SD or from SD depends where the low space is: http://i.stack.imgur.com/Aof9r.png

Hi eytan!
As I said, I'm short of internal storage. I've already moved just about everything possible out of the internal memory. Moving programs out of internal storage does result in more internal storage (as long as there's something left to move). However, this does not explain why my internal memory is disappearing. I ought to have a lot more available internal memory - at least 400 MB.
Yes, that's what rooting does. Maybe I should have elaborated a bit... Will it make sense without extensive knowledge of the Android system. It seems like instead of cache (and certain programs like chrome browser) being deleted they are somehow being copied within the internal storage. I was wondering if I would be able to locate this - find some folder that has grown 50 MB in case of the google chrome uninstallation. Or will all this data be stacked up in some sort of system file that isn't accessible.
- larryvega
Nexus S I9023 (unrooted)
Jelly Bean 4.1.2

well, you can always search your phone by folder size and locate the origin of this.
i guess your best chances are at DATA folder, just be careful and make sure you delete only things your'e sure that are already uninstalled and just have "leftovers"

[Q] Can't install/update using Google Play due to wrong insufficient storage

Hi!
This is related to a Galaxy Ace 2 phone, but I posted by mistake on the general forum.
It seems I can't install/update large-ish apps using Google Play and I get an error related to insufficient storage.
The problem is that I have around 170MB available internally, plus 500MB on each SD card (internal and external) and the error shows up when trying to update Swype, Google+, Google Search, etc. (all around 15-20MB).
If I uninstall some apps/games (e.g. Angry Birds, Cut the Rope) the free space goes up a bit (not much, as I keep these on the SD card) and now I'm again able to update those apps initially mentioned.
It seems just like my Ace 2 is trying to keep around 150-170MB as some sort of reserved space.
Is this normal? Should I worry that I may have a faulty phone/NAND?
I'm using the MF1 BTU ROM, stock, but I'm coming from the MB4 version in order to get the full 624MB RAM.
Thanks!

Reserved space could be system files. Overwriting those could potentially brick your system.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I497 using Tapatalk

Sure that u have free room?
Sent via i9300

solas12 said:
Sure that u have free room?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, pretty sure. I checked it via the Storage menu in System Settings and also via Titanium Backup.
Also, I'm not using any kind of script or app like Link2SD which mounts an EXT2/3/4 partition as /data. I think this excludes the possibility that free space is being incorrectly reported (but I'm not really sure).

SolGarlic said:
Hi!
This is related to a Galaxy Ace 2 phone, but I posted by mistake on the general forum.
It seems I can't install/update large-ish apps using Google Play and I get an error related to insufficient storage.
The problem is that I have around 170MB available internally, plus 500MB on each SD card (internal and external) and the error shows up when trying to update Swype, Google+, Google Search, etc. (all around 15-20MB).
If I uninstall some apps/games (e.g. Angry Birds, Cut the Rope) the free space goes up a bit (not much, as I keep these on the SD card) and now I'm again able to update those apps initially mentioned.
It seems just like my Ace 2 is trying to keep around 150-170MB as some sort of reserved space.
Is this normal? Should I worry that I may have a faulty phone/NAND?
I'm using the MF1 BTU ROM, stock, but I'm coming from the MB4 version in order to get the full 624MB RAM.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
This is a very commun issue with Android, it seems that the algorithm calculating free memory isn't that efficient. The best solution is to keep more than 250MB on internal memory. And if it happens, to remove one or two apps
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda app-developers app

Why not try to install these apps on sdcard ? It may solve your internal memory problem.

Kolqhoz said:
Why not try to install these apps on sdcard ? It may solve your internal memory problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would indeed minimize the impact of the problem. However, not all apps support being moved to the external sdcard and some become a bit limited. In addition to that, even apps moved to the sdcard continue to use the dalvik cache on internal storage.

I have the same problem but i do clear the catch each time

problem in downloading apps

Hello, i have problem in downloading apps from play store. I m using CM11 latest nightly with latest gapps. i m not facing the problem with all apps,
i can download apps like MX player but at the same time i cant download skype. It just stuck at 36kb. I cleared app data but no use. help

something similar happened to me when I filled up the internal SD card with too many files. Programs wouldn;t update be able to be installed. are you getting a low space warning? if your free space on the sd card falls below 10%, unpredictable things happen. so your ROM has about 5.9 gigs of free space on the 8 Gig internal card, if you fall below 500 mb, I think the OS complains and programs fail to install. The only remedy is to delete enough files to get back above 10% free.

tekweezle said:
something similar happened to me when I filled up the internal SD card with too many files. Programs wouldn;t update be able to be installed. are you getting a low space warning? if your free space on the sd card falls below 10%, unpredictable things happen. so your ROM has about 5.9 gigs of free space on the 8 Gig internal card, if you fall below 500 mb, I think the OS complains and programs fail to install. The only remedy is to delete enough files to get back above 10% free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 9 GB free space on my internal sd card.

Internal Storage problems

So, Recently I've rooted my Galaxy tab 4
My current problem is Internal storage.
I though by having root, I will have full access over applications and will be able to move anything to SD but sadly, That didn't work.
I've removed applications but there's used space.
for example, The application is 200 MB, If I remove it.
before removing I've 2 GB used and after removing I've 1.9 GB used (There's some space used)
So, I wish If anyone could help me with this (Also would love if this doesn't harm my device.)

Leon[147] said:
So, Recently I've rooted my Galaxy tab 4
My current problem is Internal storage.
I though by having root, I will have full access over applications and will be able to move anything to SD but sadly, That didn't work.
I've removed applications but there's used space.
for example, The application is 200 MB, If I remove it.
before removing I've 2 GB used and after removing I've 1.9 GB used (There's some space used)
So, I wish If anyone could help me with this (Also would love if this doesn't harm my device.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go herehttp://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3044173
May be this help you

Shrinking Internal Storage

Ive recently brought a moto g 2015 less than a week ago and have installed some apps, when i originally did this there was over 1.0gb of free internal space left. Over the week the space has shrunk to 500mb and is now notifiitying me that the internal storage is low (i cleared the cache out 3 hours ago and it was 540mb free now its 500mb so that 40mb in a couple of hours?!).
Ive cleared the cache, ive not installed any extra apps and there hasnt been any significant app upgrades that would use this space, also deleted all content from whatsapp etc and looked in the misc part of the storage and theres nothing using the space.
Has anyone else come across this or have any idea whats using the space up?
Cheers

rich0898 said:
Ive recently brought a moto g 2015 less than a week ago and have installed some apps, when i originally did this there was over 1.0gb of free internal space left. Over the week the space has shrunk to 500mb and is now notifiitying me that the internal storage is low (i cleared the cache out 3 hours ago and it was 540mb free now its 500mb so that 40mb in a couple of hours?!).
Ive cleared the cache, ive not installed any extra apps and there hasnt been any significant app upgrades that would use this space, also deleted all content from whatsapp etc and looked in the misc part of the storage and theres nothing using the space.
Has anyone else come across this or have any idea whats using the space up?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alot of apps/games use alot of data storage so that might be your issue and if your storing stuff from downloading like music and photos etc that will take up space as well

Hi thanks for the reply! I've got all my music and pictures stored on an sdcard and haven't downloaded any on this phone or taken any pictures. I'm just not sure what as suddenly used up all this storage that I can't now use in the space of a couple of hours without me doing anything on the phone or any apps updating

I had that to on a old phone, i think its your google play services.
my tip is to look in your apps and see what apps use to much space, than try to delete it

Probably other apps accumulating stored data, as was mentioned above. Chrome will grow over time, Google drive, Facebook etc.
Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

You can move apps to the SD also. OP doesn't say they did that, but that can be done. Just go to settings, Apps, and then "ON SD CARD" tab. Any apps that can be moved will show there. Note that not 100% of the apps info can be moved, but most of it can. for example if you have an app that is 100MB, and move it, you will still have about 20MB on internal. Still better than the full 100MB.

Thanks for all the suggestions, ive tried them all and got a lot of free space back. Also found that google drive had 500mb of data which ive deleted!