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Following on from [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/android-storage-issues ]this discussion[/url] I was inspired to give my phone a spring clean. And I found out a couple of interesting things along the way.
First, I moved all my photos off the phone. This went back years, and was about 1.5Gb of data.
Next, as I advised on the previous thread, I deleted my thumbnails folder. This (somewhat counter-intuitively) was bigger than the photos folder - over 2Gb. I assume it's a thumbnail generated from every image that's ever been on your device ever.
The file manager I was using seemed to insist that empty folders were still tying up space. Dunno what's going on here, maybe just a quirk of the app, but a reboot cured it.
That still left far more space used than felt right. I figured there's going to be a lot of temp files, cache data, orphaned files from uninstalled apps and the like. So I set about looking how best to clean that up (in the past I've used a custom recovery bootloader to clean out system caches and the like, but this handset isn't rooted).
That's when I tripped over [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.thedarken.sdm ]SD Maid[/url], which is the reason I'm making this post. Android "cleaner" apps are ten a penny and most of them are snake oil at best and dangerous at worst. But the author seems to be ethical (from an [url= https://www.androidpit.com/on-sd-maid-and-system-cleaning-tools ]interview[/url] I read) and the app claimed to do what I wanted. There's no ads in the free version, and the "Pro" version is under three quid. After spending about five minutes with the free version I bought it.
SD Maid can find orphaned files, delete system caches, all that jazz. It can also optimise database files, which is pretty neat, and find duplicate files, which TBH is probably best stayed clear of. But the killer app, and the reason I bought it, is that the Pro version can clean up cache and temp files [i]per application[/i].
What does that mean? Well, the Play Store has its own local cache for a start. On my handset, that was 3Gb! Three gig of unnecessary data just for one application.
So, between my manual pruning and DS Maid, I've just recovered over 10Gb of storage on my device. (I'm curious as to whether it'd have purged the thumbnails, that's a test for another day).
Crikey! It's a bit of a shame this isn't managed by Android.
You'd have thought it would be in their interests so people don't get fed up of it.
Just a 'clean me up' button in Settings...
F
thanks for that mate, ive installed the free version and did a quick overview/scan but im not sure its done anything noticeable. i read the link you included and on that basis im happy ive got it, but after following the advice on my original thread, im presently happy with my 'formatted as internal storage' sd card.
i did delete the thumbnail folder as you suggested and i expected it to come back once id taken ore pics, but it hasnt which im surprised at. unless im looking in the wrong place.
if i start getting low on space in the future i think my next port of call would be the pro version of that app, but for now ive got all that free 'sd space' being used for internal.
out of interest, you mentioned the play store had 3Gb cache. could you not just delete that folder using the file explorer app, or is it hidden and needs a specialist app to do it?
10Gb recovery is an excellent result, id be well happy with that.
thanks
How do you find the thumb nails and delete them?
after following the advice on my original thread, im presently happy with my 'formatted as internal storage' sd card.
Yeah, it wasn't directed at you, but to folk who may still be having storage issues.
How do you find the thumb nails and delete them?
Mine was \DCIM\Thumbnails or something similar.
out of interest, you mentioned the play store had 3Gb cache. could you not just delete that folder using the file explorer app, or is it hidden and needs a specialist app to do it?
You can, and the app tells you where it is. But I like the Magic Bullet idea
the Play Store has its own local cache for a start
So is what you did any different to using the "Clear Cache" button available under Setting:Apps:Play Store? (Genuine question, not my usual sarcastic smartarseyness!)
Thanks for the SD Maid heads up. For many years have used free ES File Explorer but now got a bit bloated with ads and notifications. Expect I could change settings on free ES File Explorer, but worth giving SD Maid a shot on your rec.
So is what you did any different to using the "Clear Cache" button available under Setting:Apps:Play Store? (Genuine question, not my usual sarcastic smartarseyness!)
You can show them in size order and then do them all in one bounce rather than going through each app individually (and Store doesn't seem to show for me in that view).
Thanks for the SD Maid heads up. For many years have used free ES File Explorer
I'm not sure as it's a direct replacement. I've been looking for an alternative to the ever more bloated ES, so far I've got Ghost Explorer and File Manager+.
Thanks for the heads up Cougar. Freed up 2 gigs, yes I could have done it more conventionally but never got round to it until a quick way to do it came along which says it all...
I can confirm that SDMaid will find and delete your thumbnails folder. Cheers cougar
My Google Pixel (Android) phone gives me UNLIMITED photo storage, i.e. totally separate from the normal 15Gb Gmail limit. I ain't braggin'
This sounds pretty good. Might give it a whirl on my tablet & if it works well, stick it on the phone.
enfht - MemberMy Google Pixel (Android) phone gives me UNLIMITED photo storage, i.e. totally separate from the normal 15Gb Gmail limit. I ain't braggin'
Isn't this just a way for Google to get you to buy into their system....?
Once you've got 100Gb of images stored on their system, what are the chances of you sacking it off for another cloud service?
And what happens when you get a new phone? Does your current phone give you unlimited LIFETIME storage?
How much did/does your phone cost? My phone didn't come with unlimited cloud storage, but then it only cost £200.....
Thought Google's "unlimited" photo storage involved a compromise of compressing the files and/or limiting the file sizes? Perceptually no difference if you're happy with limiting to web use. Might be an issue if you want to do large prints, or are fussy about keeping the original.
p.s. Though not free, if you've got Office 365 subscription, you've got 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage for anything, not just photos, and no messing with your files. Works on Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Win Phone. Plus you've got the Office apps as well.
Isn't this just a way for Google to get you to buy into their system....?
Possibly, but your choice.
Once you've got 100Gb of images stored on their system, what are the chances of you sacking it off for another cloud service?
50/50?
And what happens when you get a new phone? Does your current phone give you unlimited LIFETIME storage?
I can own more than one device at a time.
How much did/does your phone cost? My phone didn't come with unlimited cloud storage, but then it only cost £200.....
Less than you paid.
I've sacked off google and bought an iphone for the first time in my life. a 64gb SE.