How To Find Which Apps Are Taking Up Storage On Android

Android phones can run out of storage without you immediately knowing which apps are responsible. Some apps can take up a small amount of space when first installed but grow over time as they store downloaded files, user data, media and cached content.

Checking the storage used by individual apps makes it easier to identify which ones are consuming the most space. You can then decide whether to clear their cache, remove unnecessary data or uninstall apps you no longer use.

Android provides a built-in way to check how much storage each installed app is using.

How To Find Which Apps Are Taking Up Storage On Android

The exact names of some settings may differ depending on your phone brand and Android version, but the process is generally similar.

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
2. Tap Apps or Apps & notifications.
3. Select See all apps, App management or a similar option if available.
4. Choose an app from the list.
5. Tap Storage or Storage & cache.
6. Check the amount of storage used by the app.

The storage screen can show the space used by the app itself as well as its data and cached files.

How To Identify The Apps Using The Most Storage

If you want to quickly find the biggest apps, open your phone's app management or storage settings and look for an option to sort apps by size if your device provides one.

You can then review the apps from the largest to the smallest and identify those taking up significant storage space.

On some Android phones, the storage settings may provide a broader breakdown of how storage is being used. This can help you determine whether apps are responsible for a large portion of the occupied space.

What Does App Storage Include On Android?

The storage used by an app can include several types of files.

The app itself contains the files required for it to operate. App data includes information created or saved by the app, such as downloaded content, account information, settings and other files.

Cached data consists of temporary files that an app stores to help certain content load more quickly. Depending on the app, cached files can grow considerably over time.

This is why an app that was originally small can eventually use much more storage.

How To Clear An App's Cache On Android

If an app is using a large amount of cached storage, you can usually remove those temporary files without uninstalling the app.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps or App management.
3. Select the app.
4. Tap Storage or Storage & cache.
5. Select Clear cache.

The exact wording and location may vary between Android devices.

Clearing an app's cache does not normally remove your account or personal information stored by the app. However, the app may need to recreate some temporary files when you use it again.

What Happens When You Clear App Data?

Clear storage, Clear data or a similar option removes the app's stored data. This is different from clearing the cache.

Clearing app data can sign you out of an app and remove locally stored settings, downloaded files and other information saved by the app. The exact effect depends on how the app stores its data.

Before using this option, make sure you do not need any information that could be removed.

Can You Delete An App Without Losing Its Data?

Uninstalling an app normally removes the app and its locally stored data from the phone. However, some information may be restored if the app supports cloud backups or account synchronisation.

For apps containing important files, messages, projects or other personal content, check whether the data is backed up before uninstalling.

How To Free Up Storage Without Uninstalling Apps

You do not always need to uninstall an app to recover storage.

Start by checking which apps are using the most space. You can then remove unnecessary downloads or media stored by those apps, clear cached files where appropriate and delete content you no longer need.

Some apps also have their own storage management tools that allow you to remove large files or downloaded content without deleting the app itself.

Why Some Apps Use More Storage Over Time

Apps can accumulate data as you use them. Streaming apps may store downloaded videos or music, messaging apps can accumulate photos and videos, while social media apps may build up cached content.

The amount of storage used can therefore change significantly even when the app itself has not received a major update.

Regularly checking app storage can help you spot apps that have grown unusually large.

What To Check Before Clearing App Storage

Before clearing an app's storage, check what information the app keeps locally.

For example, make sure important files are backed up and that you know your login details if clearing the data will sign you out.

If you only want to remove temporary files, clearing the cache is usually the less disruptive option.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check which apps are taking up storage on Android?

Open Settings, go to Apps or App management and select an app to view its storage usage. Some phones also allow you to sort apps by size.

How do I see how much storage an app is using?

Go to Settings, open Apps or App management, select the app and tap Storage or Storage & cache to view its storage usage.

Does clearing an app's cache free up storage?

Yes. Clearing the cache removes temporary files stored by the app and can recover some storage space.

Does clearing app data delete the app?

No. Clearing app data does not uninstall the app, but it can remove locally stored information and reset the app depending on how it handles its data.

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