Many system functions on Android quietly consume gigabytes of internal storage. MakeUseOf has compiled several non-obvious ways to free up space without deleting essential apps or photos.

Disable RAM Plus

One of the most debated features is RAM Plus. It allows you to slightly expand RAM by using internal storage. In practice, the benefit is often questionable, but it does eat up several gigabytes of storage space. If you don't notice a significant performance boost, it's better to disable the feature in the settings.

Turn off photo backups

Some manufacturers, including Samsung, automatically save both the original photo and a backup copy. This is intended as a safety net in case something goes wrong during editing. Over time, however, these copies take up a noticeable amount of space. In the camera or gallery settings, you can find the option for "Pre-editing backups" and turn it off.

Clear the system log

Android continuously logs system information about the device's operation. Sometimes this log grows and takes up unnecessary space. You can clear it via the engineering menu: open the Phone app, dial *#9900#, and select the appropriate cleanup option.

Delete unnecessary system apps

Many pre-installed apps are rarely used but still occupy storage. If your device allows you to uninstall or disable system apps, it's worth going through the list and removing anything you truly don't use.

In brief

To free up storage on an Android smartphone, consider disabling RAM Plus (which consumes disk space), turning off automatic photo backups, regularly clearing the system log via code *#9900#, and removing unused pre-installed apps. These simple steps can help recover several gigabytes without losing important data.