You probably jump to obvious fixes when your phone’s storage runs low. That includes clearing app caches, deleting old photos and videos, or uninstalling apps you no longer use.
These temporary fixes might free up enough space to keep tasks running for a while. But Motorola phones don’t offer the luxury of waiting before the problem creeps back.
Their history of persistent bugs and untimely software updates means that you’ll revisit issues sooner than expected.
If you can’t quite figure out why your device’s memory keeps shrinking, the answer might be buried in places you rarely check. Let’s help you find them.
7
Check Motorola Software Update
The Motorola Software Update service handles downloading and installing system updates.
Unfortunately, it’s also a problem if your device has limited storage. It may store large software files even after installation. They may require reinstallation, or something went wrong.
You can’t delete the app because it’s a system program and necessary for system stability. But you can clear its cache and data, which removes leftover packages without affecting installed updates.
When you’ve done it, take time to explore other apps and repeat the procedure.
Follow these steps to start:
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Select See all apps.
- Look for Motorola Software Update and tap it.
- Select Storage and cache.
- Tap Clear storage.
6
Look inside WhatsApp’s media directory
WhatsApp statuses you view passively are not as fleeting as you think.
Android automatically stores them in a hidden .Statuses folder inside a media directory in Settings. They may remain there even after disappearing from the app until you delete them manually.
These files are usually small and measured in kilobytes, but they add up over time. You may be racking up hundreds of megabytes if you never clear them.
Use the following steps to wipe them:
- Open your default file manager. We used Google Files for this tutorial.
- Tap the menu icon in the upper-left corner. Then select Settings.
- Turn on the toggle switch beside Show hidden files.
- Return to the file manager and tap Internal storage under All storage.
- Go to Android > WhatsApp > Media.
- Select com.whatsapp.
- Navigate to WhatsApp > Media.
- Select .Statuses.
- Long press files to select them.
- Tap the trash icon in the upper-right corner to delete them.
5
Browse DCIM/Camera thumbnails
Wiping the Digital Camera Images folder is a lot like clearing out WhatsApp’s hidden status stash. Both folders hold files you don’t actively see.
In this case, thumbnails and trashed. Thumbnails hold tiny previews of your photos and videos to load gallery apps faster.
Trashed files are what remain after deleting original copies. You may recover them or delete them permanently. Erasing both file types frees space without harming your current photos.
Locate them through these steps:
- Open your default file manager. We used Google Files for this tutorial.
- Allow the app to show hidden files in the settings menu as aforementioned.
- Go to Internal storage > DCIM.
- Search for any photos named .trashed or a .thumbnails folder and delete them.
4
Disable RAM boost
RAM Boost sounds tempting, but it’s an upgrade with sacrifices. The feature takes some of your phone’s storage and uses it as extra memory.
If your device has 8GB of RAM by default, you may choose to add up to 12GB from your storage. That makes 20GB to open multiple apps as long as you like in the background.
You could have Chrome, Instagram, and another intensive app running simultaneously.
However, storage is slower than RAM because it’s built for long-term file preservation rather than high speed. That means loading those apps can impact your device’s performance and consume space.
If you can do without running multiple apps, turn off RAM boost with these steps:
- Go to Settings > System > Performance.
- Select RAM boost.
- Turn off the toggle switch. You may need to restart your device for the changes to take effect properly.
3
Explore Google Maps
Google Maps offline areas are saved chunks of a region that you’ll save for navigation without mobile data. You’ll need them when traveling with bad network coverage or trying to save on data costs.
If you download a whole map of Brooklyn in New York, the app might store hundreds of megabytes to a gigabyte of detail on your phone.
It’s fine if you use it frequently. But if you only needed it for one trip, you’ve probably forgotten that it exists.
Here’s how to delete them:
- Open Google Maps.
- Tap your account picture in the upper-right corner. Then select Offline maps.
- Tap the three-dot icon beside the downloaded maps. Then select Delete.
2
Review your streaming habits
Streaming apps make it easy to watch what you want on your own budget. Not everyone can leave their data or Wi-Fi running nonstop. Downloading episodes or movies is a more convenient option.
If the saved files start taking up too much space, your phone could run out of storage right when you need it most.
You may not be able to watch your favorite shows without first clearing some room. The steps vary depending on the streaming app. Most times, it’s quicker and safer to delete the files from within the streaming app’s download manager.
1
Monitor system storage bars
The storage menu on most phones shows a breakdown of how your device’s space is being used.
You’ll see categories like apps, photos, videos, audio, cached data, and system files. Tap each one to see specific files consuming space and decide whether to delete them.
Some entries can’t be removed, but can still give clues to abnormal activity.
Sometimes, you’ll check your storage and see the bar almost maxed out. It’s highly unusual, especially when you barely store files or use the device.
The culprit is system files taking up far more space than they should. Normally, they only occupy around 8% to 12% of the total storage, depending on the Android version and pre-installed apps.
Should they exceed this percentage, it’s usually a sign of corrupted caches or stuck temporary data. A deep system-level glitch could also be keeping those files locked in place.
Unfortunately, you can’t delete system apps the same way you uninstall regular apps.
If you’ve tried every troubleshooting method and the numbers still don’t add up, perform a factory reset.
Let optimization be your motto
Your Motorola’s storage shouldn’t be the end of your cleanup. There are other culprits worth tackling. The battery is among the next places to start looking. Background processes may affect it.
Android’s interconnected nature means that fixing one without the other is solving half the problem.
If you want to squeeze every drop of performance out of your phone, consider Overcharge Protection. It extends battery life.
Also, Multi-Volume gives you better app sound control, and Smart SIM will save you from the indecision of which line to use at any moment.
