Help Device Running out of Space / Insufficient Storage / 491 Error

[Andrewjm]

Hello

I am having problems with "device running out of space" as well as 491 and "insufficient storage" errors from the Google play store. This seeems to be a common problem, but I cannot find a solution.


1) I cannot download any apps from the Google Play Store.
I have tried all the solutions that I have read about (turn off/on; clear cache/data; uninstall/reinstall Google account).

2) I am also getting errors about device running out of storage space

3) One other strange thing is that "Miscellaneous Files" shows around 500 mb, but when I click on it there are only a few files in the list that amount to maybe 10 mb. I deleted those files. Where and what are all these files?

My Files > All Files > Device Storage > Android
Data has a few files (same as what I see listed in Misc Files - I think)
OBB is empty/no files

I have a Galaxy Ace 3 (s7270) with 4 gb of hard drive space and I typically average about 200 MB of available space. I'm only trying to download apps that may be 5 -10 mb.
I can sometimes turn off/on the phone and download 1 or 2 apps and then get "Insufficient Storage" and/or "491" error again. Also, I cannot update any apps because of the same errors.

Currently:
Total Space = 4 GB / System Memory = 1.97 GB / Used Space = 1.39 GB / Misc Files = 477 MB / Available Space = 183 MB
Android version 4.2.2

I also tried clearing the cache from the Recovery mode, but that did not work.

As you hopefully tell from my message, my phone should have plenty of storage space. I do not have any photos or music files, and only a few apps.


Thanks for any ideas
Andrew

 

[Madbat]

Try a better file explorer. "My files" is pretty bad. Es file explorer has an analyst in settings that will tell you exactly what's using memory.

 

[Andrewjm]

Hi,
Thanks for the idea

I could not download it (Insufficient Storage)
then
I found that Google Play Newstand app is taking up more than 100 mb of data
Cleared that data
then
Tried to reinstall again - 491 Error (Insufficient Storage) even though my phone showed over 300 mb of Available Space
Turned phone off/on
Was finally able to download ES File Explorer, and ran the cleaner. But, I haven't found the analyst yet.
I still have around 400 mb of Miscelleneous Files, and 282 mb of Available Space

Maybe if I just keep that one app's data clean, then I will be able to use the Play Store until the phone decides again that it is running out of space.

It really is kind of ridiculous that this seems to be a very common problem with Samsung/Android phones and never seems to have been corrected through software upgrades.

Thanks
Andrew

 

[Madbat]

In the menu (three lines, upper left corner) in "tools". You'll see sd card analyst. It scans internal sd (phone storage). But just having 200 MB of internal is not much. The system typically reserves that much for its own use. Phones that have a total of 4 GB of internal space are not even worth having these days. You end up with less than 2 GB of storage. A few apps and a couple pictures and you end up with the problem you have. Does it have an sd card slot? Get an sd card in it and see if it will let you move apps to it. Some samsungs still have that feature. In settings/apps. Click on a user app where it allows you to clear cache or data for apps. When an sd card is inserted some Samsung phones will then have an option in that menu to " move to sd card".

 

[mydian]

I'm just curious how you are out of space? I have way over 100 apps installed, all on internal memory, and still have over 6gb free. Do you not have a SD card for your photos and stuff?

Edit: never mind, I reread your post and see you're not using a Galaxy S3. This is the S3 forum so I assumed you did.

 

[Andrewjm]

Thanks again for the replies. Yes, I've always had an external sd card with all the apps (that would move) on the card. The storage problem is within the last 6 months or so.
The sd card analyst shows only 14.39 mb.
Somehow, I think the problem is still with all those Miscelleneous Files (400 mb), but I cannot find them to delete.
Anyway, perhaps it's time to upgrade to an 8gb or 16gb mobile. I just hate the idea of spending that much money for something that I use relatively infrequently.

Happy Holidays
Andrew

 

[JeTsongkhapa]

I'm having this problem too. Cleaned out the caches, and there is over 400 mb free, and I still can't download or upgrade anything. What is going on here? I may have to go for the same solution as Andrew and just get a new phone. Very frustrating.

 

[mikedt]

I'm having this problem too. Cleaned out the caches, and there is over 400 mb free, and I still can't download or upgrade anything. What is going on here? I may have to go for the same solution as Andrew and just get a new phone. Very frustrating.

To repeat what was quoted earlier, a 4GB phone like Galaxy Ace is just not worth having these days. Should really be looking at 16GB internal, or an absolute minimum of 8GB internal storage, if really constrained by budget.