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Help Memory problems: Sony Xperia T, Android 4.3 - please HELP!

J

jimbofandango

Lurker
Hi, I'm new and I'd really appreciate some help!

I have an 18-month old Sony Xperia T:
Model LT30p
Android 4.3
Build number 9.2.A.1.205

I'm having trouble with my available storage / memory (or at least I think, I am... I'm not sure whether what I'm seeing is normal or not...).

When installing updates to existing apps, or trying to install new apps, I'm receiving the message "Error while downloading... There is insufficient space on the device."

I had assumed that this was because I had, until now, been storing all media (pics, videos, music) on the 'Internal Storage' (~10Gb capacity). I therefore transferred all media to another device temporarily (a spare micro SD card, now removed) thus freeing up the Internal Storage again.

However, this has made no difference to the ability to install new apps / app updates - I still get the same "insufficient space" error.

I am now confused about the difference between 'Device Memory', 'Internal Storage' and 'SD card' storage.

My current Storage report shows:
Device memory
Total space: 1.97Gb
Available: 152Mb
Apps: 169Gb
Cached data: 54.27Mb

Internal Storage
Total space: 10.85Gb
Available: 9.26Gb
Apps: 525Mb
Pictures, videos: 27.99Mb
Audio: 522Mb
Downloads: 32.93Mb
Cached data: 196Mb
Misc: 182Mb

SD Card
Total space: 0.95Gb
Available: 99.89Mb

Settings > Apps shows the following:
Downloaded
Device memory: 1.8Gb used, 206Mb free
On SD card
SD card storage: 1.6Gb used, 9.3Gb free
Running
RAM: 686Mb used, 161Mb free

Why are so many apps apparently stored on the 'Device memory' - I thought this was effectively the device RAM, so how can apps be stored there? Why aren't they all stored on the Internal Storage (which has plenty of free space)?
I really haven't downloaded many apps (above the pre-installed, non-removable ones) so I'm a bit dismayed that the phone seems to be full - this can't be right, surely?

Could someone please explain:
  • how Android phone memory / storage works?
  • how apps are downloaded / installed and to which storage location?
  • how can I free up some memory and resolve my storage issues?
With many thanks in advance,
Jimbo :(
 
Device Memory (aka System memory):
This is where apps are downloaded and installed. Also holds the Android OS and some other stuff. It is *not* RAM memory.

Internal Storage:
This is intended for user data - photos, videos, music, documents, etc. Some apps put some user data here.

SD Card:
Exactly that - the removable memory card. Also intended for user data.

Since apps are downloaded and installed in Device memory, clearing space in Internal or SD has no effect on space for apps, as you found out. To make things worse, your device only has a 2GB Device (System) partition. Not much these days for the Android OS + apps + misc. This is really an outdated 'old style' partitioning scheme.

The only simple, easy thing you can do is delete some apps to clear space in the Device partition.
 
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Crashdamage,

That's a very clear and helpful answer, thank you very much. I had wrongly thought that Device Memory was RAM, so that has really explained the issue.

I'm shocked though, that only 2Gb is available for apps - this doesn't seem like much at all - I've only downloaded a few so it doesn't seem right.

Further questions:
  • Is there a way to 'improve' the partitioning?
  • Is there a way to uninstall the pre-loaded apps that came with the phone? (I don't use a lot of these so perhaps removing them could free up space - except the OS doesn't currently allow me to remove them).
  • Is there a way to make the device store apps on the Internal Storage rather than the Device Memory?
Many thanks in advance,
Jimbo
 
The answer to all 3 of your questions is yes - with some caveats. You must root the phone for all 3.

Rooting grants full administrator permissions to the user, rather than limited user permissions. The good is that this allows you to do basically anything to any files on the device. It allows full control of everything on the device. The bad is that it also means you have full permission to muck up anything on the device. It also reduces the security of the device somewhat.

If you decide you really do need/want to root, look in the 'All Things Root' section of your phone's subforum. Plenty of info is available. Also, Google search is your friend. Do a LOT of reading. It's possible a mistake could 'brick' your phone (make it unusable). Make sure you understand why you're rooting, the exact steps required and all the terminology, and have a recovery plan and backups in case things go bad.

Now, with the disclaimers out of the way, on to your questions...

1. Yes, but repartitioning is a little complicated and probably best left for after you are a bit more experienced.

2. Yes, once the phone is rooted you can uninstall preloaded bloatware - carefully.

3. Some apps can be partially moved to internal storage or the SD card, but not the entire app. Part of them must remain installed in Device (System) memory for the app to function. And sometimes none of an app can be moved. How much, if any, will move varies.

Hope that helps.
 
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