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Moto X4 storage issue?

tendoboy1984

Well-Known Member
According to Reddit users, the Moto X4 uses around half of the 32GB for “system files”, leaving you with only 13GB to use. I always thought stock Android used around 6-8GB for the OS? So what’s taking up that extra space? Is this a new feature for all of Android, or just this phone?

I guess a 64GB phone is required for Android if I want enough space for apps and games.
 
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Different manufacturers partition the internal storage in various ways, as they all have different 'base' install sizes -- i.e. Samsung likes to add a lot of cruft while Motorola not as much so the partition sizes have differ3nt size requirements. Also there are variations based on Android versions. So factor in not just the operating system but all those system-installed apps and those alleged 'enhancements'.
If you're installing a lot of games and other apps, those reside in your general data partition, which is separate and unique from the operating system partitions. Just don't forget that looking at your entire phone's internal storage amount isn't going to be a very accurate gauge to how much much storage space is actually available to you. The operating system partitions are essentially off-limits to you so whether the operating system is taking up 8GB or 13GB that's irrelevant as the only thing that really matters is that user data partition.
 
Different manufacturers partition the internal storage in various ways, as they all have different 'base' install sizes -- i.e. Samsung likes to add a lot of cruft while Motorola not as much so the partition sizes have differ3nt size requirements. Also there are variations based on Android versions. So factor in not just the operating system but all those system-installed apps and those alleged 'enhancements'.
If you're installing a lot of games and other apps, those reside in your general data partition, which is separate and unique from the operating system partitions. Just don't forget that looking at your entire phone's internal storage amount isn't going to be a very accurate gauge to how much much storage space is actually available to you. The operating system partitions are essentially off-limits to you so whether the operating system is taking up 8GB or 13GB that's irrelevant as the only thing that really matters is that user data partition.

The Moto phone is what I’m talking about. I got an answer from a Reddit user; apparently Android 7 now stores 2 copies of the OS on your phone for “seamless updates”, where when your phone updates it reboots to the secondary copy of the OS to limit downtime. But the problem there is all that space is being used that could have been used for apps and games.

If this really is a feature of Android 7 then it’s the first time I’ve heard of it or seen it. My wife’s Galaxy S7 doesn’t have this problem, plenty of space out of 32GB is useable.
 
I have the Android One version and the System Partition is 13.1gb leaving 18.9 for user data.
Read at XDA, large A/B System Partition is for Seamless Updates.
Guess 32gb is the new minimum.
 
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