Database Develop

low on space notification almost 4GB free still? why

what would cause this odd error when i still have so much free?
found this answer on an other droid forum is it true?
"There is a bug that causes this error, but since 3 big companies are involved, none of them are going to fix it any time soon. Basically, app space is limited to some arbitrary amount and is not equal to the space available on your phone."

I suspect you may be low in system memory. Scroll down to the very bottom of the SD card & phone storage settings. How much available System memory do you have?

system memory is alway around 100Mb even with the space notification.
when I uninstall enough apps it does go away.
stopping open apps or services does not help.

You may want to reset your device. I had a similar problem once with my Atrix. 100mb is a low amount of system memory. I have over 400mb still available on my Thrill.

I have over 650mb left in system memory and its says I have insufficient space whenever I try to download any game around 40mb. I cleared the cache and it worked for one game.
Sent from my LG-P925 using xda premium

think i got it...
using ES task manager
memory T:442MB A:96MB =ram?
internal storage T:.98GB A:117MB =system nand or partition of internal sd?
sd card T:5.57GB A:3.92GB =internal sd card?
I have a 32GB external sd card.
I thought "system memory" under "SD card & phone storage settings" was RAM
but is seems to be what "ES task manager" reports as "internal storage"
why the hell is the android set up this way?
seems so ass backwards,
/ = system memory (root dir? is this a partition or seperate physical memory from the internal sd)
/sdcard/ = internal sd
/sdcard/_ExternalSD = external sdcard

What is being referred to as internal storage (or system memory) is where the apps are installed by default. You could try moving some apps to SD and it should help. However, I had a problem like this with my Atrix and I never could figure out what was using all the space, so I just did a factory reset. Of course, I used Titanium Backup first.

I've noticed that the thrill thinks the 4gb internal is an SD card and the actual SD card is labeled as "External" when you explore the files. I was thinking of doing a factory reset so I moved all my apps to SD, when I looked in file manager at my SD there was nothing there. I found them all in a folder called "SDCard" on my internal memory. This may have something to do with your issue.

TylDurden said:
I've noticed that the thrill thinks the 4gb internal is an SD card and the actual SD card is labeled as "External" when you explore the files. I was thinking of doing a factory reset so I moved all my apps to SD, when I looked in file manager at my SD there was nothing there. I found them all in a folder called "SDCard" on my internal memory. This may have something to do with your issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have 3 types of memory in the phone. There's your external SD (labeled as _External SD), Internal Phone Memory (internal SD), and System Memory (where by default apps are stored). You can move your apps to the internal SD if you desire and that's why it's showing a folder there with the apps in it.

Gr8Danes said:
You have 3 types of memory in the phone. There's your external SD (labeled as _External SD), Internal Phone Memory (internal SD), and System Memory (where by default apps are stored). You can move your apps to the internal SD if you desire and that's why it's showing a folder there with the apps in it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what good does it do to put Apps on the internal SD?

TylDurden said:
So what good does it do to put Apps on the internal SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that it doesn't take up your system memory. If your system memory gets low, it won't let you install additional apps and may also slow down your phone.

Some people are saying that it is reporting wrong? No there actually is an SD card inside the phone and the one outside under the back plate.
To keep things straight:
System= Actual memory on the phone where apps are installed by default, moving to SD and uninstalling apps can create more space.
Internal= SDcard inside the phone where Apps are moved to when choosing move to SD also Alps will store data here and most downloads go here by default
External= The SDcard under backplate which you can access and change. A lot of apps will put backups here and if you choose SD storage in camera where your pics and vids will be. Usually this is set aside for actual personal storage of media and what not.

^ Is there a way to make the external SD card the default data storage? After installing some Gameloft games, my internal storage is already full (5.6 GBs is pathetic LG) but I still still have 2 more games (Dungeon Defenders and Spectral Souls) I want to install which take up about 2GB.

Killer Bee said:
^ Is there a way to make the external SD card the default data storage? After installing some Gameloft games, my internal storage is already full (5.6 GBs is pathetic LG) but I still still have 2 more games (Dungeon Defenders and Spectral Souls) I want to install which take up about 2GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not that I'm aware.

Urabewe said:
Some people are saying that it is reporting wrong? No there actually is an SD card inside the phone and the one outside under the back plate.
To keep things straight:
System= Actual memory on the phone where apps are installed by default, moving to SD and uninstalling apps can create more space.
Internal= SDcard inside the phone where Apps are moved to when choosing move to SD also Alps will store data here and most downloads go here by default
External= The SDcard under backplate which you can access and change. A lot of apps will put backups here and if you choose SD storage in camera where your pics and vids will be. Usually this is set aside for actual personal storage of media and what not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Close. System is where the OS and the system apps, the ones that come preinstalled are stored. The data partition is where market apps are stored. Installing apps from the market has no effect on the system partition. System apps cannot be moved to the sdcard, internal or otherwise. Its the apps on the /data partition that can be moves to the sdcard/internal storage.
Here's the breakdown:
System=619Mb (OS+system apps)
Internal (data)=1Gb (downloaded apps)
Internal SD=6gb (storage,a2sd)
External SD=8Gb (with included card).
LG claims 8gb internal space. All the above adds up to a little over 7.6gb. Leaving 60mb which is most likely the Cache partition.
Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk

[Q] USB storage?

Hey, what's up? I bought my new Galaxy Note yesterday, and there are some things I don't understand. One of the first apps I installed was App2SD. The Note didn't came with an SD (today I bought one), but something appeared as SD Card. When in I entered to the app, I saw something very interesting. It said that the System storage was 2GB (??!?) and the SD (it didn't had any SD) was 11GB. Today I installed the SD (real) and the app still the SD was 11GB!!! I downloaded MI file explorer, to see better the storage and install some apps I moved to the SD, and when I entered to SD tab, there were folders of Camera, Downloads.. but I couldn't find any of my apps. Then I find the folder "external_sd" and I opened it. Yes, all the apks I moved to the SD were there. So, I thought , lets see the storage tab in Task manager menu. There appeared 3 things: the SD card (8gb), the system storage (2gb) and the USB storage (11gb). So, I realized that all downloads and photos were saving in the USB storage (that is part of the System storage I think). I could change where does the photos save, but no the downloads and apps. They are still saving in that USB storage. And something it was very strange: when I move to SD some apps (Zen Bound 2, 200MB) it appears in the SD but really small (200MB to 20MB) So, the questions are:
1. Can I change that the apps don't install in that USB storage?
2. Can I turn off that USB storage?
3. Why when I enter in Settings and I move an app to the SD, in app2sd appears like it was moved to the USB storage? Or it moved to the real SD?
4. Why the size of the apps change?
Thanks really
alancito10t

alancito10t said:
Hey, what's up? I bought my new Galaxy Note yesterday, and there are some things I don't understand. One of the first apps I installed was App2SD. The Note didn't came with an SD (today I bought one), but something appeared as SD Card. When in I entered to the app, I saw something very interesting. It said that the System storage was 2GB (??!?) and the SD (it didn't had any SD) was 11GB. Today I installed the SD (real) and the app still the SD was 11GB!!! I downloaded MI file explorer, to see better the storage and install some apps I moved to the SD, and when I entered to SD tab, there were folders of Camera, Downloads.. but I couldn't find any of my apps. Then I find the folder "external_sd" and I opened it. Yes, all the apks I moved to the SD were there. So, I thought , lets see the storage tab in Task manager menu. There appeared 3 things: the SD card (8gb), the system storage (2gb) and the USB storage (11gb). So, I realized that all downloads and photos were saving in the USB storage (that is part of the System storage I think). I could change where does the photos save, but no the downloads and apps. They are still saving in that USB storage. And something it was very strange: when I move to SD some apps (Zen Bound 2, 200MB) it appears in the SD but really small (200MB to 20MB) So, the questions are:
1. Can I change that the apps don't install in that USB storage?
2. Can I turn off that USB storage?
3. Why when I enter in Settings and I move an app to the SD, in app2sd appears like it was moved to the USB storage? Or it moved to the real SD?
4. Why the size of the apps change?
Thanks really
alancito10t
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, that was a lot to read Ok, as far as Galaxy Note's Memory management is considered, the partition is as:
A. 2GB (1.97GB Precisely) : Acts as ROM
B. 11GB (11.07GB Precisely) : Acts as Internal SD Card
C. X GB (the memory card which you insert) : Acts as External SD Card
So, In A there are built in apps which comes with the ROM you flash.
In B There are apps which you install. The install Location is defined to be in B in your phone by default.
In C You can move the apps using some app such as App2SD or Android Assistant (which I prefer)
If you are concerned with big apps clogging your memory, read ahead:
You can allow your application to install on the device's external storage.
Some types of applications should not allow installation on the external storage.
Installing on the external storage is ideal for large applications that are not tightly integrated with the system (most commonly, games).
If you want to know how to do it, then reply back or PM me. I shall post here.
Hope this helps to clear some basic idea about memory.

Changing partition table ?

Hello Guys !
The internal SD card partition is ****ed up and it shows as "unmounted".
I tried a lot of things, including connecting the phone to computer and formating the damn internal storage, but when i plug the USB cable, the phone says that don't have SD card and don't allow full access or Mass Storage.
I tried some programs and file explorers who claimed that can format partitions. No one of them did works.
I tried from the settings of the device to format the internal storage, but i can't change or touch anything, because it shows the internal storage as "unmounted".
I flash it to the stock rom but in the process of flashing, it don't even touch anything in the partition table and after the flashing, the internal SD card is still "unmounted".
Is there any program, tool, way to repartition the partition table on the device ?
I have searched for that in google and i didn't find anything of that sort for Xperia X8.
My other phone, LG Optimus 2X for example, it have AIO toolkit and from there i can change his partition table as i want.
I doubt in that i can't do the same on Xperia X8.
What can i do in this case ?

By "Internal SD card partition" do you mean the Data partition?

Yes.

Are you sure? Does your phone boot? Are you able to install apps?

I mean... that partition where the other data like music, videos, files for apps are stored in there or the partition that file managers sees.
And now this partition is broken and unmounted. The phone show stupid errors everywhere, of the type of "Put your SD card to make photos" or "No SD card" in every app that store data...Now i can't do nothing, i can't even transfer one song and set it as default rington.
But the phone starts up successfully and i have no problem with installing apps from the old "Android Market".

Then that would be your Externel MicroSD Card. If you take the back cover off your phone it should be in the top right corner.
Try taking it out and using an MicroSD card adapter to connect it to your pc and format it.
Or use an app called "AParted" from the Play Store to format your MicroSD Card(Root access required).

No. The phone don't have inserted SD card. I am talking about the "internal SD card". As far as i know, the partition that the file managers sees is the partition left for free data storage, and that is not the whole memory, there is another partition that is hidden and is for the system files for android.
So, the phone boots up and "works" but i need to make repartitioning, but i don't know how to do it on this phone and what is the procedure if there is a way.

AtanasP said:
No. The phone don't have inserted SD card. I am talking about the "internal SD card". As far as i know, the partition that the file managers sees is the partition left for free data storage, and that is not the whole memory, there is another partition that is hidden and is for the system files for android.
So, the phone boots up and "works" but i need to make repartitioning, but i don't know how to do it on this phone and what is the procedure if there is a way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone has 2 main partitions one is System(For OS related files and folders) and the other one is Data(For Apps and App Data), No File Manager can see whats in them(Unless you have Root Access). The only thing that would be visible to your File Manager would be whats in your MicroSD Card. If you don't have a MicroSD Card you will not be able to save any pictures or videos or any thing like that(Just like any other Android Phone with a MicroSD Card Slot)

So, this phone uses the whole internal memory for the system ? And its required to put a microSD card to be able to use the phone ?
All my android phones has a partition for free storage and i am suprised of that i can't storage anything without SD card.

This Phone only has 250MB of Internal Storage and it uses about 128MB for System. That leaves you with around 122MB to install Apps. The Phone is 100% Usable without a MicroSD Card, the only thing you will not be able to do is Save any type of External File(Video. Audio, ect.)

Why does my phone say there isn't enough space to install an app when there is?

After shenanigans yesterday I've pretty much got my Moto G 2014 LTE running on Marshmallow.
\the problem I have now is one I've experienced a number of times before, on various devices and Android versions:
Why is it that, despite the storage screen showing that I have plenty of available space, am I not unable to install some larger apps?
Settings > Storage shows internal storage 1.15GB used of 5.52GB (as well as SanDisk SD card 890MB used of 14.59GB)
But when I try to install Injustice: Gods Among Us (1.12GB) i get the error message App requires external storage: "Injustice: Gods Among Us" can't be downloaded. Insert an SD card or USB storage with sufficient storage, and try again.
This app was installed prior to upgrading the OS, and while quite large, should still fit on to my device.
Can anyone tell me what causes this, what I can do to get round it, and also, if there is a way to make the OS see the SD card as part of the internal memory so I can install apps directly to it

On Marshmallow, it is possible to use external SD card as internal but don't do it.
Why ? Because you have a too small SD card. This option doesn't merge internal and external, it just sets the external as internal. So you need a 8gb or more SD card (or you will get less storage than before)
Maybe the play store doesn't want to install because your SD Card doesn't have enough space to install the game. I know it is weird, but sometimes even if you want to install to internal, it checks the SD card's available memory.
You can try to wipe the play store cache and data, and if it doesn't work do a wipe cache from recovery.

Try getting the apk file by google'ing it. Install it. Open it then check if it is downloading files or not.
Sent from my Moto E using XDA Free mobile app

Mavireck said:
On Marshmallow, it is possible to use external SD card as internal but don't do it.
Why ? Because you have a too small SD card. This option doesn't merge internal and external, it just sets the external as internal. So you need a 8gb or more SD card (or you will get less storage than before)
Maybe the play store doesn't want to install because your SD Card doesn't have enough space to install the game. I know it is weird, but sometimes even if you want to install to internal, it checks the SD card's available memory.
You can try to wipe the play store cache and data, and if it doesn't work do a wipe cache from recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry that should have read 14.59Gb for the SD card, so loads of space

Mavireck said:
On Marshmallow, it is possible to use external SD card as internal but don't do it.
Why ? Because you have a too small SD card. This option doesn't merge internal and external, it just sets the external as internal. So you need a 8gb or more SD card (or you will get less storage than before)
Maybe the play store doesn't want to install because your SD Card doesn't have enough space to install the game. I know it is weird, but sometimes even if you want to install to internal, it checks the SD card's available memory.
You can try to wipe the play store cache and data, and if it doesn't work do a wipe cache from recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried to download the apk and it just days no SD card. I know its there, still shows up in settings and shows apps installed on it. Must be a dodgy card or something, but now i cant work out how to tell the phone to stop using it for apps and install internally unsteady (told it to use it as internal when I did set up, not sure how to go back)
EDIT: OK worked out how to get it to stop using the SD as internal and formatted it for data, and seems to be installing the game now. So I think that pretty much solves my immediate query, but still interested as to why android sometimes says insufficient space despite it reporting in settings that there is plenty

KeransHQ said:
Tried to download the apk and it just days no SD card. I know its there, still shows up in settings and shows apps installed on it. Must be a dodgy card or something, but now i cant work out how to tell the phone to stop using it for apps and install internally unsteady (told it to use it as internal when I did set up, not sure how to go back)
EDIT: OK worked out how to get it to stop using the SD as internal and formatted it for data, and seems to be installing the game now. So I think that pretty much solves my immediate query, but still interested as to why android sometimes says insufficient space despite it reporting in settings that there is plenty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah sorry for my mistake I have read 1.xxgb instead of 14.xxgb
Android reports the storage to be full as soon as XX% of the storage is filled (maybe 90%, I'm not sure). Then if you have a 100gb device, even if you have 10gb free it won't allow you to do anything.
That's weird, but that's how it works.
Have you tried wiping cache ? It sometimes solves the problem.
It is better not to use the format as internal storage except if you really know what you are doing.

How to move files, photos, vids to sd card on marshmallow

Hello. I have just upgraded to marshmallow S228_160621_ROW. I changed my sd card to internal memory and it became invisible. Is there any way to move photos, vids or files to my sd card and also to be able to see them?

SACS73 said:
Hello. I have just upgraded to marshmallow S228_160621_ROW. I changed my sd card to internal memory and it became invisible. Is there any way to move photos, vids or files to my sd card and also to be able to see them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes... There is only one way... Which is... You have to make your SD card to portable storage.... Before doing this action take a backup of your SD card... After completing the process you will see your internal storage's contents again on file manager or explorer.

mrinalkd27 said:
Yes... There is only one way... Which is... You have to make your SD card to portable storage.... Before doing this action take a backup of your SD card... After completing the process you will see your internal storage's contents again on file manager or explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From your answer , I understand that if the sd card is internal storage, there is no way to move media files to the card and to be visible. Am I right?

SACS73 said:
From your answer , I understand that if the sd card is internal storage, there is no way to move media files to the card and to be visible. Am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once your card is set as internal, then there is virtually no difference in the SD card storage and the 8gb internal storage. After formatting to internal SD card, the storage becomes "internal shared storage" and anything on internal or SD is treated as a single storage. So basically if any file is in internal or SD will then make no difference to the way Android will detect it.
However, I shall tell you a difference.
After formatting SD as internal, the internal goes to the location /data/media and SD goes to /sdcard

tanish2k09 said:
Once your card is set as internal, then there is virtually no difference in the SD card storage and the 8gb internal storage. After formatting to internal SD card, the storage becomes "internal shared storage" and anything on internal or SD is treated as a single storage. So basically if any file is in internal or SD will then make no difference to the way Android will detect it.
However, I shall tell you a difference.
After formatting SD as internal, the internal goes to the location /data/media and SD goes to /sdcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand. In the phone's settings-->storage and usb, I see internal storage and sd scan disc. Also in phone's file manager, I see only internal storage, which is the phone's internal storage and not the formated as internak storage sd card. Also in ES file explorer I see sd card and storage with emulated folder and self folder and nothing else in it. Also the only way to see the option to move media files from internal storage to sd, is when I connect a usb flash drive and after they moved to sd card they become invisible and the phone's media apps don't detect them.

SACS73 said:
I don't understand. In the phone's settings-->storage and usb, I see internal storage and sd scan disc. Also in phone's file manager, I see only internal storage, which is the phone's internal storage and not the formated as internak storage sd card. Also in ES file explorer I see sd card and storage with emulated folder and self folder and nothing else in it. Also the only way to see the option to move media files from internal storage to sd, is when I connect a usb flash drive and after they moved to sd card they become invisible and the phone's media apps don't detect them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro I told you all that is completely normal and is working just as it should.
Your SD card is now treated as a part of your internal storage.
I have a 16gb card as internal. See the ss below to see what the settings treat it as...
This means that if you have any pics, or videos, then it doesn't matter whether they are on SD or on internal, because they are basically the same.
As far as transferring stuff to other devices, lemme tell you that SD as internal won't work with other devices... So if you have a pic on SD and you remove SD and plug it in your PC using USB adapter to view it, then you will not see anything...
The only way for transfers is
1) Apps like ShareIt
2) USB to phone.
BTW internal SD will only help you if you want to install more Apps than allowed by the internal 8gb storage alone.

tanish2k09 said:
This means that if you have any pics, or videos, then it doesn't matter whether they are on SD or on internal, because they are basically the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By that you mean that if the internal gets full from pics, I can move pics to sd and be also visible?

SACS73 said:
By that you mean that if the internal gets full from pics, I can move pics to sd and be also visible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro. First of all :
After SD as internal format, all pics start going to SD card instead of internal. Internal storage is pushed with apps and data with the option of moving some apps to SD card too.
It's too simple but you seemingly don't understand it.
Look bro @SACS73 I already spent my time trying to reply to you and helping you when no one else was active.
The least you can do for me is to press the thanks button on my posts here.

tanish2k09 said:
Bro. First of all :
After SD as internal format, all pics start going to SD card instead of internal. Internal storage is pushed with apps and data with the option of moving some apps to SD card too.
It's too simple but you seemingly don't understand it.
Look bro @SACS73 I already spent my time trying to reply to you and helping you when no one else was active.
The least you can do for me is to press the thanks button on my posts here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The pics continue to go to internal storage. Its too bad that you are so aggressive. Obviously you behave like this because you are miles away from me.

SACS73 said:
The pics continue to go to internal storage. Its too bad that you are so aggressive. Obviously you behave like this because you are miles away from me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a bit in haste because this whole a7k forum is being run because of me and the devs rarely come online.
I do my best to stay away from posts that are too noobish. It would just waste my time. And if I reply to you, then I certainly feel that the post should not be ignored.
Also, I was not aggressive at all. I was just straight forward.
Your statement has left a scar though. I will never help you on this forum anymore. Best of luck getting help from other people who might come up once a while. It really hurts when you try to help but no one cares.
As the saying goes :
"Everyone seems to care when it's too late."
Thanks for the chat