Storage being used by system apps: what it is and what you can clear

Open Settings > Storage on almost any Android phone and one bar looks far too big: System, or space "being used by system apps". On a recent phone it can run to tens of gigabytes. Most of it is the operating system and cannot be removed. Some of the space around it can be cleared, and this guide shows which.

What does "used by system apps" mean on the storage screen?

The storage screen sorts your phone's space into categories: apps, photos and videos, audio, documents, games, trash, and System. The System figure covers the files Android needs to run: the operating system itself, the apps that came with the phone, and the working files that the system keeps. Some phones label this "System", others "System apps" or "Used by the system", and some split out temporary system files as their own line. Tap the category to see what the phone counts in it.

Most of that space is taken before you store anything at all, which is why a "128 GB" phone never shows 128 GB free on its first day.

Why is system storage so large?

A few things add up:

• The operating system image. Android, the phone maker's software, the preinstalled apps and the libraries they share all live in protected partitions. They grow with each Android version.
• Space kept for updates. Phones that install updates in the background reserve space for the new version and may hold downloaded update files until the next restart.
• Updated system apps. When a preinstalled app updates through the Play Store or the maker's store, the new version is stored alongside the original, so the app takes space twice.
• System caches and logs. These grow over time and are usually trimmed when space runs low.

Which parts can I clear?

Work through these, from easiest to most involved:

1. Restart the phone. Temporary update files and some system caches are cleared on the way back up, especially after an update.
2. Empty the trash. Deleted photos, videos and files often sit in a trash folder in Photos, Files or Gallery for 30 days or more, and they still count.
3. Clear app caches. In Settings > Apps, open a large app, tap Storage & cache, then Clear cache. Cache is temporary data the app can rebuild; the app may be slower the next time you open it. Browsers, social apps and streaming apps usually hold the most.
4. Remove offline downloads. Offline maps, downloaded music and videos, and podcast episodes add up quickly.
5. Use Free up space. Pixel and other phones with Google's Files app offer a Free up space button in Settings > Storage that lists junk files, duplicates and large files.
6. Roll back updates of system apps you never use. In App info, the three-dot menu > Uninstall updates removes the updated copy and keeps the factory one.

Does disabling system apps free storage?

A little. When you disable a system app, Android removes its updates and its data, so you get that space back. The original copy stays in the protected system area, so the app's base size does not disappear. Removing an app for your user with ADB gives back the same space and no more. The disable vs uninstall vs force stop guide explains the difference.

Can I see the numbers on a computer?

With ADB (see how to set up ADB), the disk statistics service prints a breakdown that includes the space used by apps, app data, caches and the system:

adb shell dumpsys diskstats

To ask Android to clear app caches until a given amount of space is free, use the package manager's cache trim. It clears caches only, not app data:

adb shell pm trim-caches 8G

What should I not do?

• Do not clear the storage (data) of Google Play services, the Play Store or the Google app to save space. Their data is small, and clearing it can sign you out of services or reset settings.
• Do not install "cleaner" or "booster" apps. They clear the same caches Settings can clear, and many ask for access to all your files.
• Do not disable system parts to save space. The space gained is small and the risk is not.

When is system storage abnormally high?

If the System figure jumps by many gigabytes without an update, or keeps growing:

1. Check for a pending system update in Settings and install it. A stuck download can hold space until it finishes.
2. Restart the phone, then check again after an hour, since the storage screen updates slowly.
3. Look in the Documents and Other category too; some phones count leftover app files there.
4. If nothing helps, back up and reset the phone. A reset rebuilds the system storage from scratch.

If your phone keeps running out of room, our Android system apps list explains what each category of system app does, so you can decide which ones you need.