Hidden Storage?

[Deven1234]

Hey! I'm sure this has been discussed, but I can't find it anywhere. On my galaxy s6 active, I'm having to clear pictures, videos, and apps way too often. I'm totalling only around a third of my storage used, but am constantly struggling to only get around 2gb free every night. I know you can clear cache and partitions and what not, but almost 20gb of my storage is being used, and I can't figure out on what. If this helps: I do play an online game where you download apps for online currency, but I delete the apps(not just shortcuts) right after I use them, but even then, i haven't done then in a while. I was going to post a picture, but apparently I need an image host to do it, so my device maintenance reads

Documents - 23.56mb
Images - 3.82gb
Audio - 115mb
Video - 1.52gb
Apps - 9.41gb

System/User data - 30.1gb/32gb

Whats alarming is that when I go to delete apps, the list that it gives me. I total up the storage space uses, and it's not near 9gb worth. So maybe these apps are lurking elsewhere? Even if that is the case, why would my phone be using half of its space for system data?? Any helps would be appreciated! Im having to dig towards bottom of the barrel for things to delete now

 

[Shotgun84]

Have you deleted the .thumbnails folder in dcim. It might give you an extra couple gb.

 

[Shotgun84]

Also try going to the Android folder in my files and check the data and .obb folder and see if there's any data in there for the apps you've deleted.

 

[Deven1234]

Sorry for the late response!

Very good call on the thumbnails folder! I've had this phone for a year and came from Apple, so I'm a little uncomfortable poking around in this on my own, after I had attempted a partition wipe my third week on the device and somehow selected to factory reset >:-(

So the thumbnails folder had cleared out an additional gig! Although, the scary thing is, it had just taken me back to square one. Now, I have only 756mb of memory left, yet I have not taken a picture, maybe a couple screenshots, and I definitely have not downloaded any apps.

I'm not sure is this is relevant, but I've for whatever had a software upgrade option notification stuck in my settings. I go to "continue update", it does nothing. I scan for updates, it says it's up to date.

I feel pretty helpless at the moment. like I'm trying to put a bandaid on a gunshot wound at this point. I had less issues out of my 16gb iPhone 5 to be honest. I wish I had the regular s6 so i could have expendable memory, but that would be redundant as the initial switch was for a sturdier phone.

I've ran camodo(sp?) And there arent any viruses, as well. I haven't a clue where I could be hemorrhaging any of this memory from. There is definitely something going on. I'll take screenshots of anything that will be helpful. Worst case scenario, is this grounds for getting a whole new phone? What would Samsung's policy be on such a thing?

 

[Deven1234]

Also try going to the Android folder in my files and check the data and .obb folder and see if there's any data in there for the apps you've deleted.

Also, I checked my data folder, and it's empty??

Since you have pointed me in the right direction, i have found many "empty shells" of files like videos I had deleted previously,.but apparently were still lurking around?? Let's just say they were..unsavory videos? Lol. Just to be honest. However, I'm still well shy of what I believe should be. I'm sitting at 2.2gb available now. My stats are as follows

Documents- 23.56mb
Images -3.81gb
Audio - 115mb
Video-1.46gb
Apps-10.86gb

I only have 39 apps total, according to the device maintenance screen. However when I run Comodo, it says I have 356 apps??

 

[RCall]

Sorry for the late response!

Very good call on the thumbnails folder! I've had this phone for a year and came from Apple, so I'm a little uncomfortable poking around in this on my own, after I had attempted a partition wipe my third week on the device and somehow selected to factory reset >:-(

So the thumbnails folder had cleared out an additional gig! Although, the scary thing is, it had just taken me back to square one. Now, I have only 756mb of memory left, yet I have not taken a picture, maybe a couple screenshots, and I definitely have not downloaded any apps.

I'm not sure is this is relevant, but I've for whatever had a software upgrade option notification stuck in my settings. I go to "continue update", it does nothing. I scan for updates, it says it's up to date.

I feel pretty helpless at the moment. like I'm trying to put a bandaid on a gunshot wound at this point. I had less issues out of my 16gb iPhone 5 to be honest. I wish I had the regular s6 so i could have expendable memory, but that would be redundant as the initial switch was for a sturdier phone.

I've ran camodo(sp?) And there arent any viruses, as well. I haven't a clue where I could be hemorrhaging any of this memory from. There is definitely something going on. I'll take screenshots of anything that will be helpful. Worst case scenario, is this grounds for getting a whole new phone? What would Samsung's policy be on such a thing?

Call Samsung Customer Support, they are great, they sent me an OTA update to 7.0 and then the device prompted an update to a Dec. 2017 Security patch. (I believe 7.0.1 just came out too?)

Android doesn't get viruses I don't believe... malware possibly? Factory Reset, then Download a good File Manager, I use FX File Explorer. Go through your Main Storage Folders and delete any crap. I use Adhell-2 (XDA has it) with my S6-Active and it not only blocks all ads, but allows you to remove Google, Samsung, and AT&T proprietary junk. You need a Knox Key, and a quick SEAP Enrollment to use Adhell-2 but it is well worth it. It takes me about 2 solid hours after a factory reset to reconfigure my device to exclude about 100 of the 200 System Apps I have absolutely no use for whatsoever. I have roughly 5 Gb of Music (.flac) and 10 Gb of Video (.mp4) at any given time and still have 10 Gb free.

Factory reset the device, Follow the post in XDA for Adhell-2. Disable unecessary apps, and block ads (unless you enjoy them). Then season to taste. Employ Samsung's Backup/Restore option after it is setup perfectly so you can easily Restore it to your pre-configured state when you have an issue.


This Samsung S6-Active is a beast! It is durable, overpowered, fast-charging, easy on the 3500mAh battery, Plenty of storage, and a 575 dpi amoled screen! I love mine. When properly configured there isn't much more you would ever want or need in a device.

 

[Shotgun84]

Also, I checked my data folder, and it's empty??

Since you have pointed me in the right direction, i have found many "empty shells" of files like videos I had deleted previously,.but apparently were still lurking around?? Let's just say they were..unsavory videos? Lol. Just to be honest. However, I'm still well shy of what I believe should be. I'm sitting at 2.2gb available now. My stats are as follows

Documents- 23.56mb
Images -3.81gb
Audio - 115mb
Video-1.46gb
Apps-10.86gb

I only have 39 apps total, according to the device maintenance screen. However when I run Comodo, it says I have 356 apps??

If you're worried about unsavory videos you're talking to the wrong guy, wink wink lol. I think Comodo is showing all your system apps as well as downloaded so that's why you've got so many apps. The thumbnail folder's always stayed pretty empty for me unless I've been taking or downloading pictures. I've never owned an iPhone so I don't know how they show their storage but with a Samsung you should expect at least a quarter of the advertised to be used for the system

 

[dbvirago]

Having a similar problem. I've cleared caches and deleted everything I can find. I know there are some large apps, but they don't take up that much storage. This is a Samsung. The native storage app says I have used 15.6Gb of my 16Gb in main storage. It then goes on to show the user data as:
Docs 1.5Mb
Images 1.5Mb
Apps 5Gb.
Where is the other 10Gb? I've downloaded several file managers and can't find the wasted space with them either.
One shows I have used 10.6 of 1.07Gb main. But then shows the main folders and their total use and it adds up to about 2Gb.

Also, surprising how few things/data can be moved to the SD card. Going to try to set up SD as internal next.

Edit: No option to do this on my tablet.