Help Something "ate" 25 MB of app storage overnight, Google Play Services?

[sunsetlover]

This has been happening for some time over the last few months. I'm watching App Storage daily because I'm running out of space. Last night something ate up 25 MB of storage without me downloading anything. I checked all my apps, ran an AV, nothing.

I'm suspecting Google Play Services, since a) this is a recurring problem over the last 6-12 months, and b) I find that it eats battery like there's no tomorrow (see attached).

I'm running Android 4.4.2 and I have location, sync and "auto-update apps" OFF.

Can someone take a look at these screenshots and tell me if they are similar to what they have running?

Thanks!

 

[lunatic59]

I would guess that your culprit is Google Play services trying to update itself. Google Play Services is up to 12.8.74.

 

[sunsetlover]

I would guess that your culprit is Google Play services trying to update itself. Google Play Services is up to 12.8.74.

Yeah, but I have a way older version of android, so it actually works with my apps, don't have a problem with that.
Can you look at your apps and tell me how many MB of storage it takes?

 

[steiny180]

Consider yourself lucky...

Here's the usage on my phone...

You may want to disable data when you're not using it to conserve battery life...

This has been happening for some time over the last few months. I'm watching App Storage daily because I'm running out of space. Last night something ate up 25 MB of storage without me downloading anything. I checked all my apps, ran an AV, nothing.

I'm suspecting Google Play Services, since a) this is a recurring problem over the last 6-12 months, and b) I find that it eats battery like there's no tomorrow (see attached).

I'm running Android 4.4.2 and I have location, sync and "auto-update apps" OFF.

Can someone take a look at these screenshots and tell me if they are similar to what they have running?

Thanks!

View attachment 135382 View attachment 135383

 

[sunsetlover]

Consider yourself lucky...

Here's the usage on my phone...

You may want to disable data when you're not using it to conserve battery life...

Thanks!

 

[mikedt]

FYI here's the Google Play Services on my Huawei Mate 10 with Android 8.1

Version 13.2.78. I also have a Samsung Galaxy S7 with Android 8.0, and Google Play Services is version 12.8.74, storage used 92MB. Note: my S7 doesn't have many apps installed.

And here's my total internal storage used by Apps, etc.


FWIW I've always bought phones that have more than enough internal storage for the data I'm likely to be using.

 

[sunsetlover]

FYI here's the Google Play Services on my Huawei Mate 10 with Android 8.1
View attachment 135401
Version 13.2.78. I also have a Samsung Galaxy S7 with Android 8.0, and Google Play Services is version 12.8.74, storage used 92MB. Note: my S7 doesn't have many apps installed.

And here's my total internal storage used by Apps, etc.
View attachment 135402

FWIW I've always bought phones that have more than enough internal storage for the data I'm likely to be using.

Thank you. So upwards of 400 MB of storage.

It would be interesting to track the storage used over a period of time, say 1-2-3 months.

 

[Deleted User]

Try clearing GMS data and free up space

 

[sunsetlover]

Try clearing GMS data and free up space

How do I clear GMS data?

I've already uninstalled 2-3 apps and all my music and photos are in the SD card.

Yesterday Google Play Services ate 39% of my battery, I had never seen that before, see attached.
What happens if I disable it?

 

[sunsetlover]

Forgot to add an important piece, I'm in China now and of course anything by Google is blocked. So it could be that it's trying constantly to update unsucessfully. However, I have long ago set up "auto update apps" to off. Also "auto sync" is disabled. So not sure what's going on.

 

[Deleted User]

Forgot to add an important piece, I'm in China now and of course anything by Google is blocked. So it could be that it's trying constantly to update unsucessfully. However, I have long ago set up "auto update apps" to off. Also "auto sync" is disabled. So not sure what's going on.

Try using a vpn it should unblock anything from china i can send u a recommending u a vpn app just pm me

 

[steiny180]

How do I clear GMS data?

I've already uninstalled 2-3 apps and all my music and photos are in the SD card.

Yesterday Google Play Services ate 39% of my battery, I had never seen that before, see attached.
What happens if I disable it?

Have a look at NoRoot Firewall in the PS. You can block wifi and/or data accesses on an app-by-app or URL/IP address basis. A great little tool I use the hell out of...

 

[mikedt]

Forgot to add an important piece, I'm in China now and of course anything by Google is blocked. So it could be that it's trying constantly to update unsucessfully. However, I have long ago set up "auto update apps" to off. Also "auto sync" is disabled. So not sure what's going on.

That's not been a problem for any Android devices I've got. Although I did have a Samsung Grand six years ago that was draining battery because it couldn't ping and sync to Google. But I'm sure they've fixed it now, if Google is inaccessible it doesn't keep on trying. I do use a VPN on my phones, but it's not connected all the time.

 

[sunsetlover]

That's not been a problem for any Android devices I've got. Although I did have a Samsung Grand six years ago that was draining battery because it couldn't ping and sync to Google. But I'm sure they've fixed it now, if Google is inaccessible it doesn't keep on trying. I do use a VPN on my phones, but it's not connected all the time.

I can confirm now that it is because of China and Google being blocked, plus a faulty design on Google's part.

I was in Europe last month for 2 weeks and Google Play Services was draining battery at 3-5%, EVERY time I checked. I'm back in China now and it is draining battery at 15-25%.

For all intents and purposes, the thread is closed and there's no solution, other than to keep a vpn on pretty much all the time.

 

[lvt]

I didn't know that a lost of 25mb of storage could cause someone's headache )

 

[sunsetlover]

I didn't know that a lost of 25mb of storage could cause someone's headache )

If you bothered to read the thread, it's about Google Play Services eating 20-30% of battery time.

Did you become an "Android expert" by posting useless comments like the above?

 

[mikedt]

If you bothered to read the thread, it's about Google Play Services eating 20-30% of battery time.

Did you become an "Android expert" by posting useless comments like the above?

Suggest you re-read the thread.... Specifically "something ate up 25 MB of storage". In the OP.

 

[mikedt]

I can confirm now that it is because of China and Google being blocked, plus a faulty design on Google's part.

I was in Europe last month for 2 weeks and Google Play Services was draining battery at 3-5%, EVERY time I checked. I'm back in China now and it is draining battery at 15-25%.

For all intents and purposes, the thread is closed and there's no solution, other than to keep a vpn on pretty much all the time.

I've not seen that problem myself recently, when going between China and Europe(UK). This is with a Huawei Mate 10, Oppo R9 plus and Samsung Galaxy S7.