"Insufficient Storage Available" even there is lot of free space in device memory

The total space of my app is 10 MB, and after installation it will take less than 20 MB. In Galaxy Note I, while updating my app, it's saying "Insufficient Storage Available", where there is 214 MB of free space in device memory (internal). It happens even trying to download a new app.

I searched long for the solution, and a perfect reason for the cause of this problem, but I can't find it. How do I fix this problem?

This is the result of the 'adb shell df' in my another device which has the same problem. It has 35 MB free space:

/dev: 115788K total, 0K used, 115788K available (block size 4096)
/mnt/asec: 115788K total, 0K used, 115788K available (block size 4096)
/system: 179840K total, 168376K used, 11464K available (block size 4096)
/data: 201856K total, 168524K used, 33332K available (block size 4096)
/cache: 108544K total, 1284K used, 107260K available (block size 4096)
/cdrom: 8960K total, 8632K used, 328K available (block size 4096)
/tmp: 2048K total, 28K used, 2020K available (block size 4096)
/pds: 1536K total, 1320K used, 216K available (block size 4096)
/mnt/sdcard: 1928992K total, 1014496K used, 914496K available (block size 32768)
/mnt/secure/asec: Permission denied

Solution 1:

Here's a very simple solution that works on my Samsung Galaxy S II and Note 1; I have no idea about other models:

1. Open the phone app and switch to keypad.
2. Dial *#9900#
3. On the screen that appears, click on the button labelled "Delete dumpstate/logcat".

I've restored about one GB of system space this way.

Solution 2:

At first I tried Berislav Lopac's answer, but I got Connection problem or invalid MMI code. when I tried to dial *#9900#. I was using CyanogenMod on the phone, and I believe phones with custom ROMs don't use the stock dialer, so they lack the SysDump functionality.

Basically, Delete dumpstate/logcat in SysDump clears out the log files in /data/log. But you can also do this manually without SysDump. (This is assuming your phone has been rooted, which will be the case if your phone is running CyanogenMod or any other non-stock ROM.)

1. Make sure Superuser and Terminal Emulator apps are installed. (They come with most custom ROMs.)
2. Run Terminal Emulator
3. Type in su, hit return.
4. This will bring up a Superuser prompt. Grant access. (You will have to wait three seconds before you can click "Allow".)
5. Change current directory by typing in cd /data/log, followed by return.
6. MAKE SURE you are in the data/log directory by typing in pwd, followed by return. It should print out the present working directory you are in: /data/log. It is very important to make sure you are in the right directory as the next step removes all files in whatever working directory you presently are in.
7. Remove all the files in the directory by typing in rm *, followed by return.
8. Close the terminal window or app, or type in exit to leave the su session.

I deleted roughly 1,500 1 MB files like this and fixed my "Insufficient Storage Available" problem.

As with the other posters, I own a Galaxy S II, so it seems to be a problem with that model.

If anyone knows of the permanent solution to stop the log files building up, please let me know.

NOTE: Some file managers will falsely list /data/log to be empty as they are running unprivileged and hence lack the permissions to view the files inside.

Solution 3:

The memory may be in reserve by the OS to be used for running what you normally run (kind of like a swap file). You may be able to squeeze in another app or two by

• Trying to install them right after a restart, or
• By force closing some apps that are running (but that second option may not be a good idea -- see the first link),

But the only very good fix might be to

• Repartition your SD card so that apps can be installed directly to it (see the second link).

Take a look at forum post It was bound to happen: low memory warning!.

The important part is:

The OS knows how much memory it needs to run the apps you already have. This is a perfect example.

Now you may be able to "fool" the OS by force closing some apps that are sitting in RAM. This will increase your "bucket" of memory which may let you install an app, but remember if you do these types of things you will only cause issues down the road.. lagg, error messages, etc. (because you are fooling the OS in thinking you have given it additional memory which in fact you did.. you only force closed).

Another good explanation of what is happening is in forum post Low Internal Memory.

The important part is:

The reason why your internal space is filling up is 3-fold. First, when an app is "moved" to the SD card, it isn't completely moved. Only portions of it actually go. Second, the Dalvik cache of the app is still stored on the internal memory (which takes up a substantial amount of space). Three, the data for apps and all your system settings are stored in the internal memory (yes, some apps use the SD card for portions of their data, but every app has data stored on the internal memory).

And the thread includes suggestions on what partitioning you can do to your SD card to allow 'moar apps'!