Internal storage full - can't transfer.

[Data-mistaker]

Hi everyone,

I'm having a problem with my data storage on my Sony Z3 Compact (see the photo below). Normally I get messages saying the internal storage is 75% full and I just tap to transfer to my 128GB SD card. No problem.

At the moment it's telling me that the internal storage is 100% full. However there are no files available to transfer. everything is at 0 files 0B. Completely contradictory information?!  Really weird. The problem started when I began uploading video files via wifi to google drive. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it?... 

I've tried turning it off and on again. I've tried moving all my apps to the SD card but they're apparently already there.

I have no idea what to do.

Any help or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Uliwooly]

@Data-mistaker

Restart the phone and check again, also if you are above 95% of used/filled internal storage some apps might misbehave, what to do?

settings > storage > clear cache > back > apps > all > menu > sort by size > wait wait wait > open the top apps > clear cache or data 

[Anders63]

I have had the same problem till 15 minutes ago, when I found the solution on another forum, saying that I should delete the data folder (Android >data). I didn't dare to dele all folders but found one with a lot of data from a newspaper app. More than 7 GB was released.

Alternatively one could of course copy the folders to a PC before deleting them.

[CameronT · Accepted solution]

Hi @Data-mistaker,

Welcome to the community.

It is likely the transfer application misbehaving as uliwooly suggested. It may need some free space even for that app to work in order to cache data before transferring.

You might have to manually clear some space. Go to Settings > Storage. You can safely delete the 'Cached Data' by simply tapping on it. You can also clear out some of the misc files manually.

Another option is to use File Commander, which should be pre-installed on your phone and manually cut & paste the files you want to move to your SD card. You can perform the same actions by accessing your phones storage on a PC.

[Data-mistaker]

Thanks for your help.

Please could post the link the the forum you found useful?

Thanks

Dan

[Data-mistaker]

Thanks for the input . I did what you said. 

The internal data is now at 75%. 

However, I'm still getting the 0 files 0MB information like the photo I posted. It's still saying I've got 114GB available. And it's still not allowing me to Transfer data. It's greyed out. 

Apps (7.28 GB) and photos/videos (2.54GB) seem to be taking up the most space on the internal memory. However, every time I've open the apps and try to move them to the SD card the 'move to SD card' button is greyed out. This makes me believe that either the app is already on the SD card (which it surely can't be if its taking up space on my internal data) OR that the app is saved on the internal memory and the phone for some reason won't let me move it to the SD card.

As for the photos and movies, I can't find a 'move to SD card' button anywhere in the photo app.

Feeling at a loss.

[Data-mistaker]

Sorry I didn't say anything about the File Commander. 

I have tried to move files but I am unable to move between the internal storage and SD card.

I'm strating to think that the SD has been corrupted.

[Data-mistaker]

For example, whenever I try and move I file from the Internal storage it gives me the option of moving it somewhere else under the internal storgage.

Similarly, when I try and move an SD card file i can only move it to another part of the SD card.

[Data-mistaker]

OK

Although the 'transfer data' function seems to be disabled I've worked out how to move files using the File Commmander. I doesn't explain why the transfer data function doesn't work but I'm at least able to get my phone to work smoothly.

Thanks for your input. If you can work out why I can't transfer data i would still be interested.

Thanks very much

Dan

[CameronT]

@Data-mistaker, it could be that the SD card is corrupted in some way as you thought. Have you been able to test another SD card and see if the situation changes?