At some point, most android users will encounter the “insufficient storage available” error while updating their apps through Google Store. This error appears while updating or installing some apps in the Google Play Store.

An obvious reason for this error is if you actually don’t have enough internal space in your Android. Some Android devices or OS have low internal storage allocated for system files. The internal storage itself is divided into two spaces. One for the app’s system files another for data files. For example in my device, I have a limit of 1.5 GB space while my internal storage is 11.5GB..Also, your OS may require a minimum free space of about 250 mb. So if your system space is less than that, you will get the “insufficient storage available” error each time you try to install new apps. The solution, in this case, is to go to System settings»Apps»All app and then manually click each app you have downloaded or installed and then choose the “move to SD” option. Some apps cannot be moved to SD. In this case , you will have to either uninstall some apps or root your device and install the Link2SD app which will allow you to move any app from system memory to SD card.Read more about it here: Fix Internal Storage Getting Low.

Many users have encountered Insufficient storage available while updating Chrome. Though you have more than 1 GB of available storage, you might still get the insufficient storage error while trying to download a meagre 24 MB of Google Chrome update. At the same time, a massive 500mb of the game might download just fine from the Google Play Store. In such a case, here are two methods to fix this problem fixes for Chrome or any other app you are trying to update/install:

Methods to fix: Insufficient storage available

Method 1: Clear data and cache:

  • Go to Settings->apps.
  • Select Chrome (or any app you want to update/install) and click on Clear Data and Clear Cache.
  • Apply the update/install via Google Play Store
  • If still doesn’t work, uninstall the app and reinstall from Google Play Store

Method 2: Deleting .odex fileSometimes the insufficient space error might be because of .odex files. To solve this issue first, uninstall the previous version of the app. Then use root explorer or file explorer to access your Android’s internal storage or SDcard. From there, open “Data” folder->open “app” folder->browse and select the respective .odex file of the app you are trying to install/update. Now reinstall or update the app via Google Play Store.

Jon’s fix: One of our reader’s, Jon Goodwin, has recommended a fix that has also worked for many. So I’ve included his instructions here. You can thank Jon on the comment sections.

  1. Go into your file manager
  2. At the base folder, you should see the internal files on your phone, you shouldn’t be in your SDcard or internal SDcard. Click on the folder labelled Data
  3. After your in the data, folder click on the app-lib folder
  4. Once in this folder scroll down to whatever app folder you are trying to update or install most likely it was once on your phone before and delete it.
  5. That’s it go download your app!

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  • DudeJohn

  • June 11, 2013 At 4:05 pm

  • Still says..”insufficient storage” ..:(

  • Reply

  • Shrawan Regmi

  • June 11, 2013 At 4:07 pm

  • Try installing Link2SD and moving the apps out of internal storage. Worked for me.

  • Reply

  • Ashish

  • July 14, 2013 At 2:02 pm

  • Dude Thanks, worked perfectly.

  • Reply

  • JooSki

  • July 22, 2013 At 4:36 pm

  • Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! Damn app-lib folder. could not update es file explorer so i cleared cache-still broke, uninstalled- still broke. fixed permissions-still broke. then had to install root explorer and delete the folder. FIXED. BoohYA.

  • Reply

  • Fabio

  • July 23, 2013 At 10:49 pm

  • Does anyone know it there is such app-lib folder in android 4.1.2 ?

  • Reply

  • Fabio

  • July 23, 2013 At 10:49 pm

  • Does anyone know if there is such app-lib folder in android 4.1.2 ?

  • Reply

  • Shawn

  • October 7, 2013 At 9:36 pm

  • The folder should be there dude.. Just find out the Data folder which is right outside in your internal storage or simply search for “app-lib” in your Android’s storage..

  • Reply

  • Himanshu

  • July 30, 2013 At 11:11 am

  • It worked perfectly. Thanks

  • Reply

  • Mark Olive (@markoliv)

  • August 11, 2013 At 5:12 pm

  • Thanks Jon, that fixed it for me too.

  • Reply

  • mar

  • September 27, 2013 At 10:49 pm

  • i only can go to sdcard.. how to get to the base folder??

  • Reply

  • pop1

  • August 28, 2014 At 7:16 pm

  • Brilliant – cured my issues – thanks. Had used Super Backup to restore my apps and somehow several had been duplicated – cleared duplicates in Data/app-lib and now no problems. Also cleared up a few instability issues with those duplicated apps. Running KitKat on CM ROM.

  • Reply

  • reza

  • September 30, 2014 At 4:43 pm

  • Thanks. I searched for a solution for about 2 hours, and that was i

  • Reply

  • Pedro

  • November 1, 2014 At 6:42 pm

  • Yes it worked thank you I could not upgrade nor install chrome browser!

  • Reply

  • kanal

  • April 25, 2016 At 2:15 pm

  • Thanks a lot mate…it works fine

  • Reply

25 COMMENTS

Still says..”insufficient storage” ..:(

Try installing Link2SD and moving the apps out of internal storage. Worked for me.

Thanks!! Got “insufficient storage” error while reinstalling titanium backup. Though I was screwed. Deleted the odex file and then the app installed perfectly..

Clearing data worked for me. Thanks.

Using Super ToolBox 10 includes an App to SD function, a memory clearing function and a file manager to go to individual app caches. It also has a batch uninstaller to review forgotten apps.

Hi guys so I figured out how to fix this error, I havent seen it on any other website so I guess its not too common an error. please let me know it it works for you too.

  1. Go into your file manager
  2. At the base folder you should see the internal files on your phone, you shouldnt be in your sd card or internal sd card. Click on the folder labeled Data
  3. After your in the data folder click on the app-lib folder
  4. Once in this folder scroll down to whatever app folder your trying to update or install most likely it was once on your phone before and delete it.
  5. Thats it go download your app! Note thid method has only been tested on android verison 4.2.2
  • Fabio
  • July 23, 2013 At 10:49 pm
  • Does anyone know it there is such app-lib folder in android 4.1.2 ?
  • Reply
  • Fabio
  • July 23, 2013 At 10:49 pm
  • Does anyone know if there is such app-lib folder in android 4.1.2 ?
  • Reply
  • Shawn
  • October 7, 2013 At 9:36 pm
  • The folder should be there dude.. Just find out the Data folder which is right outside in your internal storage or simply search for “app-lib” in your Android’s storage..
  • Reply

Dude Thanks, worked perfectly.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! Damn app-lib folder. could not update es file explorer so i cleared cache-still broke, uninstalled- still broke. fixed permissions-still broke. then had to install root explorer and delete the folder. FIXED. BoohYA.

  • Shawn
  • October 7, 2013 At 9:36 pm
  • The folder should be there dude.. Just find out the Data folder which is right outside in your internal storage or simply search for “app-lib” in your Android’s storage..
  • Reply

Does anyone know it there is such app-lib folder in android 4.1.2 ?

Does anyone know if there is such app-lib folder in android 4.1.2 ?

The folder should be there dude.. Just find out the Data folder which is right outside in your internal storage or simply search for “app-lib” in your Android’s storage..

It worked perfectly. Thanks

Thanks Jon, that fixed it for me too.

i only can go to sdcard.. how to get to the base folder??

Brilliant – cured my issues – thanks. Had used Super Backup to restore my apps and somehow several had been duplicated – cleared duplicates in Data/app-lib and now no problems. Also cleared up a few instability issues with those duplicated apps. Running KitKat on CM ROM.

Thanks. I searched for a solution for about 2 hours, and that was i

Yes it worked thank you I could not upgrade nor install chrome browser!

Thanks a lot mate…it works fine

Thanks John. Worked perfectly.

The last one worked for me. Thanks!

Method 1 worked for me. Android 2.3.6

factory reset works for me.

Jons fix worked for me.

This worked for me: Moving apps to the SD card until there was 250mb free. Force quitting chrome. Clearing the chrome cache. Then updating chrome.

Not getting a satisfied solution to increase internal storage. Uninstalling any appcause any failure. Is it? Afraid of

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