Google Messages App Causes Significant Storage Issues on Android Phones

Many Android users are experiencing storage shortages despite large phone capacities, with Google Messages identified as a major cause. The app stores all sent and received images and videos indefinitely, sometimes consuming up to 70 gigabytes of space without users realizing it. This issue stems from the RCS technology used by Google Messages, which saves media files in full quality directly within the app, effectively doubling the storage used on the device.

To check how much space Google Messages occupies, Pixel users can navigate to device settings under storage and system apps, while Samsung users can sort apps by size in their settings. Unfortunately, Google Messages lacks an automatic media deletion feature, unlike other messaging apps, and official Google help guides often reference non-existent storage management options, leaving users without a straightforward solution.

The only way to free up space without deleting entire conversations is a manual process: users must open each chat, locate heavy media files, and delete them individually. Although users can view all shared media in a conversation, deletion must be done from within the chat itself. Bulk deletion may temporarily slow or freeze the app, so restarting the phone afterward is recommended. To avoid losing important data, users are advised to back up their messages using external apps like SMS Backup and Restore before cleaning up media files.