Low storage warning: Unable to update or download new apps

If you are unable to update or download new apps because of low storage, the following suggestions may help solve this problem.

• Adopted storage not present

If you have previously adopted storage to your SHIELD device, the Android TV OS will still attempt to install apps onto this storage.   You will need to reconnect the storage device to your SHIELD to fix the problem.  If you are unable to find the original storage device, go to Settings -> Device Preferences -> Storage and locate the storage device with status Not connected.  You can then “forget this storage device”.

• Media metadata is filling up your device

Most common if you have a NAS or connected storage.  The photos and videos gallery will automatically scan and catalog media data.  For very large storage devices, this can become very large.  To clear up storage, you can delete the cached data by going to Settings -> Apps -> Photos & Videos -> Gallery -> and select Clear data.  

Note:  The Android TV operating system will automatically scan connected storage and your storage may become impacted again.  To disable the auto scan feature, go to Settings -> Device Preferences -> Storage and disable “Scan for media automatically”.

Helpful Hint:  If a “.nomedia” file is created in a directory, android media scanner will not scan that directory nor any directory deeper.

• PLEX Media Server metadata fills up internal storage

By default, PLEX Media server will store library metadata on internal storage.  To move metadata to external storage please follow these steps

Helpful Hint:  If a “.plexignore” file is created in a directory, PLEX Media Server will not scan that directory nor any directory deeper.

• Clear system cache

Apps and the system can cache temporary files. You can clear this cache without affecting any of your apps installed. Under Settings -> Device Preferences -> Storage -> Internal shared storage select Cached data to delete unused data.

• Delete system upgrade cached data

Under rare circumstances, the SHIELD Experience system upgrade will store old or outdated upgrade images, even when taking a new upgrades. To clear this, go to Settings -> Apps -> Show system apps -> System upgrade and delete app data. Note: You will know you have stale app data if the System upgrade app data is >500MB in size.

• Delete NVIDIA Games app data

Under rare circumstances, the NVIDIA Games app will download content and may not be cleared and occupy storage unnecessarily. To clear this, go to Settings -> Apps -> NVIDIA Games and delete app data. Your NVIDIA login data will not be removed, but NVIDIA Games will download game data on your first launch after clearing data.