Your Kindle fire device only has a limited amount of storage available. Users have voiced their complaints about a folder found on all Kindle Fire devices called “Miscellaneous Storage” that is taking up a substantial amount of room on their devices.
Having room on your device to download the apps and e-books that you want is important. This guide will walk you through all of the steps that you can take to free up space on your Kindle Fire device as well as cut down on the size of the miscellaneous storage folder on the Kindle Fire.
What is Miscellaneous Storage on Kindle
Although the name implies that the files stored here are inconsequential, there are some vital program files housed there.
The miscellaneous storage folder is responsible for housing files related to the operating system of your device as well as any files associated with applications you have downloaded that have been labeled miscellaneous.
Amazon tablets and devices like the Kindle Fire are notorious for having excessive applications preinstalled that often use up a lot of space on your device. These applications have most of their files housed in the miscellaneous folder.
Whenever you download an application from the Amazon app store, some data and files are stored in the miscellaneous folder. This is why over time, as you download more applications, not only will your installed applications folder grow in size but so will the miscellaneous folder.
The operating system is the biggest part of the miscellaneous storage folder. This is where vital components of your device’s software are housed. It is not advised to alter or delete these files as doing so could render your device inoperable.
Can I Delete Miscellaneous Files On Kindle Fire?
Unfortunately, the Kindle Fire device does not have an easy way to remove files from the miscellaneous storage folder. These files have been restricted to the user to keep any important system files from being altered or damaged. Tampering with the system files could cause your device to become inoperable.
That being said, there are several workarounds that you can use to clean out the miscellaneous storage files on your Kindle Fire device. Most of the methods involve utilizing third-party software that can bypass the restrictions set on the files and delete them permanently.
You should consider the fact that deleting files from the miscellaneous storage folder could cause permanent damage to your device. You should always check what the files are before making any commitment to deleting them.
How To Delete Miscellaneous Storage on Kindle Fire (And Other Ways To Free Up Storage)
There are several ways that you can increase the storage on your Kindle Fire device if you find that you are running low. There are also a few methods that can clear some space from your miscellaneous storage folder. Use the list below to help you find a troubleshooting method that works best.
1. Use A Micro SD Card As Internal Storage
One of the easiest ways to increase the storage on your Kindle Fire device is to use a micro-SD card as your form of internal storage.
Micro SD cards can often come with more storage space than your device originally had by several times. This means having access to hundreds of gigabytes of storage on your Kindle Fire device.
A micro-SD card is a great option for those who download a lot of applications and e-books on their Kindle device. This is also a good choice for users who do not wish to both with the complicated methods involved in clearing out space from the miscellaneous storage folder.
Micro-SD cards come in a variety of sizes from a few gigs to up to 256. You can swap out micro-SD cards when they get full which will save you the trouble of ever having to delete any installed apps or e-books when you need more space.
2. Jailbreak and Get Rid Of Pre-Installed Apps
Unfortunately, there is no way to manually remove most of the preinstalled applications on your Kindle Fire device without the use of complicated methods like jailbreaking.
If you are interested in jailbreaking your device, you could potentially remove any unwanted applications and free up storage in your miscellaneous storage folder.
Keep in mind that by jailbreaking your device you are voiding all warranties that you may have had on the device. Jailbreaking is a risky procedure that could easily render your device inoperable, causing you to either repair or replace it. You should consider carefully if jailbreaking your device is the best choice for the storage situation.
If you can successfully jailbreak your device, you will then be able to remove pre-installed applications and files from your miscellaneous storage folder. Jailbreaking gives the user much more control over their device and allows for the installation of other third-party apps that would not typically be allowed.
3. Get A Kindle With More Internal Storage
If storage space is constantly an issue for you when using your Kindle Fire, then you should consider upgrading to a device with more storage. The largest internal storage currently offered on a Kindle Fire device is 64 gigabytes. This is an adequate amount for even the most avid app downloader.
If you pair a high-gig Kindle Fire device with a micro-SD card you are likely to never encounter problems with storage again. You could potentially add hundreds of gigs to your device if you upgrade to a higher internal storage model Kindle and pair it with a micro-SD card.
4. Delete Your Browser Cache
The browser cache on your Kindle Fire device can grow quite large if left to gather data for a long period. Clearing your browser cache could potentially free up several gigabytes of data on your device.
Your cache is not associated with any user files that you have downloaded and clearing the cache will not remove anything you have currently downloaded.
Your cache is simply a collection of files that are used to help the browser start up faster when resumed from the background. These files can accumulate over time and take up valuable storage space that could be used for other applications.
To clear your cache on your Kindle Fire device, simply navigate to the menu in your Kindle Fire web browser. In the menu, choose Settings. There you will see the option to clear your browser cache, potentially clearing up gigabytes of space.
The amount of space freed will be dependent on how long it has been since you last cleared the cache. If you have recently cleared your cache, this amount could be very little.
5. Delete App Cache
Just like your web browser, your Kindle Fire device has an app cache that stores relevant user data to help them resume faster from the background.
This app data cache can grow quite large when left unchecked over time. By deleting the app data on your device, you could potentially free up several gigabytes of storage space.
To delete the app cache on your Kindle Fire device:
1. You must first open the settings menu on your device from the home screen.
2. In the settings menu, you will see the “Apps & Notifications” tab.
3. Once you click into the “Apps and Notifications” tab, you will see the option to “Manage All Applications” or “See all apps”.
4. In this menu, you can choose which application you would like to clear the cache from.
Once you have selected the app that you want to clear the cache from in the “Manage All Applications” menu, you can select the storage option where you will find the option to “Clear Data”, “Clear Storage”, and “Clear Cache”.
You will have to clear the cache from all of your apps manually and individually. This process can be tedious but it could potentially free up several gigabytes of space. The longer it has been since you have cleared your app cache, the more space you could potentially free up.
6. Wipe Cache Partition
If you would like to try a method that will delete all temporary cache files at once, you could consider doing a full wipe of your device’s cache partition.
This can help free up several gigabytes of space on your Kindle Fire but can be rather complicated for users who are not so tech-savvy.
To wipe the cache partition on your Kindle Fire device, you must first turn the device off. Once you have ensured that the device is powered off successfully, press and hold the power button and top volume button at the same time.
You will see the Amazon logo appear after the proper amount of time has passed, then you can release the buttons. You should now see the recovery menu on your screen. You can use the volume buttons on your device to navigate the recovery menu.
In this menu, you should see the option to Wipe Cache Partition. Select this option and press the power button to confirm your selection. Once you have confirmed your selection, you will be prompted to confirm a reboot of your device. After your device has been restarted, you will have successfully wiped your cache partition.
7. Remove Downloaded Content
If you are desperate for space on your device, you could consider deleting some of the applications or e-books that you currently have downloaded on your device.
This is generally not an ideal troubleshooting method but can help clear up some space for something that you wish to download and use currently.
When you removed downloaded content from your Kindle Fire device, you will not lose access to it forever, as it is tied to your Amazon account. Anytime you wish to redownload an application that you have deleted, you simply find it in your app library and add it back to your device.
8. Transfer Content To a USB
You could consider transferring some of your downloaded content to a USB drive if you are low on space and wish to save some time having to redownload to your Kindle Fire device. USB drives work very similarly to micro-SD cards.
With a USB drive, you could have access to hundreds of additional gigabytes of space for use with your Kindle Fire device.
You will have to hook your Kindle Fire up to a computer to successfully transfer the files from your device to a USB drive. It could take some time to transfer larger files.
9. Use ES File Manager
ES File Manager is a third-party application that gives users an extremely detailed level of control over the files on their devices.
Using ES File Manager will let you bypass any restrictions that are currently placed on the files on your device. This includes preinstalled applications and files in the miscellaneous storage folder.
Using a program like ES File Manager is the only way to permanently delete any preinstalled applications or miscellaneous storage files from your device.
Keep in mind that ES File Manager works best when installed directly onto your Kindle Fire device, which will involve jailbreaking your device to allow the installation of a third-party application.
You should consult the information above concerning jailbreaking your device if this option sounds like it is appropriate for your situation. Since your Kindle Fire is an android device, it can be jailbroken and manipulated to the user’s liking.
10. Use CCleaner
CCleaner is another third-party application that gives users an extremely detailed level of control over the files on their devices.
Using CCleaner will let you bypass any restrictions that are currently placed on the files on your device. This includes preinstalled applications and files in the miscellaneous storage folder.
Using a program like CCleaner is the only way to permanently delete any preinstalled applications or miscellaneous storage files from your device.
Keep in mind that CCleaner works best when installed directly onto your Kindle Fire device, which will involve jailbreaking your device to allow the installation of a third-party application.
You should consult the information above concerning jailbreaking your device if this option sounds like it is appropriate for your situation. Since your Kindle Fire is an android device, it can be jailbroken and manipulated to the user’s liking.
11. Move Your Data To The Cloud
The cloud is another great storage option if you find that your Kindle Fire is becoming limited on space. The cloud can offer you an unlimited amount of storage for your applications and e-books without the need for your device’s internal storage.
You can purchase a cloud plan based on your storage needs and access any files or applications from there instead of your device’s internal storage. The cloud is one of the most popular storage options available, even more so than the standard micro-SD cards or USB drives.
The cloud is one of the most versatile ways to store your files, so it is highly recommended that you set up a cloud account somewhere and start storing your files and applications there.
12. Restart Your Kindle Device
You should consider restarting your device if you are having problems with your Kindle Fire. Powering the device on and off again will give the device a chance to reconcile any potential run-time errors that could be causing charging issues.
A quick restart is often the best first approach to solving any type of problem that you are experiencing with your Kindle device. A restart can also encourage any recent storage changes to go into effect.
13. Reset Your Kindle Fire
If you are having issues with the storage on your device, you could consider factory resetting your Kindle device. This will remove any potentially corrupted or damaged files that could be causing software issues.
To factory reset your device, you must first:
1. Navigate to the Kindle home screen on your device.
2. From there, navigate to the “Menu” page. On the “Menu” page you will find the “Settings” menu.
3. There you will find the “Device Options” page, where the option to factory reset your device will be available.
4. Simply select “Reset” from the “Device Options” menu.
After your device has been factory reset any erroneous files that could have been causing your issue will have been removed and replaced with fresh copies. You will have to register your Amazon account to your device again after a factory reset.
You will not lose any of your saved books or user settings, as they are tied to your Amazon account, but you will have to redownload them.
Final Thoughts
This guide has provided you with detailed information regarding storage issues currently encountered when using the Kindle Fire device.
The Kindle Fire device storage can feel quite limited compared to other devices, especially with the miscellaneous storage folder taking up quite a lot of valuable room on most devices.
This guide has provided you with ways to increase the storage of your Kindle Fire devices as well as bypass the restrictions currently set on the device that keep preinstalled applications and miscellaneous storage files from being deleted.
Use the knowledge provided for you here to ensure that you never run out of storage on your Kindle Fire.