No space for software update on M4 Aqua - Help!

[Ruth7]

Please can someone help? I have had a notification that I need to update the phone's software, which I tried to do but have no space. Originally it was over 700 megs that I needed. I uninstalled Facebook, Soundhound, Weather, etc, etc - even all my photos, no games, no music, app cleaner and anti virus. I still need 380 megs - but HOW??? I cannot move built in apps to the SD card - whatever can be moved there was moved there and then uninstalled anyway because it still took up space on the internal memory.

Sob! It's so frustrating! What happens if I don't software update? My phone is literally empty. What is the frigging POINT of this phone if you can't even update the software?? And what is the point of having a smartphone with NO APPS on it?

If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers, Ruth

[Ruth7]

Sorry only answering now - had interviews this morning.

Under Settings - Storage : Available (1.19gb) / Android System (4.03gb) / Apps (2.22gb) / Pictures,Videos (220kb) / Downloads (64kb) / Cached Data (1.88mb) / Misc (1.59mb) 

The rest is SD Card - whichis now empty as well.

[Emir1]

You are right in that Xperia Companion unfortunately does not have support for Windows XP, the requirements for Windows based systems are:

• Microsoft® Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10

Do you happen to have a friend, relative, colleague, a public library or anything of the sorts which could provide you with a compatible computer to update from?

[Ruth7]

Hi Emir 

OK - I can't use the Xperia Companion - downloaded it twice & when I click on Run it comes up with an error saying it's not a valid Win32 application.

I think I am just going to forget about the software update and put everything back on my phone. Just too frustrating

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers, Ruth

[Ady77]

My M4 aqual dual can't get automatic update from Sony, please somebody if u have other method to get the update, because I saw the info update, the app can move to ext sd card to freeup internal storage. I know getting feedup because my storage only have left 200mb....please...please

[Uliwooly]

Settings > about phone > software update

also check with XC, as for the SD card, it won't change much or nothing at all, Marshmallow it's heavier than Lollipop and you can't use the SD card as internal storage, which means, only few apps are allowed to be moved to the SD card. 

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@Ady77 wrote:
My M4 aqual dual can't get automatic update from Sony, please somebody if u have other method to get the update, because I saw the info update, the app can move to ext sd card to freeup internal storage. I know getting feedup because my storage only have left 200mb....please...please

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[Emir1]

Hi @Ady77,

As @uliwooly mentioned, if there is an available software update for your device it'll be present under Settings > About phone > Software update. If you want to enable automatic updates, press menu (3 dots in the top right) in the same screen > Settings > Allow automatic updates.

As an alternative, you can try to update using Xperia Companion as well, this will allow you to update with less available internal storage.

Let me know if it helped!

[Ruth7]

Well I've gone from bad to worse. I uninstalled everything I could, then on Sunday reset my phone to factory settings.

Then I had LOADS of space! So - I downloaded the new software update and STILL had loads of space.

Sunday evening started reinstalling Whatsapp, etc, and since then I have an error ''Google Play Services has stopped''.

Can't get rid of it unless I switch the phone on. 

When you go into Google Play Services (settings, Apps) the Disable and Force Stop buttons are no longer highlighted - it's over 300 megs and I cannot correct it.

So upset - should have just left my phone (as I said I was originally going to do).

No Sony stores in Cape Town, and when I went to my service provider store this morning - they couldn't help. Clueless.

So as a warning - don't update software. Or get a phone with more memory.

[Emir1]

I'm very sorry to hear that.

Could you try to see if clearing data for Google Play Services helps? You can do so by going to Settings > Apps > Google Play Services > Storage > Clear data. 

Does it persist after you tried that? If Google Play Services still get stopped, could you try a software repair using Xperia Companion?

Let me know how it went!

[Ruth7]

Hi Emir
I tried clearing the data but Google Play Services still the same. Can't download Xperia Companion as my pc is a dinosaur - XP
I am going to try restoring factory settings again but when it asks in the setup to allow automatic Google setup, I will day no and try it manually. I read somewhere that may help?

[Emir1 · Accepted solution]

That complicates things I'm afraid. The next step that I would recommend for you to try would actually be a software repair using Xperia Companion, but it may be difficult for you if you use XP since it isn't supported. You don't happen to have a relative, family member, public library or anything of the sorts where you could borrow a computer in order to complete the repair process?

You're right in that the next best thing compared to a software repair would be to factory restore the device. Not using the Google restoring feature is that you get a fresh start, so if what you were experiencing is linked to a previous back up on your Google account then it likely won't be present. 

I recommend that you try either of the above, preferably both - they're both great troubleshooting steps for what you're experiencing. Keep me updated on how it went!