How to free up storage on a OnePlus (OxygenOS 16)

Device

Android

Shown on

OnePlus Nord 5 (CPH2709), OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201, Android 16

App

Settings

Path

Settings › About device › Storage

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Tap the Storage tile

   Open Settings, tap About device. Storage is the tile on the right: 28,5 GB / 256 GB on ours.

   Done

2. 

   See what uses space

   The bar at the top shows used space. Under User data: Apps 9,42 GB on ours, then Images, Videos, Audio, Documents, APKs, Archives, Recently deleted.

   Done

3. 

   Tap Clean up

   The blue button at the bottom.

   Done

4. 

   First time: a notifications prompt

   The first time, Phone Manager asked to send notifications. We tapped Don't allow; either is fine.

   Done

5. 

   Clean junk

   A page titled Clean up opens (it is part of Phone Manager). Ours found 403 MB of junk files. Tap Clean to remove them.

   Done

6. 

   Check the result

   Ours said Cleanup complete, 403 MB cleared. Storage then showed 28,2 GB used.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Another way in? OnePlus says Phone Manager on the Shelf (swipe down on the home screen) shows storage use, with a Clean button. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual
• Bigger savings? App cleanup and Recommended cleanup (Photos, Videos, Apps, files) are below. Check before deleting.

If this does not work

• Space still low? Look at the biggest group under User data. On ours it was Apps.
• One app is huge? Clear its cache.

About this guide

The Storage page shows what fills the phone, and Clean up opens Phone Manager to remove junk files.

The screenshots are from our OnePlus Nord 5 with OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201 and Android 16, in Dark mode. Ours used 28,5 GB of 256 GB. Phone Manager found 403 MB of junk (cache), and we cleaned it.

Good to know

On a Pixel: free up storage.

In short: Settings, About device, Storage, Clean up, Clean.