My Pixel's storage was full, but these 6 lightweight apps brought it back to life

John is a writer at Pocket-lint. He is passionate about all things technology, and is always keeping up with the latest smartphone and PC releases. John has previously written at MobileSyrup. When he’s not reading and writing about tech, he enjoys listening to history podcasts and watching documentaries.

Modern Android applications are pretty bulky from a storage standpoint. Depending on what you choose to download, you could run out of internal capacity on your handset fairly quickly. In my case, on my Pixel 10, many, many gigabytes are taken up by apps, even though I don't have that many downloaded to begin with.

Thankfully, there exists an entire third-party application sub-category focused on offering the smallest digital footprints possible. Here are some of my personal favorite compact-sized apps for Android -- these apps have collectively saved me gigabytes of storage space by replacing their heavier equivalents.

Little File Explorer

Only 40 KB in size

Little File Explorer is a free and open-source file manager application for Android that certainly lives up to its name. The app is downright tiny, taking up a mere 40 KB of storage space. Uniquely, Little File Explorer features backwards compatibility with all versions of Android dating back to version 1.0, which is an impressive feat in this day and age. The app itself isn't filled with any visual flourishes to speak of, but for basic file browsing, it's fast, lightweight, and competent.

Open Camera

Only 5 MB in size

Open Camera has been on the scene for a long time, and it's an excellent alternative to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) camera applications. Open Camera is only 5 MB in size, making it remarkably small by today's standards, and yet it's full-featured with focus peaking, scene modes, color effects, RAW photo saving capabilities, auto-level exposure compensation, and more. The app is free and open-source, and although its user interface is a bit on the dated side, it remains a stellar option for anyone looking for a streamlined, no-nonsense photography experience.

Focus Go

Only 6 MB in size

At only 6 MB in size, Focus Go is a compact photo gallery application that doesn't sacrifice the essentials. The app, which is free with an option to donate to the developer, features a gorgeous user interface with full Material You color theming. There are plenty of organizational options to choose from here, and there's even a built-in biometric security setting that locks down the app until you authenticate. Best of all, Focus Go is snappy in terms of performance, populating my large image collection without skipping a single beat in the process.

Simple Keyboard

Only 616 KB in size

If you're looking for a no-nonsense virtual keyboard that axes the superfluity of GIFs, stickers, and all the rest, then look no further than Simple Keyboard. This lightweight app measures in at an impressive 616 KB in size, which is about as small as you can get for an on-screen keyboard. The app is free and open source, which is a major plus, and its design is both clean and minimalistic. There's a dedicated number row option, which I appreciate, as well as a swipe space to move pointer option, an adjustable height selector, and more.

KISS Launcher

Only 250 KB in size

There are plenty of excellent third-party home screen launchers out there for Android, but KISS Launcher has made a name for itself by virtue of its lean, streamlined design. The app is just 250 KB in size, which is tiny by launcher standards, and yet it manages to function adequately in day-to-day testing. KISS Launcher lacks most of the bells and whistles (as well as the customization options) found on some other launchers, but it does cover the essentials, with a scrollable app list, a robust search function, and a quick-access dock. KISS Launcher is entirely free and open-source, with no ads, trackers, or in-app purchases.

Music Player Lite

Only 3 MB in size

Despite streaming's market ubiquity, the local music player niche continues to flourish on the Google Play Store. Music Player Lite is far from the flashiest or most modern option out there, but it's free and open-source, it's blazing fast, and it only takes up 3 MB of your phone's internal storage capacity to boot. With no user interface cruft to get in the way, Music Player Lite is laser-focused on letting you play back your local music files, though it does feature some niceties like a sleep timer, a search function, and a queue system for good measure.