Phone storage overview
| Field | What it means on your screen |
|---|---|
| Total space: 256 GB | Factory internal storage of this phone. You cannot add a microSD card on most current Vivo/iQOO models; extra space comes from OTG or cloud. |
| Used: 247.99 GB | Everything the system currently counts as occupied. |
| Available: 8.01 GB | Free space left. Android and Origin OS start behaving poorly under ~10% free (updates stall, camera fails, apps crash). You are in that zone. |
| Colored bar | Same categories as the list, drawn left-to-right. Purple dominates because Videos dominate. |
Tapping the overview usually opens a slightly more detailed analyzer. The categories below are the useful part.
Storage categories (what each line contains)
Tapping a row opens that category so you can sort by size and delete files. Colors match the bar.
Images — 5.11 GB
Photos, screenshots, WhatsApp/Telegram image caches that the system classifies as pictures, and images saved from browsers or social apps.
Typical folders: DCIM, Pictures, Screenshots.
Safe to review. Duplicate screenshots and old chat images are the usual waste. Do not delete camera originals unless they are backed up.
Videos — 146.62 GB
This is almost 60% of the entire phone. It includes:
- Camera recordings
- Screen recordings
- WhatsApp / Telegram / Instagram / YouTube downloaded videos
- Movies and long clips in Movies, Download, and app-specific folders
This is the first place to clean if you need space. One 4K minute can be hundreds of MB; long 4K clips or downloaded series add tens of GB quickly.
Audio — 79.20 MB
Music, voice notes, WhatsApp voice messages, ringtones, podcasts. Tiny compared with video. Rarely worth a cleanup pass unless you keep large offline music libraries.
Documents — 145.29 MB
PDFs, Office files, downloads from email, scanned docs. Small on this phone. Useful if you accumulate tax PDFs or lecture notes.
APKs — 26.56 MB
Android installer packages you downloaded and never deleted. After an app is installed, the .apk is leftover junk. Safe to delete unless you keep installers on purpose for offline reinstall.
Archives — 0.00 B
Zip, RAR, 7z, and similar compressed files. Empty here. These appear after you download a zip and forget to delete it.
Apps — 59.91 GB
Installed apps plus their private data:
- The app itself (the binary)
- App cache
- Chat databases, offline maps, game assets, downloaded media inside the app
This is the second-biggest bucket after videos. Uninstalling an unused app frees both the APK and its data. Clearing cache frees less, but is safer if you still need the app.
Games, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and map apps are the usual heavy hitters.
System — 19.97 GB
Operating system, firmware, preinstalled Vivo/iQOO apps that cannot be fully removed, and reserved partitions.
You generally cannot reclaim this without a factory reset, and even then it only shrinks a little. Treat ~20 GB as the OS tax on a 256 GB Origin OS 6 phone.
Others — 16.13 GB
Catch-all for files that do not fit the types above:
- App-specific folders that are not neatly tagged as photo/video
- Temporary files
- Hidden or poorly labeled caches
- Some downloaded content
- Data used by Memory Fusion (virtual RAM) in some builds
- Logs and leftover folders
“Others” is often the frustrating category because the system will not always show a clean file list. Space cleanup and a file manager (sort by size) are the practical ways in.
Space cleanup button
This is Origin OS’s built-in cleaner (also available inside iManager).
It typically scans for:
- Cache / junk
- Ad leftovers
- Uninstall residue
- Large files
- Duplicate photos and videos
- Rarely used apps
- Leftover APKs
Safe first: cache, residue, leftover APKs.
Review before deleting: large files and duplicates — those can be real videos you still want.
On your phone this button is the fastest official way to claw back space without hunting folders by hand.
RAM — 12 GB + 12 GB
This is not 24 GB of physical RAM.
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| First 12 GB | Real LPDDR RAM soldered on the board. Fast. This is what apps actually run in. |
| + 12 GB | Memory Fusion (Vivo’s virtual / expanded RAM). The system can treat a slice of internal storage as overflow memory when physical RAM is full. |
Origin OS 6 advertises this as Memory Fusion 3.0 / similar: idle flash storage is used as a swap-like pool so more apps can stay in the background instead of being killed. Vivo’s marketing for older 12 GB phones upgraded to Origin OS 6 often shows exactly this 12 GB + 12 GB label.
Tapping this row usually opens Memory Fusion settings, where you can:
- See current physical vs expanded RAM
- Change how much storage is reserved for expansion (often up to matching physical RAM)
- Turn the feature down or off
Practical notes:
- Virtual RAM is slower than real RAM. It helps keep background apps alive; it does not make games or cameras faster.
- On a phone that already has 12 GB physical RAM, maxing the extra 12 GB is optional. It helps heavy multitasking; it can waste a little storage and add slight hitching if the system swaps too often.
- Origin OS 6 claims the newer fusion uses much less reserved storage than older versions and can shrink automatically when free space is low. That matters on your phone, because you only have 8 GB free. If fusion is reserving several GB, that is part of why “Available” looks so tight.
OTG storage — Uninstalled
OTG = USB On-The-Go. Plug a USB flash drive (or USB-C SSD) into the phone with an OTG adapter, and it appears here as extra storage.
Uninstalled on this screen means: no OTG drive is connected right now. It is not a broken setting. When you plug a drive in, this row should change to the drive’s name, size, and a safe-eject option.
Use cases:
- Offload the 146 GB of videos
- Copy files to a computer without cloud
- Temporary extra space when internal storage is full
Format the drive as exFAT if you move files larger than 4 GB. Eject from this screen (or the notification) before unplugging.
How the numbers on this phone add up
Rough check of the listed categories:
- Videos 146.62 GB
- Apps 59.91 GB
- System 19.97 GB
- Others 16.13 GB
- Images 5.11 GB
- Documents ~0.14 GB
- Audio ~0.08 GB
- APKs ~0.03 GB
That is about 248 GB used, which matches 247.99 GB used / 8.01 GB free.
The story of this phone is simple:
- Video files are the problem.
- Apps are a distant second.
- System + Others are mostly immovable.
- RAM expansion may be competing with those last 8 GB.
1) RAM & storage → Others
Origin OS already counted photos, videos, audio, documents, APKs, archives, apps, and system separately. Everything that did not fit those labels lands here.
| Row | Size on phone | Can you usually delete it? |
|---|---|---|
| Other files | 3.57 GB | Partly yes |
| Other users | 2.65 GB | Only if you remove extra user profiles |
| Other system resources | 9.92 GB | Almost no — system-managed |
A. Other files — 3.57 GB
On-screen text: public resource files generated while apps are running, plus recently deleted files.
This is the only row that is meant to be browsable. The blue View public resource files link opens those files in File Manager.
What is inside
- Public resource files
Data apps write into shared/public storage so other apps or the system can see it, but it is not classified as Image / Video / Audio / Document. Examples:- App working folders under shared storage
- Thumbnails, indexes, offline packs that are not tagged as media
- Game or map assets dropped outside the “Apps” bucket
- WhatsApp / Telegram leftovers that are not counted as photos or videos
- Incomplete downloads
- Recently deleted files
Origin OS keeps deleted items for a recovery window (commonly up to about 30 days in Albums / File Manager recycle bin). They still occupy space until you empty trash or the timer expires.
What to do
- Tap View public resource files and sort by size. Delete only files you recognize.
- Open Albums → Recently deleted and empty it.
- Open File Manager → Recycle bin / Recently deleted and empty that too.
- Run Space cleanup in iManager for leftover public junk.
Do not mass-delete unknown folders named like Android, .thumbnails, or app package names unless you know what they are.
B. Other users — 2.65 GB
On-screen text: standalone system and app data created for all other users.
Android (and Origin OS) can keep more than one user profile on one phone:
- Extra User accounts (family / work profile)
- Guest
- App clone / dual apps (second WhatsApp, etc.)
- Private Space on Origin OS 6 (encrypted second environment)
- Work profile / second space on some builds
Each extra identity gets its own copy of system settings and app data. That data is isolated from the owner account, so it is shown here instead of under Apps.
2.65 GB is a real extra profile (or clone + Private Space), not a rounding error.
What to do
- Settings → System → Multiple users (wording varies): remove Guest or unused users.
- Settings → Apps → App clone: turn off clones you do not use.
- If you use Private Space, its files live in that vault. Removing the space frees this; deleting files only from the main profile will not.
If you never created another user and still see this, check Guest (often created accidentally) and App clone.
C. Other system resources — 9.92 GB
On-screen text: cache, logs, and resources necessary for system operation. Values change dynamically with the system.
This is the protected leftover after System (19.97 GB) on the parent screen. Typical contents:
- System caches (thumbnails, compiled code, resource caches)
- Logs (log, bbklog, crash dumps)
- Temporary files Android creates while running
- Indexes and search data
- Some Memory Fusion / virtual-RAM working files
- OEM resources Origin OS needs to stay running
The number moves by itself. After updates, heavy camera use, or many apps, it grows; when free space is low, the OS is supposed to trim caches. There is usually no delete button on this row. That is intentional.
What to do (safe)
- Use Space cleanup / iManager — it clears eligible cache, not the protected core.
- Reboot after cleanup; some temp files drop on restart.
- Clear cache per app: Settings → Apps → [app] → Storage → Clear cache (not Clear data).
- Avoid third-party “deep cleaners” that claim to wipe system data.
What not to do
- Do not factory-reset only to shrink this 10 GB. After reset it often climbs back to several GB with normal use.
- Do not delete log / system folders from a root file manager. That can break logging, updates, or boot.
On some Origin OS 6 / iQOO units this bucket grows more than it should and does not shrink on its own; that is a known complaint, not something you fix from this screen.
Realistic reclaim from this page only:
| Source | Realistic recovery |
|---|---|
| Other files + recycle bins | up to ~3.5 GB if much of it is trash |
| Other users | up to 2.65 GB if you delete unused profiles |
| Other system resources | maybe a few hundred MB via cache cleanup; do not expect 9 GB back |
2) RAM & storage → RAM
What this page is measuring
| Piece | Meaning |
|---|---|
| RAM | Fast memory apps use while open. When it fills, Android kills background apps. |
| Extended RAM | Vivo’s Memory Fusion: a slice of internal storage used as overflow RAM (swap / virtual RAM). Slower than real RAM. |
| 12 GB + 12 GB | 12 GB physical + up to 12 GB virtual. Not 24 GB of real chips. |
Origin OS 6 calls this dynamic extension: it can use up to 12 GB of storage, but it does not always reserve the full 12 GB.
Top card: RAM usage
Total space: 12 GB + 12 GB
- First 12 GB: soldered LPDDR RAM (real, fast).
- + 12 GB: maximum Extended RAM the system is allowed to borrow from storage.
The (i) icon usually opens a short explainer: physical vs extended, and that extended RAM uses storage.
Used: 7.02 GB
Memory currently occupied by:
- Android / Origin OS
- Apps in the foreground and kept alive in the background
- Cached processes the system hopes you will reopen
7 GB used on a 12 GB phone is normal, not a problem. The OS keeps useful apps warm on purpose.
Available: 16.98 GB
7.02 + 16.98 = 24.00 GB, so the UI is counting physical + extended as one pool.
That “available” figure is optimistic:
- About 5 GB of the unused physical 12 GB is truly fast RAM.
- The rest of “available” is Extended RAM, which only helps when the system starts swapping to storage.
So the bar looks half-empty, but only the dark portion of the physical 12 GB is the high-speed pool.
The bar
Dark teal = used. Gray = unused in the combined 24 GB pool. It does not separate physical vs virtual.
Extended RAM toggle
Label: Dynamically extend RAM up to 12 GB, using some storage.
State on phone: On
What it does when On
- Origin OS may treat idle flash storage as extra memory.
- When physical RAM is tight, less-urgent app data is moved to that storage-backed pool instead of killing the app.
- Goal: more apps stay in Recents and reopen where you left them (Vivo markets this heavily on Origin OS 6).
- “Dynamically” means the reserved size can shrink if storage is low, instead of locking a fixed 12 GB file forever (older Memory Fusion versions were worse about this).
What it does not do
- It does not add 12 GB of real RAM.
- It does not make games, cameras, or benchmarks faster.
- It does not fix lag caused by a full disk (currently only ~8 GB free).
- Storage is much slower than LPDDR, so if the phone is constantly swapping, you can get hitching, extra heat, and a bit more wear on flash.
What happens if you turn it Off
- Total displayed RAM becomes 12 GB only.
- Used/available numbers drop to the physical pool.
- The system will kill background apps sooner when 12 GB fills.
- You get back whatever storage was reserved for the swap file (often well under 12 GB on Origin OS 6’s dynamic version — sometimes under 1 GB in Vivo’s claims, but it varies by build and free space).
Should you keep it on this phone?
Context from earlier screens:
- Physical RAM: 12 GB (already generous).
- Storage: 256 GB, only ~8 GB free.
- Biggest hog: videos (~147 GB), not RAM.
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| You juggle many apps (WhatsApp, maps, browser, games) and hate reloads | Leave On |
| Phone feels fine and storage warnings bother you | Try Off for a day |
| Free space stays under ~10 GB | Prefer Off or a smaller expansion if the OS offers one — virtual RAM competes with files |
| You only use a few apps | Off is fine; 12 GB physical is enough |
On 12 GB devices, Extended RAM is optional. It helps most on 6–8 GB phones. On 12 GB it is a background-app cushion, not a necessity.
How this connects to “Others” / storage
Extended RAM “uses some storage.” That usage can show up in:
- Other system resources (the 9.92 GB bucket), and/or
- Hidden reserved space that reduces Available on the storage page.
If you turn Extended RAM off, check RAM & storage again after a reboot. Available storage may rise a little. Do not expect a full 12 GB back; Origin OS 6 is supposed to be dynamic and lighter than older Memory Fusion.
3) Vivo Memory Fusion
Vivo Memory Fusion is Vivo’s name for turning extra memory pressure into fewer killed background apps. On the Origin OS 6 screen it appears as Extended RAM: 12 GB + 12 GB.
It is not extra physical RAM. It is a managed mix of compressed RAM (zRAM) and, when needed, storage-backed swap, plus Vivo’s own scheduling on top.
The problem it tries to solve
Apps live in RAM while they run. RAM is fast. When it fills up, Android’s low-memory killer closes background apps. You open Recents, tap WhatsApp, and it reloads from scratch.
Storage (UFS flash) is large and cheap but much slower than LPDDR RAM. Memory Fusion uses that storage as an overflow area so the system can keep more app state instead of killing it.
What “fusion” actually fuses
Think of three layers:
| Layer | What it is | Speed | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical RAM | Real LPDDR chips (first 12 GB) | Fastest | Hardware |
| zRAM | A compressed block inside RAM | Fast (CPU compresses/decompresses) | Still RAM |
| Swap on storage | A file or partition on UFS flash | Slowest | Internal storage |
Memory Fusion is Vivo’s policy for when data moves between those layers. Marketing says “ROM becomes RAM.” Technically it is virtual memory: inactive pages leave real RAM; active pages stay there.
Important nuance: a lot of “extended RAM” on modern Android is zRAM first. Data is squeezed in RAM (often ~2:1). Storage is used only when that compressed pool is not enough. That is why the toggle says “using some storage” even though the full 12 GB is not carved out of 256 GB all the time.
How it behaves in practice
- You open apps. They sit in physical RAM.
- RAM gets crowded. The kernel compresses cold pages into zRAM instead of killing the app.
- If pressure stays high, some of those pages are written to a swap file on storage.
- You switch back to an app. If its pages are still in zRAM or swap, the app resumes. If they were discarded, it cold-starts.
Vivo’s claim is not “24 GB as fast as 24 GB of chips.” It is “more apps survive in Recents.” Origin OS 6 marketing cites keeping on the order of 47 apps alive and faster loading of huge galleries, bundled with the Origin Smooth Engine (VIP I/O paths, DMA memory control, faster garbage collection). Those extras are why Vivo treats Memory Fusion as more than a plain swap toggle.
On the screenshot:
- Used 7.02 GB is real current occupancy.
- Available 16.98 GB counts the virtual pool too.
- Extended RAM On allows up to +12 GB of that overflow.
How the feature evolved
| Generation | Typical pitch |
|---|---|
| Origin OS 1 / Multi-Turbo 5.0 (2020) | 8 GB ≈ 11 GB, 12 GB ≈ 15 GB by using a few GB of ROM |
| Memory Fusion 2.0 | Larger virtual pool, “virtual cache” to swap less often |
| Origin OS 6 (Fusion 3.x / 4.0 era) | Dynamic size, less reserved storage, VIP storage path, advertised 12+12 on 12 GB phones |
Early versions reserved a more obvious chunk of storage. Origin OS 6 is sold as dynamic: idle space is used; if you are almost out of storage (phone has ~8 GB free), the extra allocation is supposed to shrink so photos and videos are not blocked.
What it helps, and what it does not
Helps
- Switching among many apps without reloads
- Phones with 6–8 GB physical RAM
- Users who live in chat + browser + maps + video at once
Does not help
- Game frame rates (those need real RAM + GPU)
- Camera processing speed
- A disk that is already full
- Smoothness if the phone is constantly swapping to slow flash (can feel like hitching)
Costs
- Some storage (often much less than the advertised +12 GB)
- Some CPU time to compress/decompress zRAM
- Possible extra flash writes if swap is used heavily
- On a 12 GB phone, benefit is smaller because physical RAM is already large
Community testers on Vivo/iQOO often describe the toggle as “add storage swap on top of a zRAM pool that exists even when Fusion is off.” Turning it off may not remove all virtual memory; it mainly stops or shrinks the storage-backed part. Implementation varies by model and build.
Simple analogy
- Physical RAM = desk
- zRAM = stacking papers neatly on the same desk
- Swap on storage = putting old papers in a filing cabinet down the hall
- Memory Fusion = Vivo’s rules for what stays on the desk vs what goes in the cabinet
You still work at the desk. The cabinet only stops you from throwing papers away. Walking to the cabinet is slower than grabbing something already on the desk.
Practical rule
- 6–8 GB RAM: leave Fusion on unless storage is critically low.
- 12 GB+ RAM: keep it on if you hate app reloads; turn it off if you need every GB of disk and multitasking already feels fine.
- Never treat 12 + 12 as twice the hardware. Treat it as 12 GB fast + a slower overflow