This simple trick can free up more storage space on your Google Pixel 10

The Google Pixel 10’s 128GB of storage might be enough for most users, and those who need more can opt for the 256GB version. However, users who capture a lot of photos and videos or have a habit of hoarding apps will inevitably run into storage issues in the long run. A tip to quickly free up some storage space on your Google Pixel phone without deleting large video files or hundreds of photos is to turn off AICore in the Settings app.

AICore exists to manage the Gemini Nano AI agent, which manages some AI functionality locally using the device’s processor. This allows for incredibly fast responses and the ability to run these features locally for privacy reasons, but it also takes up storage space, increases RAM consumption, and can negatively affect battery life. The actual amount of storage consumed differs by device, but users have reported regaining between 6 and 8 GB of storage by disabling AICore.

You cannot remove AICore, but you can disable it and uninstall updates to free up storage. Do this by going to Settings > Apps > Show all apps. In the apps list, locate and tap AICore. It should be at the top, but if it’s not, you can find it using the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the “All Apps” screen. Select Disable in the app settings, then tap the button three points in the upper right corner of your screen to select Uninstall updates before confirming your choice on the popup. This will disable AICore and delete all its updates and application data, instantly clearing all the storage the service was occupying.

Before you disable it, it’s important to know what exactly AICore does as a service. As we mentioned earlier, it is mainly responsible for lightweight AI tasks handled locally using your phone’s CPU. These include general Android features like advanced proofreading, smart replies, scam detection, text summaries, and more. It also supports several Pixel-exclusive features, such as Pixel screenshots, Magic Compose, audio summaries in the recording app, and image generation in Pixel Studio. AICore is also responsible for automatically checking and downloading updates for the aforementioned tools in the background.

Since the service only affects AI-centric features, turning off AICore won’t change anything for you if you don’t use Google’s in-device AI tools. However, disabling it makes the aforementioned features unusable: you cannot use Pixel screenshots, Magic Compose and other utilities. You can still use some apps that require on-device AI with AICore disabled, but you lose access to specific features that rely entirely on AICore. For example, the Recorder and Journal apps still work with AICore disabled, but you can no longer use the advanced summary and analysis tools.

For those wondering if you can still use features like Pixel screenshots with AICore disabled if you’re connected to the internet, the answer is no. The service is not only responsible for keeping these AI tools available offline; instead, it is necessary for them to work. As this only affects on-device AI models, you can still use Gemini, ChatGPT, or other AI agents on the web or through dedicated apps when connected to the internet, even if AICore is disabled.

If you’re experiencing low storage issues on your Google Pixel 10, disabling AICore is a good first step. However, if the 6-8GB freed up isn’t enough, there are several other things you can do to free up storage space on an Android phone, whether it’s a Pixel or not.

First, if you’re wondering why you’re running out of space on your Pixel 10, it might be because unused apps are filling up your storage. If you haven’t opened an app in months, it’s best to uninstall it for now. If you ever need it, you can just download it again – you don’t need to keep it around in case you suddenly find a use for it. It’s also a good idea to clear cached data, especially for apps that load a lot of media. For example, clearing Google Chrome’s cache is an easy way to get a few GB back without worrying about accidentally deleting important files. If you still need more storage space, it’s worth looking into cloud storage options and deleting the saved data from your device.