Free up space · Sony
How to free up space on the Sony Xperia 1 VI
Short answer
To free up space on the Xperia 1 VI, open Settings > Storage to see what is using it, clear duplicates with Google Photos: Free up space on this device, then empty Google Photos's Trash. A default 12 MP photo is about 3.6 MB, so 5,000 photos take roughly 18 GB of the 256 GB base model.
Last updated
Where is the storage screen on the Xperia 1 VI?
The Xperia 1 VI launched in June 2024 with Android 14 and Android 14. On that software the storage screen is Settings > Storage. Sony promises 3 Android upgrades, 4 years of security updates, so menu names can change after updates.
How much space do Xperia 1 VI photos take?
Xperia 1 VI: 48 MP main sensor, 12 MP by default, plus 12 MP 3.5x–7.1x continuous-zoom telephoto, 12 MP ultrawide. 1,000 default Xperia 1 VI shots take about 3.6 GB.
| File | Typical size | Fits in 10 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Default photo (12 MP) | about 3.6 MB | about 2,778 |
| Full-resolution mode (48 MP) | about 11.5 MB | about 870 |
| RAW / DNG (12 MP) | about 23 MB | about 435 |
| One minute of video at 4K 120fps | about 350 MB | about 29 minutes |
Switching the Xperia 1 VI to its 48 MP mode makes each shot about 11.5 MB, roughly 3 times a default photo, so 200 of them use 2.3 GB. RAW files from the Xperia 1 VI run to about 23 MB each, which is why RAW folders fill a phone faster than anything except video. Recording at 4K 120fps, the Xperia 1 VI writes about 350 MB a minute, so a ten-minute clip takes 3.5 GB, the same as 972 default photos. Selfies from the 12 MP front camera are about 3.6 MB each.
What is specific to the Xperia 1 VI?
The first Xperia with a 48 MP high-resolution photo mode, whose files are about 4x the size of the 12 MP default. microSD up to 1.5 TB.
Where do deleted photos go on the Xperia 1 VI?
On the Xperia 1 VI, Google Photos's Trash holds them for 30 days (Google Photos > Collections > Trash). It launched on Android 14, so it also has Android's system trash.
How much of each Xperia 1 VI storage option does a big gallery use?
| Storage option | 5,000 default photos | 30 minutes of top-quality video |
|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | 18 GB (7%) | 11 GB (4%) |
On the 256 GB Xperia 1 VI, every 10 GB you free holds about 2,778 more default photos, and a gallery of 20,000 photos would fill 28% of it.
Which built-in cleaners did the Xperia 1 VI ship with?
Out of the box on Android 14, the Xperia 1 VI has Google Photos: Free up space on this device (Google Photos > profile picture > Free up space on this device) and Files by Google cleaning suggestions (Files by Google > Clean). How each works is in the Sony guide.
Can you move Xperia 1 VI photos to a memory card?
Yes, the Xperia 1 VI takes microSD. A 128 GB card would hold about 35,556 of its default photos.
How does the Xperia 1 VI compare with other Xperia 1 phones?
Against the Xperia 1 V (June 2023), the Xperia 1 VI has the same 256 GB starting storage. Against the Xperia 1 VII (June 2025), the Xperia 1 VI has the same 256 GB starting storage.
| Model | Launched | Storage options | Default photo | microSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xperia 1 VI | June 2024 | 256 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
| Xperia 1 V | June 2023 | 256 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
| Xperia 1 VII | June 2025 | 256 GB, 512 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
What will GalleryJury do on the Xperia 1 VI?
GalleryJury, coming soon for Android 11 and later, will pick the best shot of each burst. At about 3.6 MB a Xperia 1 VI photo, its $5 pack of 5,000 photos covers roughly 18 GB, after 50 free.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos fit on a 256 GB Xperia 1 VI?
In theory about 71,111 default photos if nothing else were stored; in practice apps and Android take a large share.
How much storage does the Xperia 1 VI have?
It was sold with 256 GB, plus a microSD slot.
Sources
- Sony Japan: Xperia 1 VI specifications (checked 31 October 2026)
- Sony Japan: Xperia spec comparison data (checked 31 October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Sony Xperia 1 VI (checked 31 October 2026)
- Android Help: Free up storage on your Android device (checked 31 October 2026)
- Google Photos Help: Delete & restore photos and videos (checked 31 October 2026)
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GalleryJury is coming soon to Android
It keeps the best shot from every burst and clears the clutter around it. 50 free photos to try, then $5 for 5,000 photos or $15 for 20,000. Pay once, nothing renews. No subscription.