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Manage Handheld PC Storage: Pro Tips to Free Up Space

Learn how to manage handheld PC storage and never run out of space again! This guide covers simple tricks like clearing shader caches, moving games to an SD card, and choosing the right storage upgrade. Maximize your library and keep gaming. 🎮💾

26 Sept 2025 | Quick Read | 👤 UpgraderX
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Manage Handheld PC Storage: Free Up Space & Upgrade Tips

Loving your Steam Deck or ROG Ally but constantly battling that dreaded "Disk Space Low" warning? Ja, we've all been there. One minute you're downloading the latest Helldivers 2 patch, the next you're frantically deleting old screenshots. The limited storage on these incredible devices can feel like a real bottleneck. But don't stress. We've got the pro tips you need to effectively manage handheld PC storage and get back to what matters… gaming.

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

R2499.00In Stock
ASUS ROG Ally X Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Extreme / 24GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 7" FHD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz Refresh Rate, Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Panel / AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 1x USB 3.2 Type-C  / 1 x Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / USB Type-C (w/ PD 3.0 Charging) / 1 x MicroSD Card Reader / 1 x Audio combo jack / Finger Print Sensor / 802.11 ax WiFi 6 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.2 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2-Speaker System with Smart Amplifier Technology / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty /  90NV00H2-M003E0

ASUS ROG Ally X Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Extreme / 24GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 7" FHD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz Refresh Rate, Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Panel / AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 1x USB 3.2 Type-C / 1 x Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / USB Type-C (w/ PD 3.0 Charging) / 1 x MicroSD Card Reader / 1 x Audio combo jack / Finger Print Sensor / 802.11 ax WiFi 6 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.2 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2-Speaker System with Smart Amplifier Technology / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 90NV00H2-M003E0

R18999.00In Stock
FORCE PRO W Wireless Gaming Controller / 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 (USB-C) / Up to 48 hours (w/o lighting & vibration) Battery Life / Compatible Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X|S, Windows 10/11, Android 8 & later / S10-43G0260-C54

FORCE PRO W Wireless Gaming Controller / 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 (USB-C) / Up to 48 hours (w/o lighting & vibration) Battery Life / Compatible Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X|S, Windows 10/11, Android 8 & later / S10-43G0260-C54

R2199.00In Stock
Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition XBOX/PC, 6 Remappable Buttons to Outplay Them All, 1000Hz Polling Rate for Competitive Play on PC, Wired Esports Controller - White / RZ06-05210200-R3M1

Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition XBOX/PC, 6 Remappable Buttons to Outplay Them All, 1000Hz Polling Rate for Competitive Play on PC, Wired Esports Controller - White / RZ06-05210200-R3M1

R2699.00In Stock
PowerA Advantage Wired Xbox Controller - Celestial Green / 3-Way Trigger Locks / Officially Licensed for Xbox Series X|S / XBGP0190-01

PowerA Advantage Wired Xbox Controller - Celestial Green / 3-Way Trigger Locks / Officially Licensed for Xbox Series X|S / XBGP0190-01

R699.00In Stock
PowerA Advantage Wired Xbox Controller - Sonic Style / 3-Way Trigger Locks / Officially Licensed for Xbox Series X|S / XBGP0229-01

PowerA Advantage Wired Xbox Controller - Sonic Style / 3-Way Trigger Locks / Officially Licensed for Xbox Series X|S / XBGP0229-01

R699.00In Stock

Start with a Digital Deep-Clean 🧹

Before you even think about spending a Rand, the first step is to optimise the space you already have. You can often free up a surprising amount of storage with a few simple software tweaks. This is the foundation of good handheld PC storage management.

Hunt Down Space Hogs

Your biggest culprits are almost always games you haven't touched in months. Go through your library and be ruthless. Uninstall anything you're not actively playing. On Windows-based devices like the ROG Ally or Legion Go, a tool like WinDirStat can give you a visual breakdown of what’s eating your drive.

Another massive space-eater, especially on the Steam Deck, is the shader cache. These pre-compiled files help games run smoothly but can grow to enormous sizes over time.

TIP FOR YOU

Clear Your Shader Cache ⚡

On the Steam Deck, you can use a Decky Loader plugin called "Storage Cleaner" to easily find and delete the shader cache for uninstalled games. This can often reclaim several gigabytes of precious space instantly, a crucial move to free up space on your handheld PC.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro Gaming Controller / Supports Android, iPhone & iPad Mini / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 8” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05460100-R3M1

Razer Kishi V3 Pro Gaming Controller / Supports Android, iPhone & iPad Mini / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 8” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05460100-R3M1

R4199.00In Stock
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Controller V2 / Wrap-Around Rubberized Grip / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Shorter Hair Trigger Locks / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Android And iOS / FST-00004

Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Controller V2 / Wrap-Around Rubberized Grip / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Shorter Hair Trigger Locks / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Android And iOS / FST-00004

R4999.00In Stock
Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition 8K PC Wired Controller / Hyper Polling Technology / Swappable Thumbstick  Caps / 4 Back Paddles / RZ06-05550100-R3M1

Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition 8K PC Wired Controller / Hyper Polling Technology / Swappable Thumbstick Caps / 4 Back Paddles / RZ06-05550100-R3M1

R2699.00In Stock
FORCE GC300 Wireless Gaming Controller - Black / 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 (USB-C) / Up to 20 hours (w/o vibration) Battery Life / Compatible Windows 10 & later, Android 8 & later / S10-43G0180-EC4

FORCE GC300 Wireless Gaming Controller - Black / 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 (USB-C) / Up to 20 hours (w/o vibration) Battery Life / Compatible Windows 10 & later, Android 8 & later / S10-43G0180-EC4

R799.00In Stock
ASUS ROG Ally Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - White / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 512GB NVMe SSD / 7" FHD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz Refresh Rate, Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Panel / AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support (DisplayPort™ / Power Delivery) / 1 x MicroSD Card Reader / 1 x Audio combo jack / Finger Print Sensor / 802.11 ax WiFi 6 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.2 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2-Speaker System with Smart Amplifier Technology / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 60Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 90NV00G1-M000L0

ASUS ROG Ally Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - White / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 512GB NVMe SSD / 7" FHD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz Refresh Rate, Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Panel / AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support (DisplayPort™ / Power Delivery) / 1 x MicroSD Card Reader / 1 x Audio combo jack / Finger Print Sensor / 802.11 ax WiFi 6 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.2 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2-Speaker System with Smart Amplifier Technology / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 60Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 90NV00G1-M000L0

R12999.00In Stock
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller - Shock Blue / Hybrid D-Pad / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Textured Triggers And Bumpers / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10, Android And iOS / QAU-00010

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller - Shock Blue / Hybrid D-Pad / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Textured Triggers And Bumpers / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10, Android And iOS / QAU-00010

R1599.00In Stock

While you're doing a digital clean-up, it's a good time to give your device a physical one too. Keeping vents clear of dust is vital for performance, and you can find the right tools among our range of tech essentials.

Easy Expansion: The MicroSD Card Method

The simplest hardware upgrade is a high-speed microSD card. It's a plug-and-play solution that can instantly double or even quadruple your available space.

When choosing a card, don't just look at the capacity. Speed is critical for a good gaming experience. Look for cards with an A2 rating, as this signifies they are optimised for running applications, leading to faster load times compared to older A1 cards. It's a cost-effective way to get more room for your library, and you can browse a wide variety of options in our gaming accessories deals.

The Ultimate Fix: Upgrade Your Internal SSD 🚀

While microSD cards are great, nothing beats the speed and convenience of a larger internal NVMe SSD. If you find you're constantly juggling files and uninstalling games, this is the definitive solution to manage handheld PC storage for good.

Most handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally use a compact M.2 2230 form factor. Upgrading from the stock 512GB drive to a 1TB or 2TB model is a massive quality-of-life improvement. Games will load faster, file transfers will be quicker, and you'll finally have enough space for behemoths like Call of Duty and Baldur's Gate 3 to live on your drive at the same time. It might seem daunting, but with the right tools and a good tutorial, it's a very manageable DIY project.

Once your storage is sorted, you'll have a truly portable powerhouse. To complete the immersive on-the-go experience, consider pairing your upgraded handheld with a quality headset that blocks out distractions, letting you focus entirely on the game. Check out our latest gaming headset deals to find the perfect audio companion.

Ready to End Storage Anxiety for Good? An internal SSD upgrade is the single best way to unlock your handheld PC's true potential. Stop deleting and start playing. Explore Evetech's best SSD deals and give your portable powerhouse the space it deserves.

Start by uninstalling games you no longer play. You can also clear shader caches and temporary files. For bigger gains, consider a handheld gaming pc storage upgrade.

Upgrading the internal SSD offers the fastest speeds. However, a high-speed MicroSD card is a simpler, more cost-effective way to increase storage on handheld pc.

Yes, most platforms like SteamOS and Windows allow you to move game installations between the internal drive and an SD card without redownloading the entire game.

Look for a card with an A2 (Application Performance Class 2) rating for faster load times. It's the best MicroSD card for handheld gaming performance and reliability.

No, deleting the shader cache is safe and will not affect your game saves. The system will rebuild the cache as you play, but it can free up several gigabytes.

A 1TB or 2TB NVMe SSD is a popular choice for an ssd upgrade for handheld gaming pc. This provides ample space for a large library of modern AAA titles and indie games.