How to resolve low disk space error in iPod Touch
Posted in How To, iPod | By AhTim @ January 14th, 2008
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Recently after I hacked my iPod touch, I start to install many third party softwares to suit my needs using iPod touch as a PDA. But somehow it shown “low disk space” error and ask me to clear some photo or video to get more disk space.
This make me confused because my iPod Touch has 16GB disk space and I only used up to 4GB plus, it should not be any problem by installing few hundred KBs software. After do some research and testin, I found a solution to resolve the low disk space in iPod Touch ( same method applied to iPhone).
1. Download and install “Term-vt100” and “BSD Subsystem” located in the Installer.app under “System” category (if you don’t have enough space to install Term-vt100, delete some applications temporarily)
2. Launch Term-vt100, it’s a black color screen with command line.
3. Type the commands below exactly step by step (Warning: Type wrong command might cause your iPod Touch or iPhone useless. You will need to reload or restore the whole things)
cd /
cp -pr Applications /var/root
mv Applications Applications.old
ln -s private/var/root/Applications /Applications
Up to here, you have link your Applications folder from root folder to the private var folder which allocated your whole disk space. For my case, I can use up to 16GB! 
Now, restart your iPod Touch or iPhone and type commands below in Term-vt100 to remove the old Applications folder
cd /
rm -rf Applications.old
My two cents
After finish the tweaks above, I have installed up to total of 35 softwares in my iPod Touch. But anyway there are still 11GB disk space for me to use
If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, why don’t you hack your Applications folder for more disk space?
[source: iPhone Atlas]
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Tags: hack ipod application, ipod application folder, Low disk space error
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February 9th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I just tried the whole process but when when i get to “ln -s private/var/root/Applications /Applications” in term-vt100 i keep getting “zsh: command not found: In” on my command line. whats the problem here?
February 9th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
@noob: Suspect your BSD Subsystem was not installed properly. Try reinstall your BSD Subsystem.
February 10th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
It’s an “L”, not an “I” as in symbolic LINK
February 12th, 2008 at 1:36 am
I cant get around to checking my BSD Subsystem, after I type the commands in term-vt100 I still get the zsh: command not found: Inâ€. After that, none of my Icons will show up after I restart. Can I get my icons back with out having to downgrade then up grade again to jailbreak (1.1.3) and then give this a second shot?
February 12th, 2008 at 10:04 am
@J: You’re right.
@noob: The command is “ln” (l=london), NOT capital letter “i”.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Don’t you get frustrated that you can only use iTunes?
I found it far too restrictive. It’s like buying a Toyota and only being allowed to use gas from the Toyota garage - or a Hotpoint Washing Machine, but only being allowed to use their own brand of washing powder.
They should open up the spec of the iPod so that you can use any kind of audio format, instead of trying to monopolize the marketplace.
Just my two pence! :o)
Peace out x
February 15th, 2008 at 9:04 am
@Melissa: Yes I agreed with you. Just wait for third party multimedia player to come then we can ignore the iTunes sync. By the way, which iPod model do you have?
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:13 am
Use Installer.app to install BossTools.
It’s under the Utilities –> BossTools.
Once installed you can move your fonts(Big) and Appz.
This will create more space and it’s easy to use.
AhTim thanks for the tip anyway..
BigDom U.K
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
@Big Dom: Thanks for the tips. I will try to install on my iTouch. BTW, is it compatible with firmware 1.1.3?
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I have firmware 1.1.2 so i’m not sure if it will work with 1.1.3 !!!
February 24th, 2008 at 12:54 am
DON’T DO IT I BRICKS YOUT PHONE/TOUCH
I DID IT AND NOW WHEN I TURN ON MY IPOD ALL I SEE IS A BLANK BLACK SCREEN
February 25th, 2008 at 11:33 am
@Big Dom: I have installed Boss tool in my ipod touch 1.1.3, but have not try to move my application folder.
@kenny: Thanks for you tip. Then I ‘ll do it manual way. BTW, have you resolve you blank screen error?
February 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Sorry to hear that kenny..
What version do you have…?
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 am
i typed a - instead of a / and now i cant see anything on my ipod menu, by any chance is there a way to reverse my major screw up??
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 am
im at kennys status right about now. kenny what did you do, just restore and go aagin?? and does any 1 know if 1.1.4 can be jail broken yet cause that is the version that will b instealled if i restore…?
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 am
I input every step except for “ln -s private/var/root/Applications /Applications.” Before I could input that, I accidentally hit the home screen and exited Terminal. My iPod Touch then became useless. I plugged it into iTunes and update to 1.1.4. Now, iTunes doesn’t recognize the iPod, so I can’t restore. What do I do?
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:31 am
@Justin: Suggest you to restore and jailbroken firmware 1.1.3 (not necessary have to update the latest firmware). Refer to http://ahtim.com/upgrade-and-hack-ipod-touch-113-firmware/
BTW, no bad word is allow in this blog, so I’ve removed it.
@Earl: Haven’t heard about firmware 1.1.4 jailbreak yet. Suggest you restore and jailbreak to 1.1.3 (http://ahtim.com/upgrade-and-hack-ipod-touch-113-firmware/) or wait for the latest jailbreak.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:05 am
yeah i highly recommend NOT doin this…i dont care what ppl say, ive tryed like 5 times n did absolutly nothing for me…jus meessed up my ipod then i gotta restore/downgrade from 1.1.4 to 1.1.1…
March 4th, 2008 at 10:04 am
@Disbeliever: I know it’s painful when ipod get messed up. Which firmware version you are using?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:07 am
It worked for me lads!
March 28th, 2008 at 11:57 am
@LOl: Congrates. You also can use BossTool to do the task. Which iPod model are you using?
May 16th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
mv Applications Applications.old
when i type taht in why do i get this message “permission denied”?
May 16th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
@chun: Login your vterm with root password. Type SU, enter to login as root.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I type root as the password and it says it is incorrect…
June 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
@ccons: The default password should be “alpine”.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I type su. then return. i then type alpine, but nothing comes up, i hit return and it says its incorrect :s
June 13th, 2008 at 10:14 am
@kieran: the user is “root”.
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Thank you for the quick tip–worked like a charm for me. And, I really appreciate the beautiful Jesse Cook music early on a Sunday morning.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I still get the incorrect password message
I typed:
su root
Password: alpine
and also
su
Password: alpine
and still didn’t work. please help
June 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
do this:
ssh root@localhost
then for the password enter: alpine
November 11th, 2008 at 4:21 am
make sure you have bsd subsysem and ssh installed through installer
then type in your ip address not the routers adress ie 178.156.2.3. find this by going to settings /wi fi finding your wi fi and clicking the arrow on the right it will then tell you ipod ip address.
open win scp
type in your ip
the root alpine
the other password used to be dottie but it was changed
iit may take a few attempts . also make sure your ipod touch is set to auto lock never
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
an error: “cp: preseving times for ‘var/root/’: operation not permitted” is shown at the 1st step. please help me.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Um does this work with 2.1
June 10th, 2009 at 9:57 am
@Niky,Nathan: Install “Boss Tool” to resolve in GUI mode.