Hey there! That massive UPDATE.APP hogging 2.55GB of your storage is such a pain, especially on a P8 Lite with limited space. Let’s walk through reliable ways to get rid of it—regular deletion fails because the file’s protected by system locks or permissions, so we need targeted fixes.

Method 1: Use the System Update Manager (Easiest, No Root Needed) #

UPDATE.APP is almost always a downloaded system update package, so the safest way to delete it is through the official update tool:

• Open Settings on your phone.
• Scroll down and tap System Update.
• Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
• Select Download management.
• You’ll see the large UPDATE.APP listed here. Tap it and choose Delete—this bypasses system restrictions because it’s the official way to clean up update files.

Method 2: Delete via Rooted File Manager (If You Have Root Access) #

If your P8 Lite is rooted, a root-enabled file explorer can override system protections:

• Install a root file manager like ES File Explorer or Root Explorer.
• Navigate to the folder where UPDATE.APP is stored. Common locations are:
  • /sdcard/HWOTA/
  • /sdcard/dload/
  • /data/update/
• Long-press the UPDATE.APP file, then select Delete. Root permissions let you skip any system locks blocking deletion.

Method 3: Delete Using ADB Commands (No Root, Requires Computer) #

If the first two methods don’t work, use ADB to force-delete the file from a computer:

1. On your phone, enable Developer Options: Go to Settings > About Phone, then tap Build Number 7 times until you see "You’re now a developer!".
2. Go back to Settings > Developer Options and turn on USB Debugging.
3. Install ADB tools on your computer (part of Android SDK Platform Tools).
4. Connect your phone to the computer via USB, and allow the debugging prompt on your phone.
5. Open a command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) on your computer.
6. Run these commands one by one:
   • adb devices (confirms your phone is connected)
   • adb shell (opens a shell to your phone)
   • find /sdcard -name "UPDATE.APP" (locates the exact file path)
   • rm /path/to/UPDATE.APP (replace /path/to/ with the path from the previous step, e.g., rm /sdcard/HWOTA/UPDATE.APP)
7. If you get a permission error, add -f to force deletion: rm -f /path/to/UPDATE.APP

Method 4: Clear Update Cache via Recovery Mode #

If the file is stored in the recovery partition, wipe the update cache:

• Power off your P8 Lite.
• Hold the Volume Up + Power buttons together until the Huawei logo appears, then release to enter Recovery Mode.
• Use volume buttons to navigate to Wipe cache partition and press Power to select it.
• Wait for the process to finish, then select Reboot system now. This clears cached update files including UPDATE.APP.

Note: Wiping the cache partition won’t delete your personal data, so it’s completely safe.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Shahrukh Asghar