Modern smartphone users are often faced with a situation where the occupied space in the device’s memory does not correspond to the visible amount of downloaded data. You've deleted photos, cleared your messenger cache, but the storage indicator still shows an alarming red level. This happens because the operating system Android stores many service, temporary and hidden files that standard galleries and simple explorers do not display publicly.
Understanding the structure of the file system allows you not only to free up gigabytes of space, but also to find long-lost documents, chat backups or application logs. The standard interface often hides root directories from the user for the sake of security, creating the illusion of emptiness where in reality terabytes of digital information are hidden. To get to the bottom of this, you need to arm yourself with the right tools and knowledge of data paths.
In this article, we will look in detail at how to access hidden memory sections, which utilities to use for deep scanning, and how to interpret the data found without the risk of damaging the system. We will look at both standard developer tools and third-party solutions that provide full control over the file structure of your device.
Standard search tools and built-in explorer
The first step in searching for “other files” should always be to use the built-in capabilities of the system, which are often ignored by users. Most modern shells, such as MIUI, One UI or ColorOS, have a pre-installed file manager that can display not only media, but also archives, documents and installation packages. However, by default it can hide system folders.
To activate the display of all data, you need to go to the settings of the “Files” or “File Manager” application itself. Usually this option is located in the menu called up by three dots in the corner of the screen. You need to find a toggle Show hidden files or similar setting in the privacy section. After activation, folders with a dot at the beginning of the name will appear in the root of the internal memory, for example .thumbnails, which occupy a significant amount of space.
It is also worth paying attention to the “Storage Analysis” function, which is present in the settings of Android itself. Go to Settings → Memory and wait for the calculation to complete. The system will group the data into categories, and the "Other" or "Miscellaneous" section will often contain exactly the files you're looking for. Clicking on this category sometimes reveals a list of leading applications by occupied space.
- 📂 Check the built-in Explorer settings for the “Show hidden files” checkbox.
- 🔍 Use search by extension (for example, .log or .tmp) in the search bar of the file manager.
- 📊 Examine the "Memory" section in system settings to identify the largest consumers of space.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting files from system folders such as
/dataor/system, through a standard explorer is impossible without root access, but trying to clear the folder/Android/obbmay lead to installed games not working.
Third-party file managers with extended access
When built-in tools are not enough, specialized applications from third-party developers come to the rescue. The leaders in this niche are Solid Explorer, CX File Explorer and MT Manager. These apps provide a two-pane interface and, critically, can request special permissions to access protected directories in Android 11 and higher.
Starting with the eleventh version of the OS, Google has limited access to the folder Android/data and Android/obb for third-party applications for security purposes. However, advanced explorers get around this limitation by asking the system for special permission through the standard SA (Storage Access Framework) system dialog. After granting rights, you get full access to the caches of Telegram, WhatsApp and other instant messengers, where gigabytes of “garbage” often accumulate.
Particular attention should be paid to the “Network Storage” function or access via the FTP/SMB protocol, which is available in applications such as WiFi FTP Server in conjunction with Explorer on a PC. By connecting your phone to your computer via Wi-Fi through such a manager, you can use the powerful search tools of the Windows or macOS operating system, for example, searching for files larger than 100 MB, which is extremely inconvenient on the phone itself.
Use the “Sort by Size” function in third-party explorers to instantly identify the heaviest files, regardless of their extension or location in the folder tree.
Some managers such as Total Commanderallow you to install plugins to access archived data or the root partition. This turns a regular smartphone into a powerful file system audit tool. It is important to choose applications with a high rating and a long history of updates to avoid introducing malicious code that can gain access to all your data.
Access to system folders and root partition
For users who need maximum control, the only option is to obtain root access (superuser rights). This opens access to the entire file tree, including the partition /data/datawhere application databases are stored, and /system. Without these rights, many "other files" remain invisible and undeletable.
After rooting the device and installing a rights manager, such as Magisk, you can use file managers with root support, for example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer (with the root option enabled). When you first enter system folders, the application will ask you to confirm superuser rights. If you agree, you will see the complete disk structure, similar to that seen in Linux systems.
In the root partition, special attention should be paid to the folder /data/local/tmp, where temporary update files or debugging logs are often stored. Also, a folder /data/dalvik-cachecontaining optimized application files can take up a significant amount of space. Cleaning these partitions requires caution: deleting critical files can lead to a “bootlap” (cyclical reboot) of the device.
| Folder path | Data type | Deletion security | Requires Root |
|---|---|---|---|
/sdcard/Download |
User downloads | High | No |
/Android/data |
Cache and application data | Medium (reset application settings) | Partial |
/data/local/tmp |
Temporary system files | High | Yes |
/data/dalvik-cache |
Virtual machine cache | Low (the system will recreate) | Yes |
/system/media |
System sounds and wallpaper | Critical (do not delete) | Yes |
⚠️ Attention: Making changes to the section
/systemmay violate the integrity of the system and lead to loss of warranty. Before any manipulations with root access, be sure to create a full backup (Nandroid backup) through custom recovery.
What is the .trash or .recycle_bin folder?
In some Android shells (for example, Xiaomi or Samsung), deleted files are not erased instantly, but are moved to a hidden trash bin inside the file system. These files continue to take up space until you manually empty the Trash or 30 days have passed. The path to them is often hidden from standard explorers without root access.
Searching for files via USB debugging (ADB)
For advanced users who do not want to root the device, but need access to protected areas, the ideal solution is to use the toolkit ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to execute commands from your computer, gaining access to the file system at a level close to the system level, especially if the device has been previously authorized.
To get started, you need to enable USB Debugging in the Developer Options menu. After connecting your smartphone to your PC, you can use the command adb shell to enter the command line of the device. Using the utility run-as you can access the data of specific applications, if they are debugged, which allows you to pull out databases and hidden configs without full root access.
For a bulk search of files, you can use the command find directly in the ADB shell. For example, the command to search for all files larger than 50 MB in the internal memory is as follows:
adb shell find /sdcard -type f -size +50MThis method is especially effective for finding "lost" files that are not displayed in the system's media scanner (a file .nomedia in a folder may hide its contents from the gallery, but ADB will see them all). In addition, through ADB you can safely delete files from system temporary folders that are not accessible to GUIs.
Analysis of occupied space using visualizers
Sometimes it’s easier not to search for files manually, but to see a map of occupied space. Visualizer applications, such as DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer, build a graphical diagram of the storage, where the size of the rectangle is proportional to the file size. This allows you to instantly detect anomalies - for example, a single 5 GB log file that is hidden deep in the depths of the system.
Such utilities scan all available partitions and present the data in the form of a tree structure or “treemap”. You can click on any large block and proceed to delete or move the object. This is the most visual way to understand where exactly the free space is going, and to find those “other files” that cannot be classified.
It is important to note that such apps may take some time to run on devices with a large amount of data and slow flash memory. It is not recommended to run heavy applications during the scanning process so as not to slow down the analysis. After completing the work, you will get a clear picture of the data distribution.
- 📈 Visualizers help you find “parasitic” files that are not visible in the regular list.
- 🗺️ A memory card allows you to estimate the proportions of occupied space in a couple of seconds.
- 🚀 Quickly navigate to the file for deletions directly from the chart interface.
Visual analysis of the storage is the fastest way to find abnormally large files hidden in deep folder nesting that are difficult to detect by manual search.
Hidden media files and .nomedia files
One of the common reasons for the appearance of the “other files” category is the presence in special marker folders .nomedia. This empty file instructs the Android media scanner to ignore this directory when building music, video, and image libraries. As a result, the files physically exist and take up space, but are not displayed in Gallery or Music.
To find such files, you need to use Explorer with the display of hidden items turned on. Often such folders are created by applications for caching streaming video or offline maps (for example, Yandex.Maps or Spotify). If you stop using the application, these gigabytes of data become dead weight.
Deleting a file .nomedia will make the contents of the folder visible to the system, but this can also lead to duplication of media files in the gallery (app logos and contact avatars will appear). A more correct solution is to manually audit the contents of such a folder and delete the unnecessary cache entirely.
⚠️ Attention: Android interfaces and menu names may differ depending on the firmware version and manufacturer (Samsung, Xiaomi, Pixel). If you do not find the options described, check the official documentation for your specific device model, as file access policies become stricter every year.
☑️ Audit hidden files
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the “Other” section take up so much space in memory?
The “Other” category usually aggregates data that the system cannot classify as standard types (photo, video, audio). This includes application caches, system logs, update files, messenger data (especially Telegram and WhatsApp), as well as files in folders with the .nomedia marker. Often these are temporary files that can be safely deleted.
Is it possible to delete the Android/data folder without consequences?
Deleting the entire folder Android/data will lead to resetting the settings of all installed applications, losing progress in games (if there is no cloud synchronization) and re-downloading all cached data. You should only delete the contents of the folders of those applications that you have already deleted or that you no longer use.
How to find hidden folders without installing third-party apps?
It is difficult to find deeply hidden system folders without third-party apps. However, you can use the built-in search in the storage settings or connect the phone to the computer in file transfer mode (MTP) and use the search by extension or file size using the PC operating system.
Is it safe to use applications to clean “other files”?
Most popular cleaner applications are safe for user data, but can be aggressive towards the cache, which will slow down application operation after cleaning. Avoid apps that require root access without good reason, and do not trust utilities that promise “processor speed” or “battery cooling” by deleting files.
Where do files go after deletion if space is not freed up?
Files can remain in the “Trash” of the file manager or gallery itself for 30 days. It is also possible that the file is open by some process and cannot be deleted until the device is rebooted. In rare cases, it is necessary to check the file system for errors through the recovery menu.