Where does the space disappear: we analyze the "Other" category on Android

Every owner of a Androidsmartphone has at least once encountered an annoying notification about the lack of free space. You delete photos, clean out the gallery, remove unnecessary games, but the system storage still shows that the memory is almost completely occupied. Upon closer inspection of the settings, it turns out that the lion's share of disk space falls into a mysterious category, which is often called “Other,” “System Data,” or simply “Other.” Users are at a loss, trying to understand what is hidden behind this name and why these files cannot simply be taken and deleted.

In fact, "Other" is not a virus or a system error, but a collection of heterogeneous data that the operating system cannot clearly classify as applications, images or videos. This includes cache files, temporary data, remnants of deleted apps, system logs, and even messenger files that the system did not recognize as media. Understanding the structure of this category is critical for proper optimization of the device without harming its stable operation.

In this article we will analyze in detail what the volume of this folder consists of, why it tends to grow to tens of gigabytes and what safe methods exist for cleaning it. We won't rely on dubious cleaner apps that promise "magical" speedups, but rather look at proven system tools and manual file management methods. You will learn to distinguish necessary system files from digital junk that is just taking up space.

What is really hidden in the “Other” category

When you see that the “Other” category is taking up a significant part of the memory, it is important to understand the nature of this data. First of all, this application cache. Social networks, browsers and streaming services actively save temporary files to quickly load content. For example, Telegram or VK can store gigabytes of viewed photos and videos, which are not formally part of the application itself, but do not end up in the gallery.

The second important component is system logs and error reports. The operating system Android constantly records information about its operation, which is useful for developers when debugging, but useless for the average user. Over time, these text files can accumulate, taking up hundreds of megabytes. Also, they often end up here residual files after deleting applications that software developers forgot to include in the list of deleted data.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to manually delete files from system folders through file managers with root access if you are not sure of their purpose. Removing critical libraries may result in a cyclic reboot of the device or loss of access to basic functions.

Offline maps and downloaded music deserve special attention. If you used a navigator without the Internet or listened to tracks offline, this data is often classified by the system as “Other”. They are not part of the application, but they are not user media files in the traditional sense. This is why clearing this category requires a selective approach rather than a blanket removal of all content.

The third hidden element is impersonation and profile data. Sometimes large contact databases, call history, or backup copies of settings that the system created automatically “fly” into this category. The key feature of the “Other” category is that it is dynamic: its volume can change in real time depending on user activity and the operation of background processes.

Why does memory fill up so quickly

Modern applications are becoming more and more “heavy” and power hungry. Developers strive to make interfaces richer and functionality wider, which inevitably leads to an increase in cache size. Messengers like WhatsAppsave every open image and video into a cache, even if you didn't save them to the gallery. Over time, this “snowball” grows, and the user notices that free space is disappearing literally before our eyes.

Another reason is the peculiarities of the file system and compression algorithms. When files are frequently written to and deleted from storage, fragments of data may appear that the system marks as busy, but in fact they no longer carry a payload. This phenomenon is often found on devices with a small amount of built-in memory, where every gigabyte counts. Fragmentation Storage also affects the speed of operation and the correct display of free space.

In addition, many users simply do not control the automatic saving settings. High quality photos and videos, 4K recording, automatic application updates via the mobile network - all this generates a stream of data that ends up in the “Other” category. The system does not always have time to correctly classify new file formats or temporary archives, sending them to a common heap.

It is important to note that the memory filling speed directly depends on usage scenarios. If you actively use navigation, music streaming and social networks, the volume of “Other” will grow faster than for a user who uses the phone only for calls and light tasks. Understanding this mechanism helps predict the need for cleaning and plan the use of cloud services.

Storage analysis: built-in tools and third-party utilities

Before taking radical measures, it is necessary to conduct a high-quality diagnosis. Modern versions Android (starting from 11 and higher) have built-in powerful analysis tools. Go to Settings → Storageto see a visualization of the occupied space. The system itself will offer to clear unused files or large attachments in instant messengers, which is a safe first step.

For a deeper analysis, you can use specialized applications such as Files by Google or DiskUsage. These utilities build a memory map, showing which folders and files take up the most space. Unlike a standard analyzer, they allow you to see hidden directories and understand which application generates the most garbage. This is especially useful when the standard analyzer shows just a general figure.

Data type	Where to look	Can I delete	Impact on the system
Application cache	Settings → Applications	Yes, safe	Temporary slowdown on first launch
Files.thumbnails	DCIM →.thumbnails	Yes, but they will recover	Slowdown opening the gallery
System Logs	System folders	Yes, via ADB or root	Absent, useful for debugging
Whatsapp/Media folders	Android → media	Selectively	Old media will disappear from chats

Using third-party analyzers requires caution. Some "cleaners" may be too aggressive and delete the necessary configuration files, resetting application settings to factory settings. Backup important data before using such utilities is a mandatory rule of digital hygiene. Always check what exactly the app is going to delete before clicking the "Clear All" button.

Safely clear cache and temporary files

The easiest and safest way to free up space is to clear the cache of individual applications. You should not use the “Clear all application cache” function at once, as this may temporarily slow down your smartphone. It is better to analyze the list of applications by the amount of memory they occupy and clean the heaviest ones: browsers, social networks, YouTube. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → [Select an application] → Storage → Clear cache.

Pay special attention to instant messengers. In Telegram, for example, there is a built-in function for automatically clearing the cache. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage and set a timer, for example, “3 days”. This will allow the app to automatically delete old media files you've already watched, freeing up gigabytes of space without your intervention. In WhatsApp a similar function is in the “Storage and Data” section.

There is also a cleaning method through Recovery Mode, but it requires certain skills. In this mode you can clear the partition Cache Partition, which contains temporary system files. This will not affect your personal data, photos or contacts, but may solve problems with incorrect display of free memory after a system update. However, on new devices with dynamic partitions, this option may not be available.

⚠️ Attention: The “Clear Data” function completely deletes the application along with all settings and logins to accounts. Use it only if you want to reset the application to the state “as after installation”, having previously saved important information.

Regularly clearing the cache not only frees up space, but can also correct errors in application operation. If a app is unstable, crashes or freezes, clearing the cache is often the first step in troubleshooting. This is a standard maintenance procedure, which is recommended to be carried out once every 1-2 months.

Deleting residual files and working with folders

After deleting applications, their “tails” often remain in memory - folders with settings, loaded themes or logs. You can find them through the file manager by going to the root of the internal memory or to the folder Android/data (access to which is limited in new versions of Android). Look for folders with names of uninstalled apps or names of developers you no longer have. Before deleting, make sure that the application is really deleted.

The Downloads (Downloads) folder is another source of hidden garbage. Installation APK files, documents and pictures that you no longer need may lie there for years. Often, users forget that they downloaded a file, and it continues to take up space. Regularly auditing this folder is a good habit. Also check the folder Bluetoothwhere all received files are automatically saved.

In the system Android there is a hidden folder .thumbnails inside the directory DCIM. It stores thumbnails of your photos for quick display in your gallery. Over time, this file can grow to several gigabytes. It can be safely deleted, but the system will recreate it when you open the gallery. To prevent it from growing, some users replace the file with a folder with the same name, blocking its creation again, but this can slow down the gallery.

Secret folder.thumbnails

This folder is hidden by default (starts with a dot). Cleaning it gives instant but temporary results. For a permanent effect, it is better to use a cloud gallery, which does not store thumbnails locally in such a volume.

Working with files requires care. Delete only what you are sure of. If you see a file with the extension .obb in the folder Android/obb, know that this is additional data for games. Deleting such a file will cause the game to stop launching and require the data to be downloaded again. Always check the file size and its name before deleting.

Radical methods: resetting and transferring data

If nothing helps and the “Other” category takes up a critical amount (for example, 20-30 GB for 64 GB of memory), a radical approach may be required - a full reset to factory settings (Factory Reset). This is guaranteed to remove all garbage, file system errors and accumulated logs. However, before doing this, be sure to make a complete backup of your important data to your computer or to the cloud.

For users with technical skills, cleaning via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is available. By connecting your phone to your computer, you can run a command to clear the package manager cache or remove system applications that are not removed normally. The command adb shell pm trim-caches $((echo 1073741824)) (for Android 11+) allows you to clear the cache if the free memory is less than 1 GB, which can save the device from freezing.

Another option is to transfer data to a memory card (SD card). Although modern applications do not work well with external memory, photos, videos and documents can be safely transferred. Set the camera and instant messengers to save files to the SD card by default. This will not reduce the “Other” category directly, but will free up space for unloading the internal memory, which will indirectly help the system work more stable.

Do not forget that after a reset or major updates, the system needs time (from several hours to a day) to carry out internal optimization and indexing of files. During this period, memory readings may be incorrect, and the phone itself may work slower. Let the device remain turned on and connected to Wi-Fi so that it completes background processes.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to completely delete the “Other” category?

It cannot be completely deleted, since it is part of the file system. It will always contain a minimum set of system files. However, you can minimize its size to reasonable limits (several hundred megabytes) by clearing the cache and removing garbage.

Why is the space not freed up after clearing the cache?

Perhaps the system has not yet updated the storage statistics. Try restarting your smartphone. Also, some applications immediately after cleaning begin to refill the cache if they are running in the background.

Is it harmful for your phone to frequently clear the memory?

Clearing the cache is safe. However, constantly writing and rewriting large amounts of data (if you are constantly clearing and re-downloading gigabytes) can theoretically slightly speed up the wear of flash memory, but for normal use this is not critical.

How to clear “Other” on Samsung or Xiaomi?

On Samsung, use the built-in “Device Maintenance” application. On Xiaomi – “Security” application → Cleaning. These brands have their own algorithms for working with memory, and third-party cleaners may not work correctly.

Does memory overflow affect operating speed?

Yes, when there is less than 10-15% of free memory left, the Android system begins to work much slower, application crashes and interface brakes may become more frequent, since the system does not have enough space for temporary files and virtual memory.