Every smartphone owner sooner or later is faced with a frightening message that the internal storage is full. You delete photos, transfer music to the card, erase unnecessary videos, but the memory bar in the settings remains red. The hero of the occasion is often a mysterious section called "Other" (Other), which can occupy tens of gigabytes.
This category is a hodgepodge of system files, application caches, residual data of remote apps and temporary files that the system cannot classify otherwise. Understanding the nature of this data is the first step to freeing up valuable space without losing important information.
In this article, we will analyze in detail the structure of hidden files, explain why the volume of "Other" is constantly growing, and provide step-by-step guide for safely cleaning your system of digital junk.
What is technically hidden behind the "Other" label
The operating system Android uses a complex file system, where not every file has a clear link to media or documents. Section “Other” is, in fact, a “black box” of the memory analyzer. This includes data that does not relate to images, videos, audio or installed applications in their pure form.
A significant part of this volume is occupied by application cache. Messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp save viewed photos and videos to temporary storage in order to load them faster when opened again. Over time, this cache grows to gigantic proportions, but the system often considers it system data, not media files.
Remnants of deleted apps are also stored here. When you uninstall a game or utility, some folders with settings or downloaded data may remain in the root memory. In addition, this includes system logsfirmware update files that were not deleted after installation, and data from offline maps of navigation services.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to manually delete files from system folders through the file manager without understanding their purpose. Removing critical libraries may cause the smartphone to stop loading.
Another important component is data from streaming services. Apps like Spotify or YouTube caches streaming content for smooth playback. These temporary buffers also fall into the “Other” category, creating the illusion of endless memory consumption.
The “Other” section is mainly cache and temporary files that can be safely deleted, but this must be done using the right methods, and not simply erasing folders.
The influence of instant messengers and social networks on filling
The main culprits for section inflation “Other” are modern instant messengers. The architecture of their work involves the active use of local storage to speed up work. Telegram, for example, by default stores all viewed media files in the application cache, which the system classifies as “Other” and not as “Images” or “Video”.
A similar situation is observed in Viber i WhatsApp. Even if you have disabled autosave to the gallery, the files are still downloaded to the application's internal memory. Over time, the message database and media cache can take up more than 5-10 GB of space, remaining invisible to a standard storage analyzer.
Social networks also contribute. The news feed VK or Facebook pre-loads images and videos so you can scroll through the feed without delay. This pre-load buffer is temporary, but often does not clear automatically for a long time.
To solve this problem, you need to go directly into the settings of the application itself. W Telegram has a built-in cache management function that allows you not only to clear it, but also to set a limit on the maximum size of the occupied space. This prevents uncontrolled growth of data volume.
In Telegram settings, go to “Data and memory” → “Memory usage” and set the “Maximum cache size” slider to 200-500 MB. The application itself will delete old files if the limit is exceeded.
System files and remaining updates
In addition to user content, the section “D daarbij” (Other) contains important service data of the operating system. This includes virtual memory files (swap), which are used when RAM RAM is insufficient. The system creates a temporary file on the internal drive to upload data from background processes there.
Another category is update packages. After successful installation of a new version Android or security update, the installation file often remains on the system. It usually weighs from 1 to 3 GB. Ideally, the system should delete it automatically, but failures in services Google Play or proprietary shells (for example, MIUI or OneUI) can lead to the file remaining as a dead weight.
| Data type | Approximate weight | Is it possible to delete | Where is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application cache | 1–10 GB | Yes, safe | Application settings |
| Log files (Logcat) | 100–500 MB | Yes, after reset | System folders |
| Remains updates | 1–3 GB | Yes, if the update is installed | Root folder /cache |
| Swap file | 2–4 GB | No, created system | Hidden section |
Performance data collected by the smartphone manufacturer for telemetry can also be stored here. These files are usually small, but together with other small service data they create a noticeable volume.
How to find the update file manually?
Usually it is located in the /cache folder or in the root of the internal storage and has a .zip extension. The name often contains the version of the assembly, for example update.zip. You can delete it only if the phone works stably after the last update.
Cleaning methods through standard settings
The safest way to free up space is to use built-in tools Android. Smartphone manufacturers are increasingly introducing smart memory analyzers that correctly determine the cache size. To get started, go to menu Settings → Memory (or Storage).
In this section, the system will offer to clear “Trash” or “Cache”. Clicking on this button will launch a script that will delete temporary files browsers, residual data and empty folders. This method does not require root access and ensures that you do not delete anything unnecessary.
For deeper cleaning, you should go through the list of applications manually. Go to Settings → Applications, sort them by size and select the “heaviest” ones. Inside the application card, find the item "Storage" and press the button "Clear cache".
☑️ Manual cache clearing algorithm
Pay attention to the difference between the buttons "Clear cache" and "Reset data". The first deletes only temporary files, the second erases all logins, settings and the application database, returning it to the “as after installation” state. Use data reset only as a last resort.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may differ depending on the version of Android and the manufacturer's shell. If you do not find the “Memory” item, try searching for it in the settings for “Storage.”
Using specialized utilities and ADB
If standard tools are not enough, you can use third-party utilities, such as Files by Google or SD Maid. These applications can find duplicate files, residual folders from deleted apps and “dummy” (empty directories), which also take up space in the file table.
For advanced users, there is a tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge)By connecting your smartphone to a computer, you can access hidden ones. cache sections that are not visible even to the system analyzer. The command to clear the cache via ADB is as follows:
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999This command forcibly trims the cache of all applications, trying to free the specified number of bytes (in the example, almost all the available cache space). This is a powerful tool that can instantly free up several gigabytes.
You can also remove system bloatware applications via ADB, which are often pre-installed by the manufacturer and take up space in the “Other” section, even if you don’t use them. However, this requires caution and knowledge of the exact package names.
Before using ADB commands, be sure to enable "USB Debugging" in the "For Developers" section. Without this right, the computer will not be able to send a command to the phone.
Radical measures: resetting and formatting
In situations where the partition “Other” occupies a critically large volume (for example, 20-30 GB on a 64 GB device) and cannot be cleaned using standard methods, the file system or indexing may be damaged. In this case, a full reset of settings helps.
Before performing this procedure, you must create a complete backup copy of your important data: contacts, photos and documents. The reset will remove absolutely everything, returning the phone to its factory state. After this, the “Other” section will occupy the minimum required volume for the system to operate.
Sometimes the problem lies in a display error. The system may incorrectly count free space due to a service failure Media Storage. In this case, clearing the data of the system application “Media Storage” through the app menu helps, after which you need to restart the device to re-index the files.
⚠️ Attention: A full factory reset irreversibly deletes all user data. Make sure that you have an up-to-date copy in the cloud or on your computer before starting the procedure.
After the reset, it is recommended not to restore all applications from a backup copy at once, but to install them gradually. Often it is the process of restoring old data that “pulls” the old bloated cache and garbage with it.
If the “Other” section has not been cleared for months and takes up more than 30% of the memory, the most effective solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings with a preliminary backup.
Why does the “Other” section grow immediately after cleaning?
This is normal system behavior. Applications immediately begin creating a new cache for faster operation. If the growth is too fast (gigabytes per hour), check your messenger settings for auto-saving media.
Is it possible to transfer the “Other” section to a memory card?
No, this section refers to the internal system memory. However, some applications allow you to select a memory card in their settings as a place to store the cache and downloaded files.
Does the “Other” section affect the speed of the smartphone?
Yes, indirectly. If the internal memory is full to capacity, the system does not have enough space for the swap file and temporary operations, which leads to severe slowdowns and freezing of the interface.
Is it safe to delete the Android folder manually?
No. The folder Android/data stores working files of installed applications. Removing them will reset the settings of games and apps, and in some cases, make them inoperable.