Owners of smartphones based on the operating system Android sooner or later face a lack of free space in the device’s memory. When trying to free up gigabytes, users often go to the file manager and stumble upon a system directory with a laconic name. This folder raises many questions, as it can take up a significant amount of storage, but many are afraid to touch it for fear of breaking applications.
In fact, the structure of this directory is quite logical and is intended for organized storage of temporary data, cache and settings of installed apps. Understanding exactly how the file system in this section is structured will allow you to manage memory wisely without the risk of losing important saved games or messenger settings. In this article, we will analyze in detail the contents of each subsection and develop a safe cleaning strategy.
Modern versions Android, starting with the eleventh, have introduced serious restrictions on access to this area for the safety of users. Now third-party file managers cannot simply scan and delete content without special permission from the system. This complicated the process of manual cleaning, but at the same time protected critical data from accidental deletion by viruses or inexperienced users.
General structure and purpose of the system directory
The folder Android, located in the root of the internal drive, serves as a central storage for all user applications that you install from the store. Google Play or third-party sources. Unlike system firmware files, which are write-protected, the contents of this directory are created dynamically while using the gadget.
The main purpose of this structure is to isolate data from different apps from each other. This prevents conflicts when one application tries to change the files of another, and simplifies the process of completely removing the software along with all the garbage that it has accumulated during its operation. Inside you will find several key subfolders, each of which is responsible for its own type of data.
It is worth noting that the amount of space occupied here can grow exponentially if you actively use heavy video editing apps, play modern 3D shooters, or store huge archives of correspondence in instant messengers. The system does not always automatically clean out old files, so regular auditing of this section becomes a necessity to maintain device performance.
⚠️ Attention: Starting with Android 11, access to this folder through third-party file managers (for example, Total Commander or ES Explorer) may be limited or completely blocked by the system without granting special access rights.
Data section: personal data storage and settings
The subdirectory data is the most important and sensitive element of the entire structure. Databases, game save files, authorization tokens, interface settings, and application-specific caches are stored here. Each app is assigned a unique package name, which looks like a domain name in reverse order, for example, com.whatsapp or com.google.android.youtube.
Inside the folder with the name of a specific application, there are usually subdirectories files, cache and code_cache. This is where your personal data lies: downloaded documents, offline navigator maps, Telegram stickers or note databases. Deleting the contents of this section will result in resetting the application to factory settings or complete loss of progress. files contains your personal data: downloaded documents, offline navigator maps, Telegram stickers or note databases. Deleting the contents of this section will reset the application to factory settings or completely lose progress.
Cache, stored in the corresponding subfolder, is intended to speed up the operation of apps. It contains temporary images, video thumbnails and other data that is downloaded from the network. Theoretically, it can be cleaned, but the application will download this data again the next time it is launched, which can lead to unnecessary consumption of traffic and download time.
How to find a specific application in the list?
The list of folders in the data section is sorted alphabetically. To find the app you need, search by package name. For example, for Instagram it will be com.instagram.android, and for VKontakte - ru.vk.android.
If you decide to manually delete a specific application folder from the section data, be prepared for the fact that the next time you launch the app, it may give an error or require re-authorization. In some cases, this is the only way to fix a software crash when the application crashes immediately after opening due to corruption of the configuration files.
OBB folder: heavy resources for games and media
Directory obb (Opaque Binary Blob) is designed to store large additional files that do not fit in the main installation package of the application. Most often, this contains textures, three-dimensional models, audio tracks and video inserts for modern mobile games with high graphics, such as PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty.
The naming structure here is similar to the section data: each game has its own folder with the package name. Inside there is usually a file with the extension .obb, which can weigh several gigabytes. This allows developers to update game content without having to reinstall the entire application through the store.
Deleting files from this folder will cause the game to stop launching or require resources to be downloaded again upon login. The system will not be able to automatically recover this data without connecting to the Internet and checking the integrity of the files through the game launcher. Therefore, you should clear this section only if you are sure that you will no longer play a specific project.
Before deleting files from the obb folder, check the cache size in the settings of the application itself. Often the system allows you to clear unnecessary things inside the game, which is safer than manually deleting files through Explorer.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the game is deleted, but the folder in obb remains hanging as a dead weight. This happens due to incorrect software removal or update failures. In such cases, manually clearing the freed “tails” is the only correct solution for returning precious gigabytes of memory.
Media directory: notifications and system sounds
A lesser-known but useful folder media is designed for storing sound files associated with notifications of specific applications. If you set your own unique sound for a message in messenger or an alarm clock, a copy of this file is often saved here so that the system can play it even if the original was moved or deleted by the user.
Inside you can find subfolders with the names of applications that use custom audio files. The space occupied here is usually small - tens or hundreds of megabytes, but over the years of using a smartphone, many duplicate melodies that you have long since changed to others can accumulate there.
Cleaning this section is usually safe for the performance of apps. In the worst case, the next time you receive a notification, the app will play the default system sound instead of your favorite tune, and you'll have to reselect the audio file in Settings. This is not critical, but may require a little time to reconfigure.
| Folder name | Content type | Risk of deletion | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
data |
Settings, saving, database | High (loss of progress) | Do not touch unless absolutely necessary |
obb |
Game resources (textures, videos) | Medium (the game will not start) | Delete only for deleted games |
media |
Notification sounds | Low (reset ringtones) | Can be cleaned periodically |
Access problems in new versions of Android
Starting with Android 11 and continuing In Android 12, 13 and 14, Google has implemented a policy of limited access to storage (Scoped Storage). Now, when you try to access a folder Android through a standard explorer, you may see a message that access is denied, or just an empty directory, despite the fact that the files are physically present there.
This is done to prevent malicious applications from scanning the data of other apps and steal confidential information. However, this creates inconvenience for advanced users who are used to manually controlling the file system. Standard cleaning tools in phone settings often show only the superficial cache, without giving access to deep structures.
To get around this limitation, you can use the built-in Files application from Google or special managers that request special permission through the SAF (Storage Access Framework) system interface. When you first log in, the system will show a request to grant access to all files, which must be confirmed manually.
It is important to understand that even if you have access, some system files may be hidden or write-protected. An attempt to force the deletion of such files through root access can lead to unstable operation of the operating system, so it is not worth going into the very jungle of the file system without unnecessary need.
Safe cleaning and optimization of space
Before you start manually deleting files, it is recommended to use the built-in optimization tools. In the settings of most smartphones there is a “Storage” or “Memory” section, where the system itself analyzes large files and offers to delete the cache or data of unused applications. This is the safest way, eliminating the human factor.
If you still decide to clean the folder manually, follow the rule: delete only what you understand. If you see a folder with the name of a game deleted six months ago, feel free to erase it from obb i data. If the name of the application is unfamiliar to you, it is better to first Google the name of the package to make sure that it is not a system service.
To clear the cache of specific apps, you can go to Settings → Applications, select the desired application and click the "Clear cache" button. This action will free up space in the folder data/cache without deleting your personal settings and logins. Regularly performing this procedure helps keep your smartphone in good shape.
☑️ Safe cleaning algorithm
⚠️ Attention: Never delete it yourself the entire Android root folder. This can lead to the loss of data from all applications and disruption of the operating system, up to the need to reset to factory settings.
Frequently asked questions and solutions to problems
Users often ask questions about why the folder grows to enormous sizes and whether it is possible to transfer it to a memory card. The answer lies in the architecture of modern applications, which prefer to store data on internal, fast storage for maximum performance. Transferring data to a slow SD card can cause slowdowns in the operation of apps.
Another common problem is the appearance of a folder .thumbnails inside media directories, which can occupy tens of gigabytes. This is a cache of gallery thumbnails. It can be deleted, but it will be created again the next time you view photos. To combat this, there are special stub files that block the creation of a cache, but their use requires certain technical skills.
If after cleaning there is less space instead of more, you may have encountered a problem with the file system or media indexing. In this case, a simple reboot of the device will help, which will force the system to recalculate the free space and update the database indexes.
Regularly clearing the cache and deleting data from deleted applications is a better prevention of memory shortage than radical deletion of system files.
Is it possible to transfer the Android folder to a memory card?
In modern times In Android versions, forced transfer of the Android system folder to an SD card is impossible without root access and deep modification of the system. Apps by default install data to internal memory for speed. Some older models allow you to change the default save location in the settings, but this only applies to photos and music, not service data.
Why does the Android folder weigh 10 GB or more?
This volume usually accumulates due to the cache of instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), offline maps of navigators and resources of heavy games. It also contains downloaded files that applications save in their container. Regular audit of the data section will help identify the specific culprit.
What happens if you delete the .obb file?
The game or application to which this file belongs will no longer launch correctly. When you try to log in, it will detect the absence of resources and offer to download them again. If the Internet is slow, this may take a long time. Delete obb only if you have deleted the application itself.
How to open the Android folder on Android 13 and higher?
Use the built-in file manager "Files by Google" or give permission to a third-party manager through the system file access window. When you try to log in, the system will ask you to click the "Allow access to folder" button, after which you need to confirm the action in the system dialog.
Is it safe to use cleaner applications for this folder?
Most popular cleaners (Clean Master, CCleaner, etc.) work safely because they use the allowed system APIs. They do not delete critical files, but only clear the cache and temporary files. However, they do not provide such deep control as manual control through the explorer.