Have you ever encountered the “Not enough memory” message on your smartphone? Or have you noticed that Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi Redmi or even the flagship Google Pixel start to “slow down”, although there is still plenty of RAM? In 90% of cases, the culprit is the overflow internal memory of the phone —that same “built-in storage” that manufacturers often confuse with RAM in advertising brochures. But if RAM is responsible for the speed of applications “here and now”, then internal memory is your digital “attic”, where all data is stored: from photos to system files.

In this article we will figure out how internal memory differs from external memory (cards microSD), why it gets clogged even for careful users, and most importantly - which files can be deleted without the risk of “breaking” Android, and which files should absolutely not be touched. Spoiler: just clicking “Clear cache” in the settings is like sweeping the floor without taking the trash out of the house. We need a system.

What is the phone’s internal memory and how does it differ from RAM

Even experienced users sometimes get confused internal memory (aka built-in, permanent or Internal Storage) with RAM (RAM, RAM). The difference is fundamental:

  • 📱 Internal memory is the “hard drive” of your phone. The following are stored here:
    • Android system files (/system, /vendor)
    • Installed applications (/data/app)
    • Personal data: photos, videos, documents (/storage/emulated/0)
    • Application cache and temporary files
  • 🔄 Random access memory (RAM) is the “desktop”. It is needed for instant access to data. For example, when you edit a photo in right now. For example, when you edit a photo in Lightroom or play in Genshin Impact, this data is loaded into RAM. is cleared.

The amount of internal memory is indicated in the characteristics of the smartphone as 128GB, 256GB or 512GB ROM (from English Read-Only Memory, although this is not entirely accurate). Important: part of this volume is immediately occupied by the system. For example, in Samsung Galaxy S23 with the declared 256GB the user has access to about 230GB - the rest is consumed by the firmware One UI and preinstalled ones. applications.

But RAM is designated as 8GB RAM or 12GB RAM. Its volume does not affect the number of photos you can store, but determines how many applications can run simultaneously without slowdowns. For example, Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro s 8GB RAM will cope with 10 Chrome tabs + YouTube + Telegram without rebooting, and the model with 4GB RAM will begin to “unload” background tasks.

📊 How often do you clear the memory of your smartphone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when a low memory notification appears
Never cleared

Why internal memory gets clogged: 5 main reasons

If you don't download movies In 4K and you don’t install 100 games a day, why does the memory still run out? Here are the main “eaters” of space:

  1. Application cache. Each application (even Calculator) creates temporary files to speed up work. For example, Instagram caches stories and photo thumbnails. and Google Maps —maps of offline regions. On average, the cache takes up 1–5GB, but for gamers or active users of social networks it can grow to 10GB+.
  2. Residual filesAfter deleting applications, they often remain. “tails”: settings, databases, folders in /Android/data. For example, deleting TikTok, you will free ~150MB, but will also 50–200MB remain as garbage.
  3. Duplicates and unnecessary media files. Android automatically creates thumbnails (.thumbnail) for the gallery, copies of edited photos (IMG_20231015_123456_edit.jpg), screenshots (Screenshot_2023...) and downloads from instant messengers (folder Telegram or WhatsApp/Media).
  4. System updates. Android saves old firmware versions in case of rollback. For example, after updating to Android 14 in the folder /cache there may be an archive with Android 13 weight. data-i="114">System updates 1–3GB.
  5. Hidden application files. Many apps (especially games) download additional data after installation. For example, Call of Duty Mobile weighs ~100MB in Google Play, but after the first launch it will download more 1.5–2GB resources.

Interesting fact: even if you do not install anything new, memory can “melt” due to background activityFor example, Google Photos menu. data-i="129">Settings → Applications → Memory usage in the default settings creates backup copies in original quality, and Facebook downloads autoplay videos to the cache. You can check the “culprits” in the Settings → Applications → Memory usage.

💡

If your phone suddenly begins to lose memory for no apparent reason, check the folder /DCIM/.thumbnails - sometimes tens of thousands of thumbnails accumulate here, weighing up to 500MBThey can be safely deleted: they will be restored automatically the next time you open them. galleries.

How to check what is taking up memory on Android

Before clearing the memory, you need to understand what exactly is taking up itFor this, there are built-in tools and third-party applications. Let's consider both options.

Method 1: Built-in Android Tools

Open Settings → Memory (on some phones the path may be different: Settings → Storage or Settings → Device care → MemoryHere you will see a diagram with memory distribution by category:

  • 📁 System —Android and firmware files (cannot be deleted!)
  • 📱 Applications - installed apps and their data
  • 🖼️ Images and videos - photos, screenshots, downloads
  • 🎵 Audio - music, podcasts, sounds notifications
  • 📄 Other files - cache, downloads, documents

Click on any category to see details. For example, in the “Applications” section you can sort apps by size and see what WhatsApp occupies 1.2GB, and Google Chrome — 800MB (mainly due to the cache).

Method 2: Third-party applications (for in-depth analysis)

Built-in tools show the overall picture, but do not always reveal “hidden” files. for a detailed analysis:

  • 🔍 Files by Google (from Google) - shows unnecessary files, duplicates and large media. There is a "Cleaning" function with recommendations.
  • 📊 DiskUsage - visualizes memory in the form of an interactive map, where each block = a folder or file.
  • 🛠️ SD Maid (requires root access for full functionality) - finds residuals files after uninstalling applications.

Example: Files by Google go to the “Cleaning” tab - the application will automatically find:

  • Large files (> 10MB)
  • Duplicate photos
  • Screenshots older than 30 days
  • Unnecessary APK files (leftovers after installing applications)
What are "other files" in memory analysis?

This category includes:

- Application cache (/data/data/application_package/cache)

- System logs (/data/log)

- Temporary download files (/data/local/tmp)

- Database files (.db, .sqlite)

- Configuration files (.xml, .json)

Some of them can be deleted, but some (for example, instant messenger databases) contain important information such as chat history.

How to clear Android internal memory: step-by-step guide

Now let's move on to practice. Important: not all methods are equally safe. We divided them into three risk categories:

Method Efficiency Risk of data loss Root required?
Clearing application cache ⭐⭐⭐ (frees 0.5–3GB) ❌ No ❌ No
Deleting unnecessary media files ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (frees 1–10GB+) ⚠️ Medium (you can delete what you need) ❌ No
Uninstalling applications ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (frees 0.1–5GB) ❌ No ❌ No
Clearing downloads and temporary files ⭐⭐ (frees 0.2–1GB) ❌ No ❌ No
Removing system garbage (remnants of updates) ⭐⭐⭐ (frees 0.5–2GB) ⚠️⚠️ High (risk of damaging the system) ✅ Yes

Let's start with the safest methods.

Step 1: Clearing the application cache

Cache - these are temporary files that applications create to speed up their work. They can be deleted without consequences (the application will create new ones the next time you launch it). How to clear:

  1. Open Settings → Applications Settings → Applications.
  2. Select an application (for example, YouTube or Facebook).
  3. Click “Storage” → “Clear cache.”

For mass clearing:

  1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cached data.
  2. Confirm cleaning (on some phones you need to click “Clear” or “Delete”).

⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse “Clear cache” with “Clear data”! The second action will delete all application settings (for example, logins in Instagram or progress in games).

Clear cache Google Play Services|Delete cache Chrome or other browser|Clear messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Delete game cache (for example, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire)-->

Step 2: Removing unnecessary media files

Photos, videos and audio usually take up the lion's share of memory. Here's how to get them in order:

  • 📸 Photos and videos:
    • Open Gallery and sort the files by size (most galleries have the “Sort → By size” option).
    • Remove duplicates (use Files by Google or Duplicate Files Fixer).
    • Transfer old photos to the cloud (Google Photos, Yandex Disk) or to a memory card.
  • 🎥 Screenshots:
    • The folder with screenshots is usually called Screenshots or Pictures/Screenshots.
    • Delete screenshots older than 30 days (if they are not needed for work).
  • 🎵 Music and podcasts:
    • Check folders Music, Podcasts, Ringtones.
    • Delete tracks that can be streamed (for example, via Spotify or YouTube Music).

💡 Advice: In Google Photos enable the “Free up space” function (Settings → Free up space). data-i="250">Tip

Step 3: Uninstall unnecessary applications

The average user installs 60–90 applications, but actively uses only 15–20. How to find and remove unnecessary:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Sort by size or date of last use.
  3. Delete:
    • Applications that have not been used for >3 months.
    • Games that have not been played for a long time (for example, Candy Crush or Clash of Clans).
    • Duplicate apps (for example, two file managers or two browsers).

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete system applications (for example, Google Play Services or Android System WebView) - this may cause the phone to malfunction. If you are not sure, check the name of the application in Google.

Step 4: Clear downloads and temporary files

The folder Download (or Downloads) is a treasure trove of unnecessary files: old APKs, PDF instructions, memes from social networks. How to put it in order:

  1. Open any file manager (for example, Files by Google or the built-in Explorer).
  2. Go to the folder /storage/emulated/0/Download.
  3. Delete:
    • Files with extension .apk (application installation packages).
    • Old documents (.pdf, .docx), which can be downloaded again.
    • Archives (.zip, .rar), if you have already unpacked their contents.

Also check the folders:

  • /Android/data —application data is stored here (for example, downloaded maps for Google Maps).
  • /Android/obb —game files (can be deleted if the game has already been deleted).
  • /DCIM/.thumbnails —thumbnails for the gallery (can be cleared).

Step 5: Removing system garbage (for experienced users)

This step requires caution! Here we delete files that the system creates for its needs. Incorrect actions can lead to failures.

What can be cleaned:

  • /cache — temporary system files (can be deleted via Recovery Mode).
  • /data/log — error logs (root access required).
  • Residual update files (/cache/ota).

🛑 Warning: Without root access, it is not recommended to delete files from system folders manually. Use proven applications like SD Maid (with the "CorpseFinder" option to search for residual files).

💡

Regularly clearing the cache and unnecessary files (once every 1-2 months) prevents memory “cluttering” and prolongs the life of the phone. But don’t get carried away: excessive cache clearing can, on the contrary, slow down applications, forcing them to recreate temporary files every time. startup.

What to do if the memory runs out too quickly

If you have cleared everything possible, but after a week the memory is full again, the problem lies deeper. Here are possible reasons and solutions:

  • 🔄 Automatic downloading of media in messengers:
    • V WhatsApp: Settings → Storage → Storage management → delete unnecessary files.
    • V Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Storage → Clear cache.
  • 📥 Background synchronization of cloud services:
    • Google Photos, Dropbox or OneDrive can automatically download files to the device.
    • Open the settings of these applications and disable auto-sync for large files.
  • 🎮 Games with “re-downloading” content:
    • Games like Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact download additional resources after installation.
    • Check the game size in Settings → Applications → [game name] → Storage.
  • 📱 Viruses or malware:
    • Some viruses create hidden files or mine cryptocurrency, filling up memory.
    • Check your phone with using Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.

🔍 Diagnostics: If the memory “melts” for no apparent reason, install DiskUsage and check which folders are growing disproportionately quickly. Often the culprit is:

  • Folder /Android/data/com.whatsapp (media from WhatsApp).
  • Folder /Android/data/com.facebook.katana (cache Facebook).
  • Folder /DCIM/Camera (if the camera saves the photo in maximum resolution).

How to prevent memory from filling up in the future

The best way to deal with low memory is prevention. Here are a few habits that will help keep your memory under control:

  • 📲 Set up automatic cleaning:
    • In Files by Google turn on “Auto Cleaning” (Settings → Auto Cleaning).
    • On some phones (for example Samsung) there is a “Device Care” function with automatic optimization.
  • ☁️ Use cloud storage:
    • Set up photo auto-upload to Google Photos (select “High quality” for unlimited storage).
    • Transfer rarely used files in Yandex Disk or Mega.
  • 📱 Limit application cache:
    • In Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear history and data on exit.
    • Q Instagram: Disable "Save originals" in settings.
  • 🛒 Install applications on the memory card (if supported):
    • In Settings → Applications → [application name] → Storage select “Edit” → “Memory card”.
    • ⚠️ Not all applications support transfer to microSD.
  • 🔍 Check your memory regularly:
    • Once a month, open Settings → Memory and see what takes up the most space.
    • Use Files by Google to search for large and unnecessary files.

💡 Advice for gamers: If you play heavy games (PUBG, Genshin Impact, Honor of Kings), install them on a memory card (if your phone supports Adoptable Storage) or use the “Lite” function version" (if available). For example, PUBG Mobile Lite weighs ~300MB instead of 1.5GB in the full version.

Frequent errors when clearing memory (and how to avoid them)

When clearing memory, many users make mistakes that either have no effect or even harm the phone. Here are the most common:

  • ❌ Deleting the system application cache:
    • Cache Google Play Services or Android System It is better not to touch - this can lead to malfunctions of Google services.
  • ❌ Usage “cleaners” with aggressive algorithms:
    • Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete useful files and show false warnings.
    • Trust only official tools (Files by Google) or proven utilities (SD Maid).
  • ❌ Deleting files from a folder /system without root access:
    • This can lead to a “brick” of the phone (complete inoperability).
  • ❌ Ignoring backups before cleaning:
    • Before mass deleting files, make a backup of important data (contacts, photos, documents).
  • ❌ Clearing memory to the last megabyte:
    • Android needs 10–15% free space for stable operation. If the memory is full, the phone will start. slow down.

⚠️ Attention: If after clearing the memory the phone began to perform worse (for example, applications take longer to load), you may have deleted too much cache. Give the system a couple of days to restore temporary files.

Why did not the phone become faster after clearing the memory?

Speed The operation of the phone depends on:

1. Random Access Memory (RAM) — if there is not enough of it, applications will be unloaded from the background.

2. Processor — a weak chipset will not cope with heavy tasks even with free memory.

3. Memory fragmentation —if the memory is full and is cleared chaotically, the file system can become fragmented, which slows down reading/writing.

Cleaning internal memory frees up space for new files, but does not always speed up the phone. For performance, it is more important to optimize background processes and close unnecessary applications.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to increase the internal memory of the phone?

Physically, no, since the internal memory is soldered to the motherboard. However, there are workarounds:

  • Use a memory card microSD (but not all applications can be transferred to it).
  • On some phones (for example, Xiaomi s MIUI) you can combine the memory card with internal memory into one section (Adoptable Storage), but this will reduce the speed.
  • Delete unnecessary system applications (root access required).

⚠️ Combining memory with <