If you have ever delved into the Android file system via Root Explorer or Total Commander, then you probably came across a mysterious folder /data/system/acct. It is hidden from the eyes of the average user, has no obvious interface for management, but at the same time takes up space on the system partition. What is this directory? Why does it appear on all devices, regardless of the manufacturer - be it Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or budget Redmi Note 12? And most importantly: can it be deleted to free up precious megabytes?

In this article we will analyze in detail purpose of the ACCT folderits connection with the mechanism for recording traffic and application activity in Android, and also tell you what risks its forced cleaning carries. You will learn how to legally reset data from this folder without root access, and why even after a factory reset it can “resurrect” after a few days. Let us separately dwell on myths - for example, that ACCT supposedly “spys” on the user or slows down the smartphone.

Spoiler: The ACCT folder does not contain personal data such as photos or messages, but its contents are critical for the correct operation of the “Data Usage” function in Android settings. Removing it manually is like pulling fuses out of a car because they are “taking up space under the hood.” However, there are safe cleaning methods - read about them below.

What is the ACCT folder and why do you need it in Android

Folder acct (short for accounting - "accounting") is a system directory that stores data about network activity of applications and traffic usage. It is located along the path:

/data/system/acct/

or


/data/acct/ (on some firmware)

Its main purpose is to ensure the operation of the built-in Android traffic counter, which you see in the Settings → Network and Internet → Data usagesection. Without the files from this folder, the system would not be able to:

  • 📊 Display statistics on mobile and Wi-Fi traffic consumption by application.
  • 🔔 Generate warnings about exceeding the limit (if you have configured them).
  • 📉 Reset counters at the beginning of a new billing period.
  • 🔄 Work correctly with traffic saving functions (for example, Data Saver v Pixel or Ultra Data Saving in Samsung).

Inside the folder, binary files with the extension .db (SQLite databases) and .xml (configuration files) are stored. For example:

  • uid_traffic_stats.db — traffic statistics by application UID.
  • network_policy.xml —traffic limiting rules.
  • usage-YYYY-MM-DD.xml —archived data for past periods.
📊 Have you ever tried to clear the ACCT folder manually?
Yes, through Root Explorer
Yes, but without root access
No, but I heard about it
What is it?

Structure of the ACCT folder: what files are stored there

To understand whether you can touch the contents of the folder, let's look at its typical structure. It may differ slightly depending on the version of Android (from Android 10 to Android 14) and firmware (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS etc.), but the key files remain unchanged:

File/folder Purpose Is it possible delete
uid_traffic_stats.db Database with traffic linked to application UIDs (for example, 1000 - system processes, 10154 — Chrome). ❌ No (will reset statistics)
network_policy.xml Rules for limiting background traffic for individual applications. ⚠️ Yes, but the settings will be reset. (used by the Linux kernel).
usage-*.xml Historical traffic data from previous periods (for example, usage-2026-05-01.xml). ✅ You can (will free up space)
acct (subfolder) Temporary process tracking files (used by the Linux kernel). ❌ No (critical for the system)

The heaviest file is usually uid_traffic_stats.db. On devices with active use of the mobile data, it can take from 5 to 50 MB, and on tablets with a SIM card - up to 100+ MB. However, its size does not affect performance, since the database is accessed only when you open the “Data Usage” section in the settings.

💡

If you need to free up space on the system partition, check first folder /data/system/package_cache —gigabytes of application update caches often accumulate there, which can be safely deleted even without root access.

Is it possible to delete the ACCT folder: risks and consequences

Technically, you can delete the folder acct but this will lead to serious failures:

  • ❌ Resetting traffic statistics: all counters in the settings will be reset, and you will lose your consumption history.
  • ❌ Errors in the operation of network functions: may stop working VPN, modem mode or traffic saving.
  • ❌ Permanent notifications: Android will try to restore files, which may cause lags.
  • ❌ Problems with updates: some firmwares (for example, MIUI) check the integrity of system folders before installing OTA patches.

Moreover, the folder will be automatically restored in 1-2 dayssince its creation is specified in system scripts init.rc. The only legal way to “clear” ACCT is to reset the network settings or do a full reset of the device (but this will also delete all your data).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 12+ forced deletion of a folder acct may cause soft-brick (cyclic reboot) if the system uses it to track activity Work Profiles (corporate accounts).

How to safely clear data from the ACCT folder

If your goal is to free up space or reset traffic statistics, there is 3 safe ways to do it without root access:

Method 1: Resetting statistics traffic in settings

  1. Open Settings → Network and Internet → Data usage.
  2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Reset statistics.
  3. Confirm the action.

This will clear uid_traffic_stats.db without harm to the system.

Method 2: Reset network settings

This method will delete all saved Wi-Fi networks, passwords and mobile data settings, but will also clear accounting data:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Reset settings.
  2. Select Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings.
  3. Confirm and reboot the device.

Method 3: Using ADB (for advanced)

If you have access to ADB, you can manually clear archived data (files usage-*.xml), without affecting critical databases:

adb shell

su


rm /data/system/acct/usage-*.xml


exit


exit

This command will delete only archived logs without disturbing the operation of the counters.

☑️ Preparing to clean ACCT

Done: 0 / 4

Myths about the ACCT folder: what's really wrong

B There are a lot of rumors about this folder on the Internet. Let's look at the most popular ones: Myth 1: “ACCT spies on the user”

Myth 1: “ACCT spies on the user”

❌ Reality: The folder contains only technical data about traffic (which application sent/received how many bytes) There is no browser history, messages or geolocation. This data is not transmitted. data-i="163">or the manufacturer - they are needed only to display statistics Google or the manufacturer - they are needed only to display statistics locally on your device.

Myth 2: “Removing ACCT will speed up the smartphone”

❌ Reality: The folder does not affect performance because:

  • 📱 Its contents are read only when you open the “Data Usage” section.
  • 🔄 It does not participate in background processes (unlike, for example, /data/dalvik-cache).
  • 📉 Even on weak devices (for example, Redmi 9A) deleting it will not increase FPS or loading speed.

Myth 3: “ACCT can be transferred to an SD card”

❌ Reality: Android is strictly tied to the path /data/system/acctAny attempts to transfer via bind mount or. symlinks will lead to traffic accounting errors. The only exception is devices with Android Go, where part of the system data can be stored on an external drive, but this is implemented at the firmware level.

Why does the ACCT folder appear again after deletion?

Android restores it through the system service netd, which is responsible for traffic accounting. This service starts every time you reboot and checks for the presence of critical files, if they are not there, it creates them again with default parameters. Therefore, manual deletion is a pointless exercise, similar to a struggle. with windmills.

ACCT and root access: what can be done with root

If your device has root access (for example, through Magisk), you can:

  1. Clear archived logs (files usage-*.xml) on a schedule via Tasker or Termux.
  2. Freeze traffic accounting for individual applications, editing network_policy.xml.
  3. Redirect folder to another partition (risky, but possible on custom firmware like LineageOS).

Example command for cleaning archives via Termux:

su -c "find /data/system/acct -name 'usage-*.xml' -delete"
⚠️ Attention: On some firmwares (for example, ColorOS from Oppo/Realme), editing files in /data/system/acct may trigger the Anti-Rollback mechanism to protect against firmware rollback. This will lead to blocking. bootloader.

Frequent problems with the ACCT folder and their solutions

Sometimes the folder acct can cause problems: Here are typical symptoms and ways to fix them:

Problem Cause Solution
Traffic statistics are not reset Damaged file uid_traffic_stats.db Reset statistics via ADB:
adb shell cmd netpolicy reset-quota
Continuous notifications “Traffic limit exceeded” Error in network_policy.xml Reset network settings or delete the file via root
The folder takes up gigabytes of space Accumulation of archived logs (usage-*.xml) Clear manually (see the ADB method above) or disable archiving via Build.prop

If, after manipulating the folder, the device begins to behave unstable (for example, it has stopped connecting to the mobile network), run:

adb shell cmd netpolicy reset all

This command will reset everything network policies to factory settings.

💡

The ACCT folder is not an enemy, but a tool. Its contents should not be deleted, but managed: reset statistics through settings, clear archives and monitor abnormal file growth. If it takes up more than 100 MB, this is a reason to check the device for viruses or faulty applications that generate abnormal traffic.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer the ACCT folder to a memory card?

No, this is technically impossible without deep modification of the firmware. Android is strictly tied to the path /data/system/acct, and any attempts to transfer through symlinks or bind mount will lead to traffic accounting errors. The only exception is some custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where you can reassign system paths, but this requires knowledge in kernel assembly.

Why does the ACCT folder appear again after resetting to factory settings?

The folder is created automatically by the system service netd when you first connect to the network (mobile or Wi-Fi). This is part of the traffic accounting mechanism written in the Android source code (AOSPeven after a complete reset, it will be restored a few minutes after activating the SIM card or connecting to the Internet.

Does the size of the ACCT folder affect battery life?

No, the size of files in /data/system/acct does not affect battery consumption. This data is read only when you open the “Data Usage” section in the settings. In the background, they do not consume resources, look for another reason: for example, in wakelocks from applications or an unoptimized kernel.

Is it possible to disable traffic accounting completely?

Technically yes, but this will require root access and editing system files. For example, you can:

  1. Disable the service netd (but this will disrupt the network).
  2. Remove permissions for com.android.settings read /data/system/acct.
  3. Replace uid_traffic_stats.db with an empty file (but it will be restored).

However this is not recommended, as it will disrupt the operation of many functions, including VPN, modem mode and traffic saving.

Why on some devices the ACCT folder weighs several gigabyte?

This is an anomaly that occurs due to:

  • 🐛 A faulty applicationthat generates millions of log entries (pirated or modified APKs are often to blame).
  • 🦠 Virusmasquerading as a system process (check your device via Malwarebytes).
  • 🔧 Firmware errors (relevant for beta versions Android or unofficial ports).

Solution: find the problematic application via adb shell dumpsys netstats or perform a factory reset.