Smartphone owners Samsung Galaxy sooner or later face the need to understand the structure of the internal storage. The system shows that the memory is full, but where exactly these gigabytes of data are located is not always clear. It is especially difficult for beginners: the standard file manager Android hides some folders, and the manufacturer adds its own sections like Secure Folder or Knox.

In this article we will not just show how to find storage on a Samsung phone, but also explain which files can be safely deleted and which ones are better not to touch. You will learn where heavy application caches are hidden, how to distinguish system data from user data, and why sometimes even after clearing the memory is not freed. And for advanced users - instructions for working with hidden partitions through ADB and third-party file managers.

The material is relevant for all modern models Galaxy (from S21 to S24 Ultra, series A, M i Fold/Z), working on Android 12-14 with a shell One UI 4.0-6.1. If you have an older version of the software, some menu items may differ - we will warn you about this separately.

1. Standard ways to view storage through Samsung settings

The easiest way to assess memory fullness is to use built-in tools One UI. They give basic information about what's taking up space, but don't show the detailed file structure. But they do not require installation of additional applications.

Open Settings → Device care → Memory. Here you will see a pie chart with the distribution of data by category:

  • 📁 System files — operating system and pre-installed applications (cannot be deleted).
  • 📷 Images and videos — photo from Galleries, screenshots, downloads from messengers.
  • 🎵 Audio — music, podcasts, voice recordings.
  • 📄 Documents — PDF, Excel, Word and other files from Downloads or My file.
  • 🤖 Applications - installed apps and their data (cache, settings).
  • 🗑️ Other —temporary files, system cache, remnants of deleted applications.

Click on any category to see details. For example, in the Applications section, sort apps by size - this way you will find the most “gluttonous” culprits of low memory. And in Images you can immediately go to folders with heavy videos or duplicate photos.

⚠️ Attention: If more than 5-10 GB are occupied in the section Other this is a sign of a clogged system. Most often, update remnants (OTA), log files or damaged data are to blame. They cannot be deleted manually - they will need to be reset or cleared via ADB (more on this below).

For quick cleaning, press the button Clear now at the bottom of the screen. The system will offer to delete:

  • 🧹 Application cache (safe, but temporarily frees up space).
  • 🗑️ Unneeded files from Downloads (check them before deleting!).
  • 📂 Duplicates in Gallery (sometimes mistakenly flags similar photos).

📊 How often do you clear the memory on your smartphone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when space runs out
Never clean

2. File manager "My File": deep analysis of folders

Built-in application My file (or My Files) from Samsung gives more control than the section Memory in the settings. Here you will see the complete storage structure, including hidden system folders (if you enable their display).

To open the manager:

  1. Click on the icon My file on the main screen or in the application menu.
  2. If it is not there, find it through the search (Search by device swipe down on the main screen).
  3. At the top of the screen, select tab Device (not SD card or Cloud).

Now you see the root folders storage:

  • 📁 DCIM — photos and videos from the camera (Camera, Screenshots).
  • 📁 Downloads — everything you downloaded from the browser or instant messengers.
  • 📁 Pictures, Music, Movies — media files created or saved by the user.
  • 📁 Android — application data (including cache and settings).
  • 📁 Secure Folder — encrypted storage (requires a password).

To see hidden files and folders (they start with a dot, for example .thumbnails), click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → turn on switch Show hidden files. Be careful: deleting system hidden files may cause crashes!

💡

If folder Android/data takes up a lot of space, do not delete its contents manually. Game saves and application data are stored here. To clear them, use the settings of a specific application or specialized utilities like SD Maid.

Folder What is stored Can I clear it? data-i="136">Thumbnails for quick viewing of photos
DCIM/.thumbnails Thumbnails for quickly viewing photos Yes (will be restored automatically)
Android/obb Additional game files (graphics, levels) Only if you delete the game
Android/data Cache and application settings Partially (via application settings)
Secure Folder Encrypted user files Yes, but a password is required
OTA or cache Temporary update files Yes (after installation updates)

3. Hidden storage sections: Knox, OTA and system data

Samsung uses several hidden sections that are not displayed in the standard file manager, but take up space. They can only be seen through ADB or special utilities like DiskUsage.

Main hidden sections:

  • 🔒 Knox —a secure container for corporate data (if you do not use Samsung Knoxit may be empty).
  • 🔄 OTA —over-the-air update files (sometimes remain after installation and take up to 1-2 GB).
  • 📦 system and vendor — Android system files (cannot be changed without root access).
  • 🗃️ metadata — file system service information (for example, for F2FS or ext4).

To view hidden partitions without root:

  1. Install the application DiskUsage from Google Play.
  2. Run a scan (file access permission required).
  3. Click on large blocks to see which partition occupies them.

⚠️ Attention: If you see a partition metadata more than 500 MB in size, this may indicate file system corruption. Do not try to clear it manually - perform a factory reset or contact a service center.

For advanced users: to see all partitions via ADB, connect the phone to PC and run the command: 

adb shell df -h

This will show all mounted partitions indicating free and used space For example:

/dev/block/dm-0   118G   24G    94G  20% /data

where /data is the main user storage.

How to delete old OTA files without root?

If the folder /cache or /data/ota_package contains files with the extension .zip or .bin (weighing 500 MB–2 GB), they can be deleted via ADB:

1. Connect the phone to a PC with ADB installed.

2. Run the commands:

adb shell su (if there is root) rm -rf /data/ota_package/*

3. Reboot the device.

You cannot delete these files without root - they are protected by system rights.

4. How to free up space: step-by-step checklist

If the storage is full, follow this algorithm (from safe actions to more risky ones):

☑️ Clearing memory on Samsung

Done: 0 / 7

Let's look at each item in more detail:

1. Application cache. Go to Settings → Applications, select a app (for example, Instagram or Google Chrome) and press Memory → Clear cache. This is safe, but the cache will accumulate again over time. To automatically clean, use Smart Manager (built-in application Samsung).

2. Transfer of media files. Photos and videos take up the lion's share of memory. Transfer them:

  • ☁️ To the cloud: Google Photos (free up to 15 GB) or Samsung Cloud (5–15 GB depending on the model).
  • 💾 To an SD card: if your Galaxy supports memory expansion (check in the model specifications).
  • 🖥️ On a PC: via cable USB-C in mode File transfer (MTP).

3. Cleaning downloads. The folder Downloads is often clogged with unnecessary PDFs, APKs and archives. Open My file → Downloads and delete everything that is older than 3 months. Do not forget about Trash - files from it are only permanently deleted. after 15 days.

4. "junk" folders. You can safely clear:

  • 🗑️ DCIM/.thumbnails — thumbnails (will be restored automatically).
  • 📂 Android/obb — if you deleted the game, but its files remain.
  • 🔄 cache — temporary files (required root or ADB).

⚠️ Attention: Never delete manually folder Android/data for running applications! This will lead to crashes. To clear, use the settings of a specific application or function Clear data (but this will delete all saves, for example, progress in games).

5. Secure Folder. If you do not use this partition, check it for old files. Open Secure Folder (password/fingerprint required), then My File → Secure Folder and delete unnecessary ones. The partition itself is disabled in Settings → Biometrics and security → Secure Folder.

6. Applications. Delete apps that you have not used for more than a month. Especially “heavy” games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) - they take up 2-10 GB each Samsung (For example, Samsung Free, Bixby): they can be disabled (but not completely deleted) in Settings → Applications → three dots → Show system ones.

7. Reset settings. If after all manipulations partition Other still occupies >10 GB, this is a sign of fragmentation or damage to the file system. In this case, only reset to factory settings (Settings → General → Reset). Before resetting, be sure to save the data: after the procedure, the phone will be “like new”, with the internal memory completely cleared.

5. Advanced methods: ADB and third-party utilities

If the standard methods do not help, you will have to use tools for advanced users. They allow you to delete files that are not available through the regular interface, but. require caution.

Method 1: Cleaning via ADB. Connect your phone to the PC, install ADB Tools and run the commands: 

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "data/app"

This command will show all user applications with paths to their data To delete the cache of a specific application. (for example, com.facebook.katana):

adb shell pm clear com.facebook.katana

Method 2: SD Maid utility. Application SD Maid (available in Google Play) can find and delete:

  • 🧹 Remains of deleted applications (orphaned files).
  • 🗑️ Empty folders.
  • 🔍 Duplicate files.
  • 📦 System application cache (required root).

Method 3: Analysis via DiskUsage. The utility visualizes the occupied space in the form of an interactive map. Click on large blocks, to see which files are taking up space. For example, this is how you can detect forgotten screen recordings (Screen Recorder) or log files (.log).

⚠️ Attention: When working with ADB or root-access, never delete files from folders /system, /vendor or /boot. This will lead to a “brick” of the device (complete inoperability) and will require flashing via Odin.

If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to contact the service center Samsung. Specialists can perform deep cleaning without the risk of damaging the system.

6. Why is the memory not freed after deleting files?

Frequent situation: you deleted gigabytes of files, but no more free space. Reasons and solutions:

Problem Cause Solution
The files remain in the Recycle Bin Deleted files are moved to the Trash and take up space for 15 days Open My file → Trash and clear it
The cache is not cleared Some applications (for example, Telegram) store the cache in a protected area Use ADB or application settings
The file system is fragmented Small files take up space due to features F2FS/ext4 Defragment via Smart Manager or reset
System logs are bloated Files .log i .tmp in /data/log Delete via ADB or SD Maid root
Memory display error Glitch One UI (shows incorrect data) Restart the phone or check through DiskUsage

Another possible reason is that seat reservation system. Android and One UI reserve up to 5-10% of the memory for their needs (for example, for updates or temporary files). This is normal and is not displayed as “free” space.

If none of the methods helped, check the health of the drive. In rare cases, faulty flash memory (eMMC/UFS) may show the wrong capacity. For diagnostics, use the command: 

adb shell dumpsys diskstats

Look for lines with errors (I/O errors). If they are, contact the service.

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If space is not freed up after deleting files, first check the Recycle Bin, then the application cache, and only last resort to resetting or ADB. Most often, the problem is solved by clearing the system logs or defragmentation.

7 How to avoid filling up the memory in. in the future

To avoid running out of space, follow these simple rules:

  • ☁️ Automatic upload to. cloud. Set Google Photos or Samsung Cloud to automatically synchronize photos/videos. In the settings, select Quality → High (free).
  • 📱 Cache limit. In Smart Manager enable the function Auto-cleaning (it deletes the cache once a week).
  • 🎮 Control games. After completing heavy games (Genshin Impact, PUBG), delete them through Settings → Applications → Delete (don't just uninstall, but choose Delete data).
  • 📂 Regular check. Once a month, open Settings → Memory and delete unnecessary files from categories Downloads and Other.
  • 🔄 Updates via Wi-Fi. T Settings → Software update disable downloading updates via mobile data Large. files OTA (500 MB–2 GB) can quietly fill up the memory.

If you often shoot video in 4K or 8K, consider purchasing Samsung Galaxy with support microSD (series A, M or XCover). Memory cards UHS-I (for example, Samsung EVO Plus 256GB) allow you to expand the storage up to 1 TB.

For models without a slot for SD cards (for example, Galaxy S23 Ultra) alternative is USB drive with adapter. Connect the flash drive via USB-C OTG and transfer media files to it.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about storage on Samsung

🔍 Why is the internal memory smaller than indicated in the specifications?

Manufacturers indicate total amount of flash memory, but part is occupied by the system:

  • One UI — 8–12 GB.
  • Pre-installed applications - 3-5 GB.
  • Reserve for updates - 1-3 GB.

For example, with Galaxy S23 with 256 GB ~230 GB are actually available. This is normal for all smartphones.

📱 Is it possible to transfer applications to an SD card?

On modern Samsung (s Android 9+), transfer applications to SD card disabled by default. This is due to degraded performance (memory cards are slower than the built-in memory UFS).

Workaround:

  1. Install Link2SD (required root).
  2. Create a second partition on SD card in format ext4.
  3. Move some applications there.

⚠️ Risks: when you remove the card, applications will stop working.

🔒 What is a Secure Folder and how to clear it?

Secure Folder is an encrypted storage, protected Samsung Knox. It is isolated from the main system and requires a separate password.

To clear:

  1. Open Secure Folder (authentication required).
  2. Go to My File → Secure Folder.
  3. Delete unnecessary files or applications.

If you forgot your password, reset Secure Folder via Settings → Biometrics and security → Secure Folder → Advanced → Reset. All data inside will be deleted!

🗑️ How to delete the Android/obb folder if the game has already been deleted?

The folder obb stores additional game files (graphics, levels). If the game is deleted but the folder remains:

  1. Connect the phone to the PC in mode File transfer (MTP).
  2. Go to Internal memory → Android → obb.
  3. Delete the folder with the name of the game package (for example, com.mojang.minecraftpe).

⚠️ Do not delete folders of running games - this will lead to errors!

🔄 Why is the memory not freed up after resetting to factory settings?

Possible reasons:

  • The reset was completed incorrect (for example, through Recovery, and not through the settings).
  • The phone has custom firmwareinstalled, which takes up more space.
  • Damaged flash memory (for example, due to a fall or overheating).

Solutions:

  1. Reset via Settings → General → Reset → Delete everything (not via Recovery).
  2. Check the memory via DiskUsage —if the section /data is still full, contact service.