Accumulated media files, voice messages and cache can turn your messenger into a real devourer of internal memory. For smartphone owners Samsung Galaxy this problem is doubly relevant, since the One UI shell integrates a gallery, which sometimes makes manual sorting of files difficult. Understanding how to correctly clear Viber datahelps restore the device to its former operating speed and free up gigabytes of valuable space.
There are several approaches to solving this problem: from quickly clearing the cache to completely resetting the application settings. It is important not just to delete files, but to do it correctly so as not to lose important correspondence or contacts. In this guide, we will look at all the available methods for optimizing work Viber on devices running Android.
You should not ignore regular cleaning, as an overgrown database can lead to constant interface freezes. Let's look at each stage of the process in detail, starting with the simplest steps and ending with deep formatting of messenger folders.
Quick clearing the cache through system settings
The safest and first step that needs to be taken is deleting temporary files. The cache stores image thumbnails, downloaded video previews and other service data that is not critical for the operation of the application. Deleting this information will not affect your correspondence or call history in any way.
Owners Samsung need to go to the general settings of the smartphone, and not look for them inside Viber itself. Go to menu Settings, then select section Applications. In the list that opens, find Viber and click on it. Here you will see a button Memory or Storage, clicking on which will provide access to data management.
Two main options will appear on the screen: Clear cache and Clear data. For the current stage, we only need the first button. The system will ask you to confirm the action, after which it will free up the space occupied by temporary files. This action can be performed regularly without any risks to the safety of personal information.
⚠️ Attention: Never click the “Clear data” button at this stage unless you want to delete all your chats, settings and log in to your account again. This action is equivalent to deleting the application.
If the cache clear button is inactive, first try to force stop the application through the same settings menu, and then repeat the procedure.
Built-in tools for cleaning media files in Viber
The messenger developers have provided their own memory management mechanism that allows you to delete files selectively. This method is most effective when you need to get rid of heavy videos or old photos, while leaving the text communication history intact.
Open the application and go to the section More (three dots in the lower right corner). Select item Settings, then find section Memory. Here the system will show detailed statistics: how much space is taken up by photos, videos, audio and documents. By clicking on any category, you will be taken to the gallery of attachments for a specific chat or a general summary.
You can check the boxes for files that are no longer needed and click the delete button. The convenience of this method is the ability to sort by size or date. Often, users find that old postcards or forwarded videos take up hundreds of megabytes that they have long forgotten about.
- 📸 Photos usually take up the least amount of space, but their number can number in the thousands.
- 🎥 Video files are the main memory consumers, especially if you are in active group chats.
- 🎵 Voice messages and audio recordings can quietly “eat up” gigabytes during prolonged use.
Using the built-in cleaner allows you to visually assess the contents of folders. You can immediately see which contacts are sending the most “heavy” content, and you can decide to limit the automatic loading of media for specific conversations.
Manual deletion of files through a file manager
For advanced users who want to carry out deep cleaning, working with the file system directly is suitable. Smartphones Samsung have a pre-installed application My filesthat gives full access to the internal storage. This method allows you to delete files that for some reason are not displayed inside the messenger itself.
You need to go to the root directory of the internal memory and find the folder Viber. Inside it there are usually subdirectories Viber Mediawhere all downloaded pictures and videos are stored. It is also worth checking the folder Android/media/com.viber.voip, since in new versions of Android the data paths may have changed due to system security policies.
Deleting files from here is irreversible for the device, but the files themselves will remain with the interlocutors. Be careful when sorting: do not accidentally delete system configuration files if they are located in the same directory. Focus on file extensions: .jpg, .mp4, .3gp, .aac.
/storage/emulated/0/Viber/Viber Media/Images
/storage/emulated/0/Viber/Viber Media/Videos
The advantage of the manual method is that you can use the file manager's sorting functions, for example, to display only files larger than 10 MB. This will help you quickly find and remove the most voluminous objects that slow down the work of the smartphone gallery.
Why are files duplicated?
Sometimes Viber saves a copy of a photo to the general Samsung gallery and to its internal folder. When manually cleaning, check both places to free up as much space as possible.
Resetting settings and completely deleting application data
If the messenger does not work correctly, freezes, or you just want to start communicating “from scratch,” you will need a complete reset. This procedure will return Viber to the state in which it was immediately after installation from Google Play. All local data, including message history and notification settings, will be permanently lost.
Before performing this operation, it is critical to create a backup copy if you plan to restore correspondence in the future. Without a backup, it will be impossible to restore dialogues. After creating a copy, go to Settings phone, section Applications, select Viber and press the button Clear data (or Reset).
The system will warn you about the consequences. Confirm the action. The next time you launch the application, you will be prompted for a phone number for registration and will offer to restore a backup from the cloud or local storage. This method also solves problems with software errors that are not resolved by a regular reboot.
| Action | What is being deleted | Risk of data loss | The need for backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | Temporary files, thumbnails | No | Not required |
| Deleting media | Photos, videos, audio from chats | Only media files | Required |
| Clear data | All history, settings, account | High (complete loss) | Required |
| Delete applications | All application files | High (complete loss) | Required |
⚠️ Attention: After resetting your privacy settings (who sees your profile photo, online status) will be reset to default values. Check them immediately after. login to your account.
☑️ Preparing for a full reset
Automatic media download control
To prevent the problem of full memory from returning too quickly, it is advisable to configure automatic behavior Viber application allows you to prevent automatic downloading of photos and videos when using mobile data or even Wi-Fi.
Go to Settings inside the application, select item Data and multimedia. Here you will find toggles for downloading media. It is recommended to disable auto-download for mobile networks, leaving it active only for Wi-Fi, or disable it altogether in order to download files manually only when necessary.
Also in this section, the function of automatically deleting media files is available. You can configure the application so that it automatically deletes downloaded photos and videos after a certain time (for example, after 3 days or a week). This is a great way to keep your memory clean without constant manual intervention.
Disabling auto-downloading of media on mobile networks can save not only memory space, but also a significant portion of your Internet traffic.
Remember to check the settings for each chat individually if you are in very active groups. For specific dialogs, you can set exceptions by allowing downloading only for selected contacts, which will make using the messenger more comfortable and controlled.
Features of working with memory on Samsung Galaxy
Smartphones Samsung have their own file system and memory management features. One UI often hides some system folders from third-party file managers without granting special permissions. When you try to clear data through a third-party “Cleaner”, the system may block access to the folder Android/data.
To bypass these restrictions, it is better to use the built-in application Device care (Device Care). It securely analyzes the space and offers to remove unnecessary files, including duplicates and large files from messengers. This tool works at the system level and has all the necessary access rights.
In addition, new Samsung models with Android 11 and above have a strict Scoped Storage policy. This means that applications cannot freely scan all memory. Therefore, cleaning through the settings of the application itself or the Android system settings is the most reliable method in the current realities.
⚠️ Attention: The “Device Care” menu interface may differ depending on your Samsung model and One UI firmware version. If you do not find the item you need, check the official user manual for your model.
Use the “Storage Analysis” function in the phone settings once a month to identify the leading applications in terms of space consumption before the memory is completely full.
Data recovery after cleaning
If in the process of cleaning If you accidentally deleted something important, it is possible to restore it, but only if you have a previously created backup copy. Viber uses cloud storage (Google Drive for Android) to save chat history. Local backups are also created automatically once every 24 hours if there is a Wi-Fi connection.
To restore, delete the application and install it again. When registering a number, the phone will offer to find a backup copy. If you cleared only media files through the file manager, but did not touch the chat database, you will not be able to restore pictures from the backup copy - only the text of messages will be restored.
It is important to understand the difference between restoring chats and restoring media. The backup copy preserves the dialogue structure and text, but heavy files are often stored separately or compressed. Therefore, the best strategy is to timely upload important photos to your phone gallery or cloud service before cleaning.
Is it possible to recover deleted messages without a backup?
Unfortunately, no. If a backup was not created before messages were deleted or data was cleared, it cannot be restored. Viber servers do not store the history of your correspondence after delivering messages to the recipient.
Why is the space not freed up after clearing the cache?
You may have cleared the cache, but did not delete the media files themselves (photos and videos), which occupy the bulk. Also check the “Trash” folder in the Samsung gallery, deleted files may remain there for another 30 days.
Is it safe to use third-party apps to clean Viber?
Using untrusted third-party utilities can lead to the deletion of important system files or data leakage. It is recommended to use only the built-in Android tools or the official functionality of the Viber application itself.
How to clear the data of only one specific chat?
Go to the desired chat, click on the contact name or group name at the top, select “Media, links and documents”, then select unnecessary files and delete them. Or use the “Clear chat history” function in the settings menu for a specific conversation.
Does clearing data affect the operation of stickers and themes?
Yes, if you completely clear the data, all downloaded third-party sticker packs and installed themes will be deleted. They will have to be downloaded and installed again after logging into your account, although purchases should be restored automatically.