Modern smartphones Samsung Galaxy have impressive amounts of built-in storage, but with the increase in photo quality, video resolution and the size of mobile applications, free space runs out faster than it seems. When the internal memory is full, the device starts to work slowly, and notifications about lack of space become annoying at the most inopportune times. Users often wonder why gigabytes are disappearing so quickly and where exactly they are going.
In this article we will examine not only standard methods for deleting unnecessary files, but also delve into system settings Androidthat are hidden from a superficial glance. You will learn how to find and remove “digital junk” that has been accumulating for months, and how to properly manage application caches without affecting their functionality. Freeing up space is not just about deleting pictures, it is a comprehensive optimization of the operation of your gadget.
For owners of flagship series S23 or S24 the problem may not be as acute as for users of budget series models Galaxy A with 64 or 128 gigabytes memory. However, the principles of file system organization are the same for the entire ecosystem One UI. We will look at tools built-in by the manufacturer and third-party techniques that will help restore your smartphone to its former speed.
Diagnostics of storage fullness
Before you start thoughtlessly deleting files, you need to understand the structure of the occupied space. The system Android provides a built-in analyzer that clearly shows which categories of data consume the most resources. Without this step, you risk deleting important system logs or forgetting about heavy video files that take up 80% of the space.
To get to the analysis menu, go to Settings → Device maintenance → Memory. Here you will see a color chart divided into sectors: images, videos, audio, documents and applications. By clicking on any of the sectors, the system will redirect you to the corresponding folder or list of apps. This is the first step to competent optimization.
Pay attention to the “Other” section. Often this is where system update files, temporary messenger data, and remnants of deleted apps are hidden. If this partition takes up an abnormally large amount of space (more than 10-15 GB), a deeper check of the file system through Explorer or a connection to a PC is required. Do not delete files from system folders or manually unless you are 100% sure of their purpose. This can lead to crashes of installed games and loss of progress.
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete files from system folders
Android/dataorAndroid/obbmanually if you are not 100% sure of their purpose. This may cause installed games to crash and progress to be lost.
Using the built-in Samsung optimizer
Samsung has integrated into the shell One UI a powerful maintenance tool that automates routine cleaning processes. This is the safest method for the average user, since the algorithms exclude the deletion of critical data. The function is available on all current models, starting from Galaxy S8 and newer.
To start, go to the section Settings → Device Maintenance and click the “Optimize now” button. The system will check battery usage, RAM capacity RAM and internal storage. The memory section will prompt you to remove unused applications and duplicate files. The algorithm itself will suggest candidates for deletion; all you have to do is confirm the action.
The “Storage Management” function inside this menu deserves special attention. It allows you to configure automatic deletion of screenshots older than 30 days or moving rarely used applications to the cloud (if the appropriate subscription is enabled). This turns a one-time cleaning into an ongoing process of maintaining order.
Set up automatic trash cleaning in the Gallery and My Files app. By default, files are stored there for 30 days, but you can reduce this period to 15 days or empty the trash manually immediately after deletion.
The built-in analyzer can also find similar images. If you made a series of ten identical frames, the system will offer to keep only the best option and send the rest to the trash. This saves space without losing important memories.
Cleaning application cache and system junk
Cache is temporary data that applications save to speed up their work. Browsers store copies of web pages, social networks store downloaded pictures, and navigators store map fragments. Over time, the cache size can grow to several gigabytes, turning into ballast.
Clearing the cache of a specific application is done through the menu Settings → Applications. Select the desired app (for example, YouTube or Instagram), go to the “Storage” section and click the “Clear cache” button. It is important not to confuse this button with the “Clear data” function, which will reset the application to factory settings and require you to log in to your account again.
There is also a way to clear the system cache through the recovery menu Recovery Mode. This method is useful if the phone is unstable after updating the firmware. To enter, hold down the power and volume up buttons (the combination depends on the model), then select Wipe cache partitionfrom the menu. This is safe and will not affect your personal files.
What is the difference between the cache and application data?
Cache is temporary files for speedup (can be safely deleted). Data is your logins, settings and saved information inside the application (deleting will reset the app).
Messengers like Telegram i WhatsApp have their own built-in cleaning tools, which are often more effective than system ones. In the settings of these applications there is a “Data and Storage” section where you can delete the cache of media files, while leaving text correspondence untouched.
Managing media files and duplicates
Photos and videos are the main consumers of space on any modern smartphone. Pictures with a resolution of 50 megapixels and video format 4K 60fps weigh a lot. One minute of such video can take up to 400 megabytes, which quickly exhausts the limits of even capacious storage devices.
Use the Gallery application to search for duplicates. In the Manage menu, select the option to search for similar photos. It is also worth checking the folder Download (Downloads), where pictures from browsers and attachments from mail are often saved, which the user forgets about after a week.
For video files, it is recommended to use third-party codecs or converters if you need to save the archive, but there is no space. However, the best solution is to transfer the archive to external media. Connect the phone to the computer via USB and copy the folders DCIM and Pictures to your hard drive.
| File type | Approximate size | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Photo (12 MP) | 3-5 MB | Store in the cloud or on PC |
| Video (4K, 1 min) | 350-450 MB | Delete after editing or viewing |
| RAW image | 25-40 MB | Only for pros, transfer immediately |
| Screenshot | 1-3 MB | Delete immediately after use |
Regularly transferring photos and videos to a computer or cloud storage is the most effective way to maintain free space on your phone without deleting important memories.
Delete unused applications and games
Often users install games “one time” or try new utilities, which they then simply forget to remove. Such apps not only take up space, but can also run in the background, consuming CPU resources. An audit of the installed software should be carried out regularly.
In the menu Settings → Applications you can sort the list by size. This will immediately show the heaviest inhabitants of your smartphone. Pay attention to games: even after deleting the game itself, it can leave cache files of several gigabytes in size in memory.
For complete removal, use the “Uninstall” function by long pressing the application icon on the desktop. If the system reports that the application is a device administrator or system, its deletion may be blocked without obtaining root access, which is not recommended for beginners.
☑️ Checklist before deleting an application
System One UI also offers a Deep Sleep feature for apps you rarely use. Such apps will not run in the background and waste your battery until you open them again. This is a compromise option if you cannot delete the application, but you need to save resources.
Working with cloud storage and a memory card
If the internal memory is physically limited, expanding the space by external means is a logical solution. The service Google Photos offers the “Free up space” function, which deletes pictures from the device that have already been uploaded to the cloud. This instantly frees up gigabytes without losing access to photos.
For users with memory card support microSD (mostly mid-range and budget models Galaxy A i M) it is recommended to transfer all media files to external storage. In the camera settings, you can immediately specify saving photos to an SD card, relieving the internal storage.
⚠️ Attention: Memory cards work slower than the phone's internal memory. Do not install heavy applications and games on the SD card, otherwise you will experience slowdowns and long loading times. Use it only for photos, videos and music.
It is also worth considering subscribing to Google One or using Yandex Disk. Automatic synchronization allows you to store original files on the Internet, leaving only optimized, smaller copies on your phone. This is the modern standard for using smartphones with a small amount of memory.
Why is internal memory faster than an SD card?
Internal memory uses a UFS interface, which provides high read and write speeds. Most memory cards operate according to a standard that is several times slower, which is critical for the operation of applications.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to use third-party cleaning apps (Clean Master and analogues)?
In most cases, no. Modern versions Android manage memory very well themselves. Third-party cleaners often pretend to work, loading the processor, and display intrusive advertising. Samsung's built-in tools are quite sufficient for safe cleaning.
Why is space not freed up after deleting files?
Check the trash in the Gallery and My Files applications. Deleted files go there and are stored for 30 days, continuing to take up space. It is also possible that the file was deleted from the memory card, and not from the internal memory, or vice versa.
Is it possible to delete the Android folder?
It is absolutely not possible. The folder Android stores the data of all installed applications. Removing it will cause apps to stop running and lose settings and authorization data. You can only clear the contents of subfolders cache within specific applications.
How to clear memory if the phone does not turn on at all or is frozen?
Try to force a reboot (press Power + Volume down for 10-15 seconds). If this does not help, boot into safe mode (hold down the power button on the screen, then long-tap on the “Shut down” icon on the screen) to remove the culprit of the problem.
Does full memory affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, directly. When free space is less than 10% of the total, the system cannot effectively use the page file and cache processes. This leads to noticeable slowdowns in the interface and long opening of applications.