Messengers have long become an integral part of our digital life, but for the convenience of communication you have to pay with free space in the device’s memory. If you actively use Viber for correspondence, calls and photo exchange, then you have probably encountered a situation when your smartphone suddenly runs out of free space. The application accumulates gigabytes of temporary files, a cache of images and videos, which often remain on the system even after viewing.
Timely clearing of this data will not only return precious megabytes, but can also significantly speed up the work of the messenger itself. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods for removing unnecessary things: from built-in application tools to manual cleaning through a file manager. You will learn how to delete call history, chats and media files, while saving important correspondence.
Using the built-in memory cleaning function in Viber
The messenger developers have provided a convenient built-in tool that allows you to safely delete temporary files without losing important messages. This is the most reliable way to start optimizing as it does not require third party software. To use this function, you need to go to the application settings and find the section responsible for memory management.
Go to the menu More → Settings → Memory. Here you'll see detailed statistics on how much space different types of data take up. The system will prompt you to delete the cache, which consists of temporary files downloaded to quickly display content. It is important to understand that deleting the cache will not affect your personal messages and contacts, but will force the application to reload the pictures the next time you open the chat.
⚠️ Attention: before clicking the “Clear cache” button, make sure that you have a stable Internet connection, as media files will be downloaded from the cloud again if necessary.
In the same section, you can configure automatic deletion of media files. The Auto Delete Media feature allows you to set a period after which photos and videos will be erased from the device, while remaining in the chat history (unless they were manually downloaded). This is an excellent compromise between saving chat history and saving disk space.
Enable the “Save to gallery” option only for selected chats, so that random memes and postcards do not clog up the main camera roll of your smartphone.
Manually deleting media files through the file manager
Sometimes built-in tools are not enough, especially if you haven’t cleaned the application for a long time and duplicate or forgotten files have accumulated in folders. In this case, the standard file manager of your smartphone will come to the rescue, for example Files by Google or the built-in explorer from the manufacturer (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.). This method gives complete control over what exactly is deleted.
Media files received via Viber are usually stored in a specific directory in the internal memory. The path may differ depending on the version of Android, but most often it is Internal Storage → Viber → Downloads or Android → media → com.viber.voip → Viber → Downloads. Once you go into this folder, you will see subdirectories for images, videos, and audio. You can sort files by size or date and delete the heaviest ones.
When deleting manually, be extremely careful: if you delete a file from this folder, you will lose it in the messenger itself, if it was not saved in the cloud or on another device. It is also worth checking the folder Viber Iconswhere contact avatars are stored - they can also take up space, although not as significant as video files.
Managing the history of chats and calls
In addition to media files, the application database is bloated by the history of text messages and call logs. If you communicate in large group chats or frequently exchange short messages, this information can weigh hundreds of megabytes. Clearing history is a drastic but effective step to free up space.
To delete the history of a specific conversation, go to the chat list, tap and hold your finger on the desired conversation, then select the trash icon. You can delete the chat completely or clear only its contents, leaving the dialogue itself in the list. To clear call history, go to the tab Calls, click on the three dots in the corner of the screen and select Clear call log.
| Data type | Where is | Impact on memory | Deletion security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image cache | Settings → Memory | High | Secure (loading again) |
| Video files | Downloads folder | Critical | Requires importance check |
| Call history | Tab Calls | Low | Permanent deletion |
| Stickers and GIFs | Settings → Memory | Medium | Safe |
If you want to delete correspondence selectively, for example, only old messages, then this is difficult to do in the standard interface. You will have to delete the entire chat. However, before that, you can use the backup function to save important data on Google Drive or locally.
☑️ Preparing for a complete wipe
Clearing cache and data through Android settings
System settings of the smartphone allow you to manage application resources at a deeper level. This method is useful if the messenger starts to work incorrectly or freezes. Through the phone menu, you can clear not only the cache, but also all application data, which will return it to the factory state.
Go to Settings your smartphone, select the section Applications (or “All applications”) and find it in the list Viber. Go to subsection Storage. Here you will see two buttons: “Clear cache” and “Clear data”. The first one deletes temporary files, the second one resets all settings, deletes the account and erases the entire correspondence history from the device.
⚠️ Attention: using the “Clear data” function will completely delete your local message history. Be sure to make a backup copy before this action, otherwise it will be impossible to restore the correspondence.
After clearing the data, the next time you launch the application, you will be asked to enter your phone number and verify again. All chats will be restored automatically only if you have previously enabled synchronization with the cloud or made a backup. This method is recommended to be used only in extreme cases when other methods have not helped free up space or eliminate errors.
What to do if the “Clear data” button is inactive?
Sometimes this function is blocked by device administrator rights or corporate profile security policies. Check if the application is the device administrator in the security settings.
Using third-party cleaning applications
There are many utilities on the market that promise to clean your phone of junk. Popular solutions like CCleaner, Clean Master or built-in tools from manufacturers (for example, Phone Master on Xiaomi) can scan the system and find residual files that standard tools missed.
Such apps are convenient because they automate the process. They can find duplicate photos, empty folders and cache from dozens of applications at once. However, you should use them with caution: aggressive cleaning can delete files necessary for the system or disrupt the operation of other apps.
When choosing a cleaner, pay attention to the reputation of the developer and user reviews. Avoid apps that require suspicious permissions or display intrusive ads. It is best to use time-tested tools that specialize specifically in optimization, and not in “speeding up” by closing background processes.
Third-party cleaners are useful for complex cleaning, but for spot cleaning Viber, the built-in tools are usually sufficient.
Setting up autosave and preventing clogging
The best cleaning is the one that is not required. To avoid the repeated accumulation of gigabytes of garbage, it is worth correctly configuring your media file download settings. By default, Viber can save all received photos and videos to the phone gallery, which quickly fills up memory.
Disable autosave in the messenger settings. Go to Settings → Memory and uncheck the “Save to gallery” option. Now the received files will be available only within the application and will not be duplicated in the system images folder. This will significantly reduce the speed of memory filling.
It is also recommended to regularly view large files in chats. In the “Memory” section there is sorting by content type. Once a month, go there and delete the most voluminous videos that you have already watched and that are of no value. This simple habit will help keep your device clean without the need for general cleaning.
Is it possible to recover photos deleted in Viber?
If you deleted a photo through the “Memory” settings inside the application or cleared the cache, the original file may remain in the Downloads folder if autosave was enabled. If you deleted the entire chat or used the “Clear data” function, restoration is only possible from a backup copy made before the moment of deletion. It is impossible to restore messages and media files without a backup.
Why does Viber take up so much space even after cleaning?
The main reason is the database of messages and media files that were not automatically cleaned. Often files from deleted chats or duplicates remain in folders. The database cache also takes up space. Try using a file manager to search for the Viber folder and manually check the contents of the Audio and Video subfolders.
Does clearing the cache affect the speed of the application?
Yes, clearing the cache may temporarily slow down the loading of pictures when you first open chats, since they will have to be downloaded again. However, in the long run, this frees up space and can eliminate caching errors, making the application more stable. Regular cleaning is recommended to maintain optimal performance.
How to clear Viber on Android without deleting your account?
To do this, use the built-in cache clearing function in the “Memory” section or the “Clear cache” button in the Android application settings. Do not click the “Clear data” or “Erase data” button, as this will log you out of your account and delete all local history. Deleting specific chats is also safe for the account.
Where is the Viber backup on the phone stored?
A local backup is usually stored in the internal memory in the folder ViberBackups. The path may look like Internal Storage → ViberBackups. Also, a copy can be saved in Google Drive cloud storage if this function has been activated in the Viber account settings in the “Calls and messages” section → “Backup”.