Owners of modern smartphones Samsung often face a situation where the built-in storage is filled to capacity, despite the volumes declared by the manufacturer. System One UI, although it is one of the most optimized shells, over time accumulates gigabytes of temporary files, caches and duplicates. Lack of space leads to a slower interface, the inability to install security updates, and errors when launching resource-intensive applications.
Cleaning memory is not just deleting old photos, but a comprehensive process of maintaining the file system of your device. In this article we will examine in detail the standard tools Device Care, manual methods for removing system garbage and methods for transferring data to external media. You will learn how to safely delete hidden folders that occupy a significant portion of disk space without damaging the performance of the operating system.
Diagnostics of memory fullness and storage analysis
Before you begin active cleaning, you need to understand what exactly is taking up precious gigabytes on your Samsung Galaxy. The built-in storage analyzer provides a detailed breakdown by category, allowing you to identify the main space hogs. Users are often surprised to find that applications take up less space than their cache or downloaded media files in instant messengers.
To get accurate statistics, go to the menu Settings → Device maintenance → Memory. Here the system automatically scans the disk and displays a data distribution diagram. Pay attention to the section Other files, which often hides forgotten downloads, backups and system logs.
Many people do not know that the standard file manager My Files has a built-in duplicate analysis function. This option is especially useful for those who often take pictures of the same subject in different camera modes. Deleting such copies can instantly free up several hundred megabytes without losing important information.
Using the built-in Device Care utility
The Company Samsung has integrated a powerful optimization tool directly into the system settings, eliminating the need for users to install dubious third-party cleaners. The utility Device Care (or "Device Maintenance") runs in the background and automatically closes unused applications, clearing RAM, and also offers to delete temporary files.
Automatic optimization is launched through the menu Settings → Device Maintenance. Clicking the button Optimize now initiates a scan of the system for background processes consuming resources and prompts you to close them. However, to deeply clean the storage, you need to go to the section Memory and select Clear now.
It is important to note that operating algorithms Device Care evolve with each firmware update. The latest versions One UI have added the "Auto-delete unused applications" function, which archives apps that you have not used for a month. This allows you to regain disk space by keeping the application icon on the desktop for quick re-installation.
Enable the "Auto-delete unused applications" function in the Device Care settings so that the system automatically archives apps that you have not used for more than 30 days.
Regular use of a standard cleaner is safe, since it has access to system partitions that are closed to third party software. Unlike aggressive cleaners from the Play Market, this tool does not remove useful debug logs or authorization data that may be required for banking applications to function correctly.
Manually clearing application cache and system data
The most effective way to free up space is to manually manage the cache of specific applications. Social networks such as Telegram, Viber i WhatsApptend to save all the media you watch to your internal memory, even if you have already seen it once. Without regular cleaning, these folders can grow to tens of gigabytes.
To clear the cache of an individual application, follow these steps:
- 🔍 Go to
Settings → Applicationsand select the desired app from the list. - 🗑️ Click on the item
Memory(or "Storage") inside the application menu. - 🧹 Select the option
Clear cache, being careful not to confuse it with the "Clear" button data." - 📊 Check the free space in the general storage statistics.
The button Clear data resets the application to its factory state, deleting all logins, settings and local databases. Use this function with extreme caution and only if the application is not working correctly or you are ready to go through the authorization procedure again.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing messenger data without a prior cloud backup will result in permanent loss of chat history and media files that were not saved in the gallery.
For system applications such as Google Play Services or Samsung Cloud, clearing the cache is also useful if you are experiencing synchronization errors. These services constantly update their databases, and the accumulation of outdated information can cause conflicts in the operation of the operating system.
☑️ Weekly clean cache
Managing media files and transferring data to an SD card
High-resolution photos and videos taken on camera Samsung Galaxyoccupy the lion's share of user time storages. Modern sensors produce files that are 10–20 MB each, and 4K video recording can consume up to 400 MB per minute. It is not practical to store such a volume of data in the internal memory.
The ideal solution is to use a memory card microSD. After installing the drive, the system will prompt you to format it. You can select the operating mode as "Portable storage", which will allow you to transfer files manually, or as "Internal memory", which will integrate the card into the system, but encrypt it for use only on this device.
To transfer existing files, use the file manager My Files. Highlight the required DCIM, Pictures or Downloads folders, click the action menu and select Move, specifying your SD card as the target path. This process may take time depending on the amount of data and the write speed of the drive.
| File type | Average size | Recommended storage location | Frequency cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo (JPEG/HEIC) | 3–8 MB | Cloud / SD card | Once a month |
| Video (4K 60fps) | 400 MB/min | SD card / PC | Immediately after shooting |
| Messenger cache | 1–5 GB | Delete | Once a week |
| Offline cards | 500 MB - 2 GB | SD card | When changed routes |
Don't forget to set the camera to save new pictures directly to the memory card. This option is located in the settings of the application itself Camera → Gear icon → Storage. However, it is worth remembering that the recording speed of 4K video may be limited by the speed of the card, so it is better to use internal memory for video shooting.
What is the HEIC format and how does it save space?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image) format Coding) allows you to save photos with the same quality as JPEG, but taking up half the disk space. You can enable it in the camera settings if your model supports this function.
Deleting system junk and hidden folders
In addition to the obvious files, so-called “residual files” accumulate in the depths of the Android file system. These are folders from uninstalled applications, error logs and temporary update files that were not deleted automatically. They are accessed through the root directory of the internal storage.
Particular attention should be paid to the folder Android/obb and Android/data. The first stores cache files of heavy games, which can weigh 2–3 GB each. If you delete a game, but this folder remains, it continues to take up space. The second folder stores application data, and clearing it can reset app settings.
It is also worth checking the folder Download (Downloads). Browsers and instant messengers often save APK installation files, PDF documents, and images that you only opened once there. Sorting files by size in the file manager will help you quickly find and delete the largest forgotten objects.
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete files from the root directory if you are not sure of their purpose. Deleting system files can lead to unstable operation of the phone or cyclic reboot.
To search for duplicates and large files, you can use the search function in the application My Files. Enter the extension .apkin the search to find all installation files, or sort all files by size to identify the heaviest objects hidden in the depths of directories.
Resetting settings as a last resort optimization measure
If none of the above methods helped free up enough space, and the system continues to report a critical lack of memory, perhaps the file system is damaged or filled with unremovable system garbage. In this case, the only radical solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings.
This procedure completely erases all user data, applications and settings, returning the phone to its “out of the box” state. Before performing this operation, it is critical to create a complete backup of all important data in the cloud service Samsung Cloud or on your computer.
Settings → General settings → Reset → Reset dataAfter confirming the action, the phone will reboot and begin the cleaning process, which can take from 10 to 30 minutes. Upon completion, you will have a clean system with the maximum amount of internal memory available. This also often solves problems with software glitches and interface brakes.
Factory Reset is the most effective way to remove all accumulated system garbage, but it requires a mandatory preliminary data backup.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on the One UI firmware version and your device model. Always check the latest Samsung support materials for your specific software version.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is there little space freed up after clearing the cache?
The application cache is constantly updated as you use it. If you open a heavy application (such as Instagram or YouTube) again immediately after cleaning, it will start downloading temporary files again. Also, part of the space may be occupied by the “Other” system partition, which is not cleared by standard methods without resetting the settings.
Is it safe to delete the Android/data folder?
Deleting the entire folder is not recommended, as this will reset the settings of all installed applications. It is safe to delete only those subfolders inside Android/datathat correspond to the names of games or apps you have already deleted. This will get rid of their “tails” on the disk.
Is it possible to transfer the applications themselves to an SD card on Samsung?
In modern versions of Android and the One UI shell, the ability to transfer user applications to a memory card is often limited or absent for many apps. Application developers may disable this feature. However, some system applications and some games still support transfer through the menu Settings → Applications → Memory → Edit.
What is "System memory" and can it be cleared?
System memory is a disk section reserved for installing the Android operating system, the One UI shell and pre-installed Google and Samsung services. It is impossible to clear this partition manually without flashing the device, and an attempt to do this will result in the phone not working.