Does your smartphone constantly display notifications about low memory? Applications are slow, photos are not saved, and the system offers to delete files that you need? The problem is familiar to most users - even on devices with Android Does it constantly show notifications about low memory? Applications are slow, photos are not saved, and the system offers to delete files that you need? The problem is familiar to most users - even on devices with 128 GB and 256 GB memory runs out unexpectedly quickly. The reason for this is not only your data, but also hidden garbage: application cache, residual files after updates, duplicate media and background processes that quietly “eat up” gigabytes.

In this article we will look at 7 proven methods freeing up memory on Android —from basic (deleting unnecessary files) to advanced (transferring data to an SD card and optimizing system operation). All methods have been tested on current versions Android 13–15 and work on smartphones Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel, Realme and other brands. No radical measures like resetting to factory settings - only safe and effective solutions.

📊 How often do you clear the memory on your smartphone?
Once a week
Only when you run out of space
Never cleaned
I use automatic cleaning

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly is taking up memory?

Before deleting files at random, figure it out which data takes up the most space. In modern versions Android there is a built-in storage analysis tool:

  1. Open Settings → Storage (on some devices the path may differ: Settings → Device care → Memory).
  2. Wait for scanning to complete (may take 10-30 seconds).
  3. The system will show the memory distribution by category: Applications, Media, Files, Cache, System data.

Typical picture on a clogged smartphone:

  • 📱 Apps & Games — 30–50% (especially social networks, instant messengers, games with cache).
  • 📷 Photos and videos — 20–40% (even after deletion, they may remain in the trash or backups).
  • 🗑️ Cache and garbage — 10–20% (temporary files that are not cleared automatically).
  • 📄 Downloads and documents — 5–15% (PDF, APK, archives that you have long forgotten).

If in your case more than 15% of the memory is occupied by “System data” or “Other”, this is a signal about the accumulation of hidden garbage - its removal requires separate actions (more on this in the section 4).

💡

On smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi for detailed analysis, use the built-in application Security (section Cleaning). It shows even rarely used files and duplicates.

2. Clearing the application cache: a quick way to free up 1-5 GB

Caches are temporary files that applications create to speed up their work. Over time, they accumulate and can take up space. data-i="83">. Clearing the cache is safe: applications will simply create new files the next time you launch them. several gigabytes. Clearing the cache is safe: applications will simply create new files the next time they are launched.

How to clear the cache for all applications:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications (or Settings → All applications).
  2. Tap on the three dots in the upper corner and select Sort by size.
  3. Open each large application (for example, YouTube, Telegram, Google Chrome) and press Storage → Clear cache.

To speed up the process, use mass clear:

  • 🧹 On Samsung: Settings → Care device → Memory → Clear now.
  • 🧹 On Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: Security → Cleaning → Deep cleaning.
  • 🧹 On clean Android (Pixel, Motorola): Settings → Storage → Free up space.
⚠️ Attention: Do not clear the cache for Google Play Services, Android System WebView and system applications - this can lead to malfunctions of the smartphone.

☑️ Clearing the cache without risks

Done: 0 / 4

3. Deleting unnecessary files: photos, videos, downloads and duplicates

Media files are the main memory hog. Even if you regularly delete photos, they can remain in:

  • 🗑️ Trash (in Google Photos files are stored for 60 days, in the gallery of some smartphones - 30 days).
  • 📁 Hidden folders (for example, .thumbnails for sketches or DCIM/.thumbs).
  • 🔄 Duplicates (same photos in different folders or after backup).

Step-by-step cleaning instructions:

  1. Trash: Open Google Photos → Library → Trash → Empty Trash.
  2. Duplicates: Use applications like Files by Google (section Cleaning → Duplicate files) or CCleaner.
  3. Downloads: Folder Download often clogged with outdated APK, PDF and archives. Check it through any file manager.
  4. Large files: In Files by Google there is a section Large files - there you can find and delete videos weighing >500 MB.

To automate the process, set up automatic cleaning automatic cleaning Google Photos:

  1. Open the application → tap on the avatar → Photo settings → Deleting files from the device.
  2. Enable the option Automatic deletion of backup ones copies (photos will be deleted from the phone after uploading to the cloud).
⚠️ Attention: Before mass deletion, check whether backup is enabled in Google Photos or another cloud service. Without a backup, you risk losing important pictures!

4. Removing residual files and “junk” folders

Even after uninstalling applications, they remain on your smartphone: settings, databases, cache. They can take up to residual files: settings, databases, cache. They can take up to 1–2 GB and are not displayed in the standard file manager. There are also hidden system folders that are safe to clear. manually.

How to find and remove garbage:

  • 📂 Folder Android/obb: Game data is stored here (for example, cache Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile). Delete only the files of those games that have already been deleted.
  • 📂 Folder Android/data: Residual application files. You can clean them manually or through SD Maid (deep cleaning application).
  • 🧹 Temporary files: Folders temp, cache, .trash in the root directory.

Suitable for advanced users manual cleaning via ADB (requires connection to a PC):

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "application_package"

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 package_name

This method allows you to remove pre-installed applications (bloatware) that cannot be removed using standard methods.

Type of garbage Where to look Is it safe to delete?
Residual application files /sdcard/Android/data Yes (only for deleted applications)
Cache games /sdcard/Android/obb Yes (if the game is deleted or reinstalled)
Thumbnails /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails Yes (automatically restored)
Logs and dumps /sdcard/bugreports, /sdcard/log Yes (if you are not debugging the system)
What happens if you delete the Android/obb folder?

If you delete files from this folder for installed a game, it will stop working or require re-downloading the data (sometimes up to several gigabytes). For deleted games, cleaning is safe.

5. Transferring data to an SD card or cloud

If memory is critically short and you don’t want to delete files, transfer them to SD card or cloud storage. This is true for photos, videos, music and some applications.

Transfer to SD card:

  1. Insert a memory card (class recommended UHS-I U3 for speed).
  2. Open Settings → Storage → SD card.
  3. Select Format as internal storage (attention: after this the card cannot be used on other devices!).
  4. Transfer files through the file manager or in application settings (for example, in Google Photos you can select an SD card as a storage location).

Cloud services:

  • ☁️ Google Photos — unlimited storage for compressed photos (quality High).
  • ☁️ Yandex Disk — 10 GB free, automatic photo upload.
  • ☁️ Mega — 20 GB free, data encryption.

For automatic synchronization:

  1. In Google Photos: Settings → Backup and synchronization → On
  2. In Yandex Disk: Settings → Startup → Select folders.
⚠️ Attention: When formatting the SD card as internal storage all data on it will be deletedAlso. Please note that some applications (for example WhatsApp) do not support transfer to an SD card in new versions. Android.

6. Optimizing application operation: what to disable to save memory

Many applications run in the background, consuming memory and resources. Disabling unnecessary functions will help free up up to 1–3 GB and speed up your smartphone.

What can be disabled:

  • 🔄 Auto-update applications: B Google Play → Settings → Auto-update applications → Only via Wi-Fi or Do not update automatically.
  • 📥 Background synchronization: B Settings → Accounts → Synchronization disable unnecessary services (for example, Google Play Musicif you don't use them).
  • 🎮 Game services: T Google Play Games disable Automatic saving of games i Game optimization (they create additional files).
  • 📊 Analytics and diagnostics: Turn off sending statistics. Settings → Google → Google Services → Diagnostics disable sending statistics.

Applications that “eat up” memory:

Application What takes up space How to reduce consumption
Facebook Cache, downloaded videos, chat backups Clear the cache once a week, disable auto-downloading of videos
Telegram Media files in chats, stickers, voice messages B Settings → Data and memory limit the cache to 100–200 MB
TikTok Video cache, downloaded effects Clear the cache manually or use TikTok Lite
Google Maps Offline maps, route cache Delete unnecessary offline maps in Settings → Offline maps
💡

Disabling background activity of applications not only frees up memory, but also increases battery life by 10-15%.

7. Reset the system cache and Dalvik-cache (for advanced users)

If the standard methods did not help, and the memory is still running out, try reset system cache. This will delete temporary files Androidthat may occupy up to 1–3 GB, but will not affect your data.

Instructions:

  1. Turn off your smartphone.
  2. Hold down the button combination to enter Recovery Mode (depending on the model):
    • 📱 Samsung: Power + Volume Up + Bixby.
    • 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi: Power + Volume Up.
    • 📱 Google Pixel: Power + Volume Down, then select Recovery Mode.
  • In the menu Recovery select Wipe cache partition (control of the volume and power buttons).
  • Confirm the action and reboot the phone (Reboot system now).

    • For devices with root access you can additionally clear Dalvik-cache (virtual machine cache Android):

    su

    rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*

    After that, reboot your smartphone. This method increases free memory by up to 500 MB–1 GB, but requires superuser rights and may cause temporary lags when first launched applications.

    ⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse Wipe cache partition with Wipe data/factory reset —the second option will completely reset the smartphone to factory settings!

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about clearing memory on Android

    Is it possible to free up memory without deleting files?

    Yes, there are several ways:

    1. Clearing the application cache (section 2).
    2. Transferring data to an SD card or to the cloud (section 5).
    3. Disable background activity applications (section 6).
    4. Use of compression functions (for example, in Google Photos you can store photos in quality High instead of Original).

      5. These methods allow you to free from 1 to 5 GB without losing personal data.

    Why does the memory quickly run out again after cleaning?

    This happens due to: Applications (especially social networks and instant messengers). data-i="325">photos and videos to the cloud (files are duplicated).

    • 🔄 Automatic cache recovery applications (especially social networks and instant messengers).
    • 📥 Background download of updates (applications, games, systems).
    • 📸 Automatic backup photos and videos to the cloud (files are duplicated).
    • 🗑️ Accumulations of logs and dumps (system error files).

      • Solution: set up automatic cleaning c Files by Google or use a task scheduler (for example, MacroDroid) to regularly remove garbage.

    Which applications clean up memory best?

    Top 5 proven utilities:

    1. Files by Google — built-in removal tools duplicates and large files.
    2. SD Maid — deep cleaning of residual files and system garbage (requires root for some functions).
    3. CCleaner — convenient interface for clearing the cache and managing applications.
    4. Nox Cleaner — optimizes memory and cools the device (useful for games).
    5. Droid Optimizer — analyzes memory usage in real time.

    For maximum effect, combine the built-in tools Android with one of these apps.

    Is it worth using root access to clear memory?

    Root access gives more options, but has risks:

    Pros:

    • Removing pre-installed applications (bloatware).
    • Cleaning Dalvik-cache and other system folders.
    • Transfer all applications to the SD card (including those that usually do not support this).

    Cons:

    • Loss of warranty (on most devices).
    • Risk of “bricking” (turning into "brick") in case of errors.
    • Security vulnerabilities (root access opens access to the system for malware).

    If you are not an experienced user, it is better to do without root - standard methods (sections 1–6) are enough to free up 5–10 GB of memory.

    How to prevent memory from filling up in future?

    Preventive measures:

    • 📴 Clear the cache once every 1-2 months (set up a reminder).
    • ☁️ Use the cloud for photos and videos (set up automatic downloading).
    • 🚫 Disable auto-update applications or limit it to Wi-Fi only.
    • 🗃️ Check the folder regularly Downloads and delete unnecessary files.
    • 📱 Install light versions of applications (Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Spotify Lite).

    It is also useful to carry out deep cleaning every six months using SD Maid or similar utilities.