Smartphone Samsung Galaxy A5, despite its age, still remains a popular device, but users often encounter with a critical lack of free space. The operating system Android requires a certain amount of space to work correctly, and when the storage is full, the phone begins to slow down, applications crash, and updates stop downloading. Understanding how to properly manage files is the key to extending the life of your gadget.
In this article, we will look in detail at all the available methods for freeing up space: from simple cache clearing to radical measures to reset settings. You don't need to be an IT expert to perform these steps, since most of the tools are already built into the shell One UI or standard Android. Let's start by analyzing what exactly is taking up space.
Analyzing occupied space and searching for memory “eaters”
Before deleting anything, you need to understand which files take up the most space. Modern versions of Samsung firmware have a built-in convenient storage analyzer. Go to the device settings, select Device maintenance or Memory. Here the system will clearly show the distribution of space between applications, images, videos and system files.
It often turns out that the lion's share of memory is occupied not by the apps themselves, but by their data. Social networks such as Telegram or Vibercan silently accumulate gigabytes of cached media files. Cache are temporary files that speed up applications, but over time become useless ballast. Deleting them is safe and will not lead to the loss of personal correspondence or contacts.
Pay attention to the folder Download (Downloads). Many users download APK installation files, documents or pictures from the Internet and forget about them. These files can sit for months, taking up precious megabytes. Regularly checking this directory helps maintain order without installing additional software.
⚠️ Attention: When deleting files from the “Downloads” folder, make sure that they do not include important documents or app installers that you plan to use in the near future.
Clearing the cache and deleting temporary system files
The fastest way to get back a few hundred megabyte is clearing the system cache. In smartphones Samsung this function is available through the service menu. By clicking the “Clear Now” button, you launch a script that deletes temporary files left behind by various services and applications.
However, manually clearing the cache of specific “heavy” applications is often more effective. Go to Settings → Applications, select the desired app (for example, YouTube or Instagram) and click Storage. There you will see a button Clear cache. Do not confuse it with the “Clear data” button, which will reset the application to its factory state and delete your logins.
For deeper cleaning, you can use Recovery Mode, but this requires caution. If you decide to use this method, be sure to back up your important data beforehand. Errors in this mode can lead to the loss of user data, although the system cache (Dalvik Cache) is safe to delete.
Use the built-in “Memory Clear” function in the notification shade to quickly delete temporary files before launching heavy games.
The regularity of such procedures directly affects the speed of the interface. If you notice that the animations have become jerky, and the keyboard appears with a delay, most likely the cache partition is full. Cleaning it does not require a reboot, but the effect is noticeable almost instantly.
Transferring photos and videos to the cloud or to a memory card
Multimedia content usually takes up the most space on a memory card or internal storage. The camera Samsung Galaxy A5 takes high-quality pictures, which can weigh 3-5 MB each. Video in high resolution 1080p uses up space even faster. It is irrational to store thousands of such files on an internal drive.
The ideal solution is to use cloud services, such as Google Photos or Yandex.Disk. Set up automatic downloads (autobackup) in high quality. After the photos are saved in the cloud, you can use the “Free up space” function, which will delete local copies already uploaded to the server.
If your model supports memory cards microSD, be sure to use this slot. You can transfer files through a standard file manager My files. Select the desired folders, select the “Move” option and specify the path to the SD card. This will free up internal memory for installing new applications that often cannot be transferred to external media.
| File type | Average size | Recommended storage location | Frequency cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo (JPEG) | 3-5 MB | Cloud / SD card | Once a month |
| Video (MP4) | 50-150 MB | SD card / PC | Immediately after viewing |
| Messenger cache | 100 MB - 2 GB | Delete | Once a week |
| Installation APK | 50-100 MB | Removal | Immediately after installation |
Transferring media files to external storage or to the cloud is the most effective way to free up internal memory without losing data.
Deleting unused applications and games
Over time, a lot of apps accumulate on your smartphone that you no longer use. Games, old banking apps, trial versions of services - they all take up space and can run in the background, consuming resources. Removing such “digital garbage” significantly relieves the system.
Go to the application menu and carefully review the list. If you haven't opened the app for more than six months, you probably don't need it. In the settings Applications you can sort the list by size or by date of last use, which will help you quickly identify candidates for deletion.
Particular attention should be paid to pre-installed software (bloatware). Some system applications Samsung cannot be completely uninstalled without superuser rights (root), but they can disable. When disabled, the app disappears from the menu and stops updating or running in the background, freeing up space in the user section.
⚠️ Attention: Do not disable system services related to the phone, calls or interface (for example, “Samsung Experience Home” or “Phone”), otherwise the device may become inoperative.
To delete games that weigh several gigabytes, it is better to use a Wi-Fi connection so as not to waste mobile traffic if you plan to download them again in the future. However, if the goal is to save space, then deleting games is one of the most effective steps.
☑️ Check applications before deleting
Optimizing the operation of messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber
Messengers are the leaders in memory consumption in a modern smartphone. The principle of their operation is such that every received photo, video or voice message is stored in the device’s memory. Without configuration, these applications can quietly take up all the free space on Samsung A5.
There is a built-in and very convenient cache management function. Go to Telegram There is a built-in and very convenient cache management function. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you can see how much space the cache is taking up and clear it with one click. Moreover, you can set the cache to be automatically deleted, for example, 3 days or a week after viewing.
B WhatsApp The situation is similar, but control is carried out through the tab Storage in the chat settings. You can view the largest conversations and delete media files selectively. It is also recommended to disable automatic media downloading in the “Data and Storage” settings so that files are downloaded only at your request.
Why do messengers take up so much space?
Messengers duplicate files. If you sent one photo to 5 different chats, it can be saved in memory 5 times in the form of separate cached copies, unless storage optimization is enabled.
Regularly cleaning attachments in chats not only frees up space, but also speeds up searching through the chat history. Heavy databases with thousands of pictures slow down opening the application and scrolling through the message feed.
Radical measures: Reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods helped, and the memory is still filled with incomprehensible files, perhaps a critical amount of errors or fragmentation has accumulated in the system. In this case, the only effective solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings (Hard Reset).
This procedure completely deletes all data from the internal storage, returning the phone to the “as from the store” state. Before starting the operation, it is critical to create a complete backup of your contacts, photos and documents on your computer or in the cloud, since it will be impossible to restore them after a reset without a backup.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → General settings → Reset → Reset data. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot. Once turned on, your phone will be clean and you can set it up again, installing only the apps you need. This often solves problems with software "glitches" that cause memory leaks.
⚠️ Attention: Before resetting, make sure that the battery is at least 50% charged, and remember the password for your Google account, which will be required to verify ownership after switching on.
After resetting, it is recommended not to restore all applications at once from a backup copy, but to install them manually. This will avoid the return of old problems and junk files that could have been saved in the system backup.
Full reset is an extreme measure that guarantees 100% clearing of memory, but requires careful preparation and saving of data.
Prevention and useful tips for maintaining order
To avoid the problem of lack of memory did not return, it is important to develop digital hygiene habits. You shouldn’t download files “in reserve” or store archives for several years on your phone. A regular storage audit once a month takes only 5-10 minutes, but saves hours of hassle in the future.
Use cleaning widgets on the home screen. The shell Samsung has a “Device Maintenance” widget, which allows you to launch optimization with one touch. This helps to keep RAM and ROM under control without diving deep into settings.
It is also worth paying attention to streaming services. If you listen to music o Spotify or watch movies o Netflix offline, these applications can take up gigabytes of space. Adjust the download quality and limit the amount of storage allocated to the cache of these applications in their internal settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I delete Samsung system applications to free up space?
It is not possible to completely remove system applications without root access. However, they can be disabled in the application settings. This will hide them from the menu and stop background processes, but the files themselves will remain in the system partition, which is inaccessible to the user for cleaning.
Why is the memory not freed up after deleting applications?
Perhaps the application left behind data folders in the root of the storage or on the SD card. It is also worth checking the trash in the gallery and the trash in the My Files application, since deleted files are often stored there for another 30 days.
Is it safe to use third-party cleaning apps (Clean Master and similar)?
Modern versions of Android and the One UI shell have built-in effective cleaning tools. Third-party “cleaners” often consume a lot of resources themselves, show intrusive advertising and can delete necessary files. It is recommended to use only built-in tools.
How to transfer all applications to a memory card on Samsung A5?
Starting with Android 6.0-7.0, the ability to transfer applications to an SD card depends on the policy of the developer of a particular application. Many modern apps do not support this feature. You can transfer only those applications in the settings of which the “Move to SD card” button is active.