Smartphones of the line ASUS Zenfone and ROG Phone are famous for their performance and clean shell, close to stock Android. However, even the most powerful devices begin to work slower over time, and notifications about lack of space become a constant companion of the owner. This is a natural process of accumulation of system garbage, application cache and forgotten files, which requires regular intervention.
Proper system cleaning not only frees up valuable gigabytes, but also significantly extends battery life, since the processor does not need to process unnecessary background tasks. In this article we will examine in detail how to clean an Android Asus built-in tools and third-party utilities to return your gadget to its former sharpness and responsiveness of the interface.
Built-in ASUS optimization tools
ASUS Company has introduced a useful utility into its devices called PhoneMaster, which serves as the first line of defense against system junk. This tool works at the system kernel level and has access to those sections of memory that are closed to regular applications from the Play Market.
To get started, just launch the application and press the large scan button. The system will automatically analyze the status of RAM, storage and power consumption. Pay attention to the section Junk cleaningwhere the algorithm identifies temporary files, residual data of deleted apps and empty folders.
It is important to understand that the automatic mode does not always remove everything unnecessary. It is recommended to periodically go into the advanced settings of the utility for manual checking. Some files may be marked as safe, although in fact they have not been used by you for a long time.
⚠️ Attention: The "RAM Boost" function in the manager forces close background processes. If you use messengers or navigators, they may restart, which will lead to unnecessary battery consumption in the first minutes after cleaning.
Regular use of the built-in tool allows you to keep the system in good shape without the need to install heavy third-party software. This is especially true for models of previous years, where the amount of RAM is physically limited.
Set up automatic cleaning in the ASUS phone manager: go to the application settings and enable the “Auto-cleaning when screen is locked” option so that the phone itself frees up memory when you are not using it.
Manually clearing cache and application data
The most effective way to free up space is to target specific applications that consume the most resources. Social networks, instant messengers and browsers tend to grow to gigantic proportions, storing gigabytes of images and videos in temporary storage.
To get to this data, you need to go to the menu Settings → Applications and notifications → Application information. Here you will see a complete list of installed software, sorted by size or name. Select the leading application, for example, Telegram or YouTube, and explore the “Storage” section.
In this menu you will find two key buttons: “Clear cache” and “Clear data”. The first deletes temporary files without affecting your logins and settings. The second resets the application to its factory state, deleting all accounts and local configurations.
- 🗑️ Cache —safe temporary files that can be deleted regularly without affecting the operation of the app.
- 💾 Data —important application information, the deletion of which will require re-authorization and configuration.
- 🚀 Disk size - shows the actual volume occupied by the application along with all its add-ons.
Particular attention should be paid to the browser Chrome or the built-in ASUS browser. They often accumulate gigabytes of cache when watching videos and heavy websites. Regularly clearing the browser cache can free up from 500 MB to 2 GB of space instantly.
☑️ Manual cleaning checklist
Manage files and downloads
The Download folder often turns into a digital dump, where APK installation files, old presentations, forgotten photographs and documents. Users rarely look there until they are faced with a critical lack of space.
Use the standard file manager Files by Google or the built-in ASUS explorer. Go to the root directory of the internal memory and carefully examine the contents of the folder Download. Remove any application installers that you have already used, as they are no longer needed.
It is also worth checking messenger folders, such as WhatsApp/Media or Telegram/Telegram Images. There are often thousands of duplicate images and video files stored there, which are automatically saved when viewing chats. Deleting them will not affect correspondence, but will free up a significant volume.
| File type | Where to look | Can be deleted | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| APK installers | Download folder | Yes, always | No |
| Temporary logs | Log or Temp folder | Yes | No |
| Photo thumbnails | Folder .thumbnails | Yes (will be created again) | No (will slow down the gallery) |
| Saved music | Music folder | Only unnecessary | High |
Don't forget about the folder DCIM. If you backed up your photos to the cloud, feel free to delete the originals from your device. This is one of the fastest ways to get several gigabytes of free space.
Hidden Android folders
In Android 11 and higher, access to the Android/Data folder is limited to third-party file managers. To clear the cache of system applications in this folder, use only the built-in application settings menu or connect the phone to a PC.
Disabling and removing system software (Bloatware)
Many users do not suspect that a significant part of the memory is occupied by pre-installed applications that they never use. On ASUS smartphones, these could be Google services, trial versions of antiviruses, or affiliate apps.
Go to the list of all applications and find those that you do not use. If the “Delete” button is active, feel free to get rid of the app. If only the Disable button is available, use it. A disabled application stops updating, running in the background and taking up space in the launcher list, although it physically remains in the system partition.
For advanced users, it is possible to remove system applications via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This requires connecting to a computer and entering special commands, but it allows you to free up space even from those apps that you usually shouldn’t touch.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.asus.demosBe extremely careful when removing system components. Removing critical services, such as SystemUI or telephony services, may result in the device being unable to boot or losing connection.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and menu item names may vary slightly depending on the Android version (10, 11, 12, 13) and the model of your ASUS Zenfone. Always check the current manual for your specific firmware before removing system components.
Disabling unnecessary system applications not only frees up space, but also reduces the load on the processor, since they stop consuming resources in the background.
Using a memory card and cloud storage
If the internal memory of the smartphone is full to the fullest, the logical solution would be to transfer data to external media. Many ASUS models support memory cards of format microSD, which allows you to expand the storage by 128 GB or more.
In the storage settings, you can select a memory card as the main location for saving photos and videos by default. Also, modern versions of Android allow you to format the card as internal memory, which makes it possible to install applications on it.
Cloud services are an alternative to a physical card. Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox allow you to configure automatic uploading of media files. After downloading, the originals can be deleted from the phone, leaving them available in the cloud at any time.
- ☁️ Autoload —set up synchronization only via Wi-Fi so as not to waste mobile traffic.
- 📸 Free up space —Google Photos has a “Free up space” feature that removes already downloaded photos from your device.
- 📂 Transfer files —use the file manager to bulk move old documents to an SD card.
Using the cloud is not just a way to save space, but also a reliable backup method. Even if the phone is lost or broken, your data will remain safe on the servers.
Drastic measures: resetting to factory settings
Sometimes accumulated software garbage and file system errors reach such a level that partial cleaning no longer helps. In such cases, the only effective solution is to completely reset the device to its factory state (Hard Reset).
This procedure completely deletes all user data, applications, settings and files, returning the phone to the state it was in when purchased. This guarantees maximum performance and cleanliness of the system, but requires careful preparation.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to create a complete backup of your contacts, messages and important files. Make sure that the battery level is at least 50-60% so that the phone does not turn off during the flashing process.
To start the reset, go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Delete all data. Confirm the action by entering your PIN or pattern. The process will take from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the amount of memory and speed of the drive.
⚠️ Attention: After resetting, the device will be completely clean. You will lose all unsaved data, including Wi-Fi passwords, alarm settings, and game progress if it is not synced to the cloud.
After the reset is complete, do not rush to restore all applications at once from Google backup. Try using a “clean” phone for a couple of days, installing only the most necessary software. This will help you understand which application was previously causing the brakes.
Recovery Mode
If the phone does not turn on or is stuck on the logo, you can reset it through the Recovery menu. To do this, hold down the Volume Down + Power buttons (on some models Up + Power) until the menu appears, then select Wipe Data/Factory Reset.
Is it safe to use cleaner applications from the Play Market?
Most popular cleaners (Clean Master and analogues) work aggressively and often show intrusive advertising. The built-in tools from ASUS and Android are usually sufficient. Third-party utilities can even slow things down by constantly working in the background.
Why does the space quickly run out again after cleaning?
Most likely, the problem is in a specific application (often instant messengers) that caches media files, or in the synchronization of system updates. Check your photo startup settings and limit the cache for heavy apps.
Is it possible to delete the .thumbnails folder?
Yes, this folder can be deleted. It stores thumbnails of photos for the gallery. The system will re-create it automatically the next time you open the gallery, but this will temporarily load the processor.
Does full memory affect the speed of ASUS?
Yes, directly. When the internal memory is more than 90% full, the speed of writing and reading data drops many times, which causes severe interface slowdowns and long application startup times.