Smartphone users often encounter an unexpected problem: the storage is full, but upon detailed analysis it turns out that the lion's share of space is occupied by the mysterious “Other” category. This folder can grow to tens of gigabytes, turning the performance of your device into a painful wait. Understanding what exactly is hidden behind this name is the first step to freeing up valuable memory resources.
In this guide, we will examine in detail the nature of system garbage and offer proven methods for removing it. You will learn how to safely clear application caches, manage backups and delete hidden files without compromising the stability of the operating system. Deep cleaning requires care, but the results are worth it.
What is hidden in the “Other” category
The “Other” section is not a single folder with garbage, but a collection of various data that the Android system cannot classify as standard photos, videos or music. This includes application cachetemporary update files, error logs and offline data in instant messengers. Often it is instant messengers, such as Telegram or WhatsApp, that become the main culprits in the bloat of this section.
System processes also generate files necessary for fast work, but over time they cease to be relevant. For example, browsers save thumbnails of visited pages, and streaming services cache parts of video streams. Without regular maintenance, this data accumulates like an avalanche.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to delete files from system folders manually through Explorer without understanding their purpose. Removing critical libraries may cause the phone to stop booting or some applications to stop launching.
In addition, remnants of deleted applications and broken installation packages often fall into this category. The operating system does not always automatically clean up the “tails” after uninstalling apps, especially if the process was interrupted or crashed. Files with the .apk extension left after installation can take up gigabytes of space, being completely useless.
Cleaning through built-in Android settings
Modern shells Android, be it MIUI, OneUI or Pixel UI, are equipped with built-in tools for memory management. This is the safest method, since the system algorithms know which files can be deleted painlessly. You need to go to Settings → Storage and wait for the data to be analyzed.
After scanning, the system will offer to clear the cache and delete rarely used applications. Clicking the "Clean" button will begin the process of deleting temporary files. However, this method is often superficial and does not affect deep deposits of garbage in data folders.
- 📱 Go to the settings menu and select “Storage” or “Device Memory”.
- 🗑️ Click on the “Clean” or “Free up space” button that the system will offer.
- 🔄 Check the section “Cache” and confirm clearing it for all applications at once.
For more detailed work, go to the “Applications” section and sort them by memory size. Select the heaviest apps and press Storage → Clear cache. It is important not to confuse this button with the “Clear data” function, which will reset the application to factory settings and delete your logins and progress.
Periodically reboot your smartphone after clearing the cache. This helps the system to correctly recalculate the amount of occupied space and update the file index.
Manual garbage removal through a file manager
If the built-in tools fail, you will have to use a third-party file manager, for example, Files by Google or Solid Explorer. The manual method allows you to delete specific folders that the system ignores. You will need to find the directory Android/data and Android/obb.
In the folder data user application data is stored, and in obb the cache from games (textures, music, levels). If you deleted a game, but the folder with its name remained in obb, you can safely erase it. This often frees up 2 to 5 GB of space.
| Folder | What is stored | Can I delete |
|---|---|---|
Download |
Downloaded files from the Internet | Yes, after checking |
DCIM/.thumbnails |
Photo thumbnails | Yes, they will be created again |
Android/obb |
Cache of heavy games | Only for remote games |
Bluetooth |
Received files via Bluetooth | Yes, if not needed |
Be extremely careful when working with the root directory. Delete only those folders whose names are familiar to you or that belong to applications that have already been deleted. Accidentally deleting a folder with the name of a system service can lead to malfunctions of the phone.
⚠️ Attention: The interfaces of file managers and the location of system folders may differ depending on the version of Android and the smartphone manufacturer. Always check official references if you are not sure of the purpose of the file.
☑️ Check before manual deletion
Cleaning messengers: Telegram and WhatsApp
Messengers are the champions for clogging up memory. They automatically download all media files from chats and save them in hidden caches, which the system often refers to the “Other” section. In Telegram this problem is solved most elegantly thanks to the built-in settings.
Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see the amount of cache used. Click the "Clear Telegram Cache" button. Don't be afraid, your photos and videos will not disappear without a trace - they will remain on the messenger servers and will be downloaded again when you need to view them.
C WhatsApp The situation is more complicated, since there is no automatic clearing by timer in the basic menu for all file types. You need to go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. There you can delete files larger than 5 MB or clear chats of specific contacts who send a lot of videos.
- 🚀 Enable auto-delete cache in Telegram settings (for example, after 3 days or a week).
- 📹 Disable autosaving of media to the gallery for both messengers.
- 📂 Regularly check the "Documents" folder inside messengers and delete old files.
Why is the messenger cache growing so quickly?
Messengers save every viewed picture and video to local storage for instant opening without downloading from the Internet. Over time, this collection of duplicates and old media files reaches enormous sizes.
Use of specialized utilities
When manual methods seem too complicated, specialized cleaning applications come to the rescue. Market leaders are considered SD Maid, CCleaner i Avast Cleanup. These apps have deep access to the system and can find “phantom” files - remnants of deleted applications.
The application SD Maid is especially appreciated by advanced users for the CorpseFinder function, which scans the system for folders belonging to apps that are no longer in the list of installed ones. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce the size of the “Other” section.
However, it is worth remembering that aggressive “cleaners” with intrusive advertising can do more harm than good. They often terminate important background processes, which results in increased battery consumption when they start again. Choose only proven utilities with a high rating Google Play.
Specialized utilities are effective for one-time deep cleaning, but for ongoing support it is better to use the built-in system tools and messenger settings.
Resetting settings as a radical method
If none of the above methods helped to free space, and the “Other” section continues to occupy a critical amount of memory, it is possible that fatal errors have accumulated in the file system. In this case, the only effective solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings.
This procedure completely erases all data from the phone, returning it to the “as from the store” state. The system partition will be recreated, and all accumulated software garbage will disappear. Before doing this, be sure to back up your contacts, photos and important documents to the cloud or to your computer.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → System → Reset settings and select “Delete all data.” The process will take from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of memory and processor speed of your smartphone. After turning on, the phone will work as quickly as on the first day of purchase.
⚠️ Attention: Full reset is irreversible. Make sure you remember the password for your Google account, since after the reset the system will require you to enter it to confirm ownership of the device (FRP protection).
What should you do if, after the reset, “Other” increases quickly again?
If the problem returns immediately after the reset, there may be a specific cause the application you are installing. Try installing apps one at a time and monitor the memory growth to identify the culprit.
Prevention of memory filling
To prevent the problem with “Other” files from returning, you need to develop the habit of regular smartphone maintenance. Don't wait to be notified of a lack of space, but carry out preventative cleaning once a month. It will only take a few minutes, but will save you from slowdowns in the future.
Use cloud storage, such as Google Photos or Yandex.Disk, with the function of automatic uploading and deleting local copies. This will allow you to store your media library without putting a strain on the phone’s internal memory. Also disable auto-downloading of application updates via the mobile network, if possible.
- 📅 Set a calendar reminder to check your storage monthly.
- ☁️ Set up synchronization photos and videos with the cloud with the “free up space” option.
- 🚫 Unsubscribe to unnecessary channels in messengers that spam media content.
Remember that full memory affects not only the ability to save new files, but also the overall speed of the operating system. Android requires free space for the paging mechanism and temporary files to work correctly. Free 15-20% of memory is the key to the stability of your device.
Is it possible to delete the Android folder completely?
No, you cannot delete the entire Android folder, so how it stores critical data for the operation of installed applications and the system itself. You can only delete the contents of the data and obb subfolders that relate to specific deleted apps.
Why is the space not freed up after cleaning?
You may have cleared only the cache and not the data, or the system has not yet recalculated the file index. Try rebooting your device. Also check the trash in the gallery and file manager - the files may remain there until they are finally deleted.
Does the “Other” section affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, indirectly. When the internal memory is almost completely full (more than 90%), the speed of writing and reading data drops, which leads to interface freezes and long application launch times.
How to find out which application creates the most garbage?
Go to the storage settings and sort applications by size. Often the heaviest applications have a huge amount of data in the "Other" category. Also use utilities like DiskUsage to visualize the used space.
Is it safe to use cleaner applications?
Using proven applications from well-known developers is safe. However, avoid apps that promise to “speed up RAM” or “cool down the processor,” as they often contain advertising and malicious modules.