Smartphone owners Realme often face a situation where the internal memory of the device is rapidly filling up, and the main culprit is the mysterious “Other” section. In the Android system storage, this item accumulates files that the operating system cannot clearly classify as photos, videos, music or applications. Over time, the volume of this partition can reach tens of gigabytes, which critically affects the performance of the gadget.
Why doesn’t the system see these files? Most often, the “Other” category contains messenger caches, remnants of uninstalled apps, temporary update files, and data from streaming services. The user can observe how, after deleting all photos, space is not freed up. This happens because system garbage hidden from standard viewing in the gallery. Understanding the structure of this storage is the first step to successfully cleaning the device without losing important data.
In this material we will analyze in detail safe and effective methods for freeing up space. You don't need superuser rights (Root) or complex computer utilities. We will look at the built-in shell tools Realme UI, the capabilities of third-party file managers and specific settings of popular applications that most often clog up memory.
Analysis of the contents of the Other section
Before you start deleting, you need to understand what exactly occupies space on your drive. The “Other” section is not one specific file, but a collection of disparate data. This includes archives, documents in rare formats, application installation files (APK) and, most importantly, cache. Cached data allow applications to load faster, but over time they become redundant.
Particular attention should be paid to instant messengers. Telegram and WhatsApp have a habit of saving all received media files in their own hidden directories, which the system often classifies as other files. If you actively use these apps for work or communication in large chats, they can occupy up to 70% of the volume of the “Other” section. Checking these apps should be your first priority.
Offline map data, downloaded Netflix or YouTube episodes, and temporary browser files also fall into this category. Sometimes “broken” files, the download of which was interrupted, also end up here. The system does not know how to process them and simply marks them as unknown. Regular audit of this data helps keep your smartphone in optimal condition.
Using the built-in cleaning manager
The company Realme preinstalls a powerful tool for system optimization in its smartphones. This is the Phone Manager (or Phone Manager) application that is available right on your desktop. It can scan your device for duplicates, large files and system junk. Running this utility is the safest way to start cleaning, since Realme algorithms know the specifics of its shell.
To get started, open the application and select “Cleaning”. The system will conduct an in-depth analysis and offer to delete unnecessary files. Please refer to the “Special Cleaning” or “Deep Cleaning” section. This is where data classified as “Other” is often hidden. The algorithm will offer to clear the application cache, delete empty folders and find rarely used apps.
⚠️ Attention: When using the “Deep Cleaning” function, carefully look at the checkboxes. Sometimes the system suggests deleting the game cache, which will lead to the need to re-download resources (maps, textures) the next time you start it.
You should not ignore the “Large Files” tab. Often, users download movies or archives, forget about them, and they lie like dead weight, taking up space in the “Other” section. The built-in manager sorts them by size, allowing you to quickly find and delete the largest objects. This action can instantly free up several gigabytes.
Run the built-in Realme cleaner at least once a week. This will prevent critical memory filling and maintain high speed of the interface.
Manual cleaning through the file manager
If automatic means fail, you will have to act manually. The standard file manager Realme allows you to look into the hidden corners of memory. You need to go to the root directory of the internal storage. It is important to be careful here: deleting system folders can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone.
Look for folders with the names of applications that you no longer use. For example, if you deleted a game, but its cache folder remained, it will be listed in “Other”. Also check the Download (Downloads) folder. Often there are files that the system did not recognize as media, and they are not displayed in the gallery, but take up space.
- 📂 Folder
Android/data—application data is stored here. It needs to be cleared point-by-point, only for deleted apps. - 🗑️ Folder
TrashorBin— file manager trash, which is often forgotten to empty after initial deletion. - 📄 Files with extension
.tmp—temporary files that can be safely deleted manually.
For advanced users, it is recommended to install a third-party file manager, for example Total Commander or Solid Explorer. They have a more user-friendly interface for viewing folder sizes and identifying hidden files. With their help, you can visualize which directory has swelled to indecent sizes.
☑️ Preparing for manual cleaning
Clearing the cache of instant messengers and social networks
As already mentioned, the leaders in space consumption in the “Other” section are instant messengers. Telegram, for example, saves all viewed photos and videos to a cache by default. Over time, this database can grow to 10-20 GB. Cleaning should be carried out within the application itself, and not through the Android settings, so as not to lose the correspondence history.
In Telegram, go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see a Clear Cache button. Don’t be afraid to click it: your photos and correspondence will remain on the servers and will be uploaded again if necessary. However, local copies will be deleted, instantly reducing the size of the Other section. A similar function is available in WhatsApp and Viber.
| Application | Path to cleaning | Deletion security |
|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings → Data and memory | High (data in the cloud) |
| Settings → Data and storage | Medium (backup required) | |
| YouTube | Settings → General → Clear cache | High |
| Phone settings → Applications | High (will log you out of your account) |
Social networks like VK or Instagram also cache the news feed and viewed stories In the settings of the VK application itself there is an item “Clear cache”, which is often ignored by users. Performing this procedure regularly helps keep the “Other” section in check.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing data (not cache, but data) in Android settings will completely reset the application. You will lose conversations if you don't make a backup copy in advance. Be careful when choosing a button!
Why is the messenger cache growing so quickly?
Messengers cache not only explicit photos, but also thumbnails, voice messages and preloaded feed elements. In groups with high activity, this process occurs continuously, creating gigabytes of temporary files in a matter of weeks.
Resetting settings as a radical method
If none of the above methods helped reduce the size of the “Other” partition, errors may have accumulated in the file system or fragmentation has reached a critical level. In this case, the only effective solution is a full reset to factory settings. This action will erase absolutely all data from the device, returning it to a "store-as-stock" state.
Before performing this procedure, it is critical to create a full backup. Use cloud services Google Drive or proprietary utility Clone Phone from Realme to transfer contacts, photos and settings to another medium. After the reset, the “Other” section is usually reduced to a minimum system size of 2-4 GB.
The reset process is performed through the menu Settings → Additional settings → Recovery and reset → Erase all data. The device will reboot and the formatting process will begin. This may take from 10 to 30 minutes depending on memory size. After turning on the phone, the “Other” section will be clean, since all user savings will disappear.
A full reset is the only guarantee of 100% clearing of the “Other” section, but it takes time to restore all applications and settings afterward.
Preventing memory pollution
To prevent the problem with the “Other” section from returning with enviable regularity, it is worth changing your smartphone usage habits. First of all, set up automatic cache deletion in instant messengers. In Telegram, for example, you can set the rule: “Delete the cache if it has not been used for 3 days.” This automates the process and eliminates manual cleaning.
Secondly, avoid storing large amounts of files in the internal memory. Use a microSD memory card if your model Realme supports its installation, or regularly transfer photos and videos to the cloud (Google Photos, Yandex.Disk). Storing media in the cloud frees up local space and reduces the load on the file system.
- 🚀 Disable auto-downloading of media in messengers for group chats.
- ☁️ Set up photo synchronization with the cloud with the “Free up space” function.
- 📵 Periodically delete applications that you have not used for more than a month.
It is also recommended to check your downloads folder once a month and delete APK installation files. After installing the application, these files are no longer needed, but often remain in memory, erroneously considered useful data by the system. A simple habit of cleaning after yourself will extend the life of your smartphone's storage.
⚠️ Attention: Realme UI may be updated. Menu item names may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the specific phone model. If you do not find the specified item, use the search in the settings.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to delete the Android folder completely?
No, deleting the entire folder Android is absolutely not possible. Inside it there are subfolders data and obbthat contain critical data for the operation of installed applications and games. Deleting this directory will cause apps to stop running or be reset to factory settings. You can only delete the contents of folders of specific deleted applications.
Why does the “Other” section grow again after cleaning?
This is normal behavior of the operating system. Applications constantly create new temporary files for their work. Browser cache, gallery thumbnails and messenger data accumulate during use. If the growth occurs too quickly (gigabytes per day), this may indicate an error in a specific application that has cycled logging.
Does the “Other” section affect the speed of Realme?
Yes, it does. When the internal memory is more than 85-90% full, the speed of writing and reading data drops significantly. This leads to interface sluggishness, long application opening times, and problems installing updates. Maintaining free space in the “Other” section is directly related to the performance of the smartphone.
Will apps like Clean Master help?
Third-party “cleaners” are often less effective than Realme’s built-in tools. They may aggressively delete desired files or display intrusive advertisements. The built-in manager has deeper access to the system and better understands the structure of the Realme UI shell, so its use is preferable for safe cleaning.