Every owner of a Samsung smartphone has at least once encountered an incomprehensible situation: the built-in storage is full, and visual analysis shows a huge section called “Other”. This mysterious block can occupy tens of gigabytes, blocking the installation of updates and new applications. Unlike the understandable categories “Photo” or “Video”, system files, temporary data and remnants of deleted apps are hidden here.
Section “Other” (Other) is formed automatically by the operating system and includes everything that is not included in the standard media categories. On devices with a shell One UI this process often occurs aggressively, especially if you actively use instant messengers or streaming services. Cleaning this section requires a comprehensive approach, since the developers did not provide a single “Delete everything” button.
In this article we will analyze effective methods for freeing up space. You'll learn how to safely delete application cache, clear system logs, and find hidden files that are bloating your memory. Before starting the procedures, make sure that important data is saved in the cloud or on external media to avoid accidental loss of information. Samsung Galaxy. Before starting procedures, make sure that important data is saved in the cloud or on an external storage device to avoid accidental loss of information.
Analysis of the contents of the “Other” section
Before taking radical measures, you need to understand the nature of memory filling. Most often, the volume is inflated by the cache of social networks, such as Telegram or VK, which save viewed media files in hidden directories. The system classifies this data as system or unknown if it does not have standard extensions or is located in protected folders.
Temporary update files and error logs also occupy a significant share. If your smartphone was recently updated or some applications crashed frequently, the size of this garbage can reach 5–10 GB. Using the built-in storage analyzer gives only a general idea, so detailed diagnostics often require third-party utilities or manual viewing through a file manager.
Particular attention should be paid to the folder Android/obb i Android/data. This is where caches of heavy games and application data are stored. Deleting the contents of these directories can free up gigabytes, but will reset settings within apps and require you to download resources again. Weigh the risks before clearing these specific paths.
Use the built-in My Files app to sort data by size - this will help you quickly find the heaviest folders hidden in the depths of the system.
Clearing the application cache and system services
The safest and most effective way to reduce the size of the "Other" category - This is a manual clearing of the cache of the most gluttonous applications. On Samsung smartphones this is done through the settings, where you can see the exact amount of space taken up for each app. Start with instant messengers, browsers and video players.
Go to the menu Settings → Applications and sort the list by size. Select the leading application, for example, YouTube or Instagram, and click on the item "Storage". Here you will see two buttons: “Clear data” and “Clear cache”. Use the second option so as not to lose logins and account settings.
- 📱 Go to the settings of a specific application and find the memory usage section.
- 🗑️ Press the clear button cache, confirming the action in the pop-up window.
- 🔄 Repeat the procedure for the top 5 largest apps on your device.
- ⚙️ Check the system application "Gallery", which often accumulates thumbnails of deleted photos.
Do not forget about the system partition cache. Although modern versions of Android handle this automatically, manually resetting the recovery cache (Recovery Mode) can help remove old temporary update files. To do this, you need to turn off the phone and hold down the combination of power and volume keys to get to the recovery menu, where you should select the item Wipe Cache Partition.
☑️ Weekly memory hygiene
⚠️ Attention: Do not click the “Clear Data” button in application settings unless you are ready to log in again and configure the app. This function deletes all information, including correspondence and saved passwords.
Working with instant messengers and social networks
Messengers are the main culprits in the growth of the “Other” section. Apps like Telegram save all viewed photos and videos to internal memory, even if you just scrolled through the feed. The settings of the messenger itself have powerful tools for managing this process, which many users ignore.
In Telegram you need to go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you can set a limit on the cache size or clear it completely with one click. Similar functions are available in WhatsApp and Viber, where you can selectively delete media files from specific chats without losing the text history of correspondence.
Social networks such as VKontakte or Facebook also cache content for faster loading. The settings of these applications often do not have a button to completely clear the cache, so sometimes it is easier to reinstall the app. Before deleting, make sure you know your login password, as resetting will require re-authorization.
Why does the cache come back so quickly?
Applications create a cache to speed things up. When you reopen the news feed, the app downloads images and videos again, instantly restoring the amount of occupied space. Regular cleaning is necessary during active use.
Search and delete hidden files through Explorer
Sometimes “Other” consists of files that the user forgot to delete: forgotten downloads, old documents or remnants of deleted games. The built-in file manager My Files on Samsung allows you to view the folder structure, but some system directories may be hidden.
Turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings by clicking on the three dots in the corner of the screen and selecting the appropriate item. Pay attention to the folder Download, where APK installation files are often accumulated, which are no longer needed after installing apps. Also check the folder DCIM/.thumbnailswhere photo thumbnails are stored.
For advanced users, it is recommended to use third-party file managers with access to the root structure, for example Solid Explorer or CX File Explorer. They visualize memory in the form of a map, allowing you to detect a parasitic folder occupying several gigabytes at a glance.
| File type | Location | Can be deleted? | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary files (.tmp) | Various folders | Yes | Low |
| Application cache | Android/data | Yes (will reset settings) | Medium |
| System logs (.log) | System root | Yes | Low |
| Game data (.obb) | Android/obb | No (the game will not start) | High |
Deleting files from the Download folder and emptying the trash in the My Files application often frees up more space than complex system manipulations.
Resetting settings and extreme measures
If none of the soft methods helped reduce the size of the “Other” partition, critical errors or data fragmentation may have accumulated in the file system. In such cases, the only solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings. This is guaranteed to remove all garbage, but will require a full backup of your data.
Before the procedure, make sure that your contacts, photos and documents are synchronized with your account Samsung Cloud or Google Drive. Resetting will remove absolutely everything, including installed applications and Wi-Fi settings. The process takes from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of memory and speed of your processor. To perform a reset, go to Galaxy.
To perform a reset, go to Settings → General settings → Reset → Reset data. The system will warn you about the consequences and ask for confirmation. After rebooting, the phone will be as good as new, and the “Other” section will occupy the minimum possible volume required for the operation of the OS.
⚠️ Attention: Before resetting the settings, be sure to remove the microSD memory card, if installed. Although the system asks for confirmation for formatting, accidentally deleting data from an external card can be a fatal mistake.
Prevention of memory filling in the future
To prevent the problem from returning in a month, it is important to change your smartphone usage habits. Disable automatic saving of media files in instant messengers. In Telegram and WhatsApp, you can configure the downloading of photos and videos only over Wi-Fi or disable it altogether, viewing content directly from the cloud.
Regularly use the built-in optimization tool. On Samsung phones, it is located in the application Device Care (Device Care). Run it at least once a week. It is also useful to check your Downloads folder once a month and remove unnecessary installers.
Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Services like Google Photos allow you to free up space on your device by deleting local copies after a successful sync. This prevents your media library from growing, which could be misclassified as "Other" by the system over time due to metadata.
Does Android version affect the size of "Other"?
Yes, in older versions of One UI the file classification algorithms were less accurate, often classifying large files as "Other". Updating to the latest available version may improve the situation.
Why is the Other partition not shrinking after clearing the cache?
This may be due to a delay in updating the storage index. Restart your smartphone so that the system recalculates the amount of used space. It is also possible that space is being taken up by non-cache files, such as application databases.
Is it safe to delete the Android/data folder?
You cannot delete the folder itself, this will disrupt the system. However, you can clear the contents of folders inside it that belong to specific applications. This will reset the settings of these applications, but will not damage the OS.
Can a virus create files in the "Other" section?
Theoretically, yes, malware can hide its files in system directories. If the volume of “Other” is growing on its own without your participation, it is recommended to check the device with an antivirus, for example, the built-in solution from McAfee in Samsung.
How to find out which application creates the most garbage?
Go to Settings → Applications and sort them by size. Applications with a large amount of data, but a small size of the APK itself, usually generate a lot of cache and temporary files that end up in “Other”.