Series smartphones Samsung Galaxy A51 remain popular due to their balanced characteristics, but over time the built-in memory tends to run out. One common reason for running out of space is that the system's Deleted Items folder, which users often refer to as the "Trash," is full. Many owners don't even realize that the files they supposedly deleted continue to take up precious gigabytes for 30 or 60 days.
Cleaning up this storage is a simple process, but requires understanding where exactly the deleted data is located. In an operating system Android with a shell One UI there is no single “Clear all” button, since each service has its own buffer. This is done for security so that the user can accidentally restore an important photo or document.
In this material we will look at all possible ways to free up space. You will learn how to work with standard applications, how to use cloud services and what hidden cleaning methods exist. Proper memory management will allow your device to work faster and more stable.
Where the recycle bin is located in the standard Gallery
The main storage of deleted photos and the video is in the Gallery app. This is where the pictures go after you click the delete button. The system Samsung saves them here for 30 days, after which it is automatically cleared. However, if you want to free up space right now, you don't have to wait.
To get to the desired section, open the application and go to the “Albums” tab. Scroll to the very bottom of the list - there you will see the “Cart” item. The number of elements in brackets will tell you how much space can be freed up. If there are no numbers, then the storage is empty.
Within a folder, you can select individual files or use the bulk selection function. To do this, tap on any item and then select "All" at the top of the screen. After this, a delete button will appear, which will permanently erase data from the device.
⚠️ Attention: After emptying the trash in the Gallery, restoring files using standard means will no longer be possible. Make sure that there are no important documents or valuable frames among the pictures being deleted.
The interface may vary slightly depending on the version. One UI. In some updates, access to settings for storing deleted items has been moved to a menu with three points.
Cleaning up deleted files in the My Files application
Many users forget that documents, downloads and archives are deleted not in the Gallery, but in the system file manager. The "My Files" folder (My Files) application has its own independent recycle bin. Even if you cleared the photo, the memory may not be freed if there are still heavy files from the Download or Documents.
To clean it, find an icon on the desktop or in the application menu called "My Files". At the bottom of the screen or in the side menu (depending on the screen orientation) there will be a “Trash” section. The principle of operation is similar to the gallery: files are stored here for 30 days before final deletion.
Here you can sort the contents by date or size. This is especially useful if you need to find and delete specific large archives that were recently deleted but are still taking up space. Clicking on the three-dot menu allows you to select the “Clear all” option.
It is important to note that Android file system does not always immediately show the freed space in the general memory settings. Sometimes the device needs to be rebooted for the indexer to recalculate the available space.
☑️ Check before cleaning
Synchronization with Google Photos and the cloud
Owners Samsung A51 often use a cloud service Google Photos for backup copying. This application has its own recycle bin, which is not connected to the system one. If you deleted a photo from Gallery but it was synced, a copy may remain in the cloud and take up space there instead of on your device, or vice versa.
To check this section, open the app Google Photos. Go to the “Library” tab (or “Collection” in older versions of the interface). There you will find the “Cart” item. The retention period for deleted items here is also 60 days for regular users and up to 30 days for items not synchronized with the cloud.
Cleaning up here is similar: select all items and confirm deletion. Deleting from the Google Photos Trash frees up space in your Google account, not necessarily on physical storage of the phone if the originals have already been deleted.
There is a nuance with the synchronization settings. If you have the Free up space feature enabled, your originals are only stored in the cloud. In this case, emptying the trash on your phone may not give a visible result, since the main data is already on the servers.
What happens when the cloud is full?
If your Google storage is full, syncing new photos will stop. You will have to either buy a subscription or delete old files from the cloud trash.
Third-party applications and junk files
In addition to system tools, third-party cleaning apps can be installed on Samsung A51 for example, CCleaner or Files by Google. They also create their own lists of recently deleted files or cache memory, which can be mistaken for the system recycle bin.
Often, such applications have a “Secure Delete” feature that overwrites data, making it impossible to recover even with special utilities. This is useful when selling a phone, but takes more time. Standard cleaning simply marks memory sectors as free.
Some messengers, such as Telegram or WhatsApp, have their own internal trash bins. In Telegram, for example, deleted messages disappear instantly, but the cache of media files can grow to gigabytes. Clearing the cache in the application settings is a separate procedure not related to the system recycle bin.
Using third-party cleaners is only justified if you know exactly what files you are deleting. Blindly using the “Speed Up Phone” functions can lead to the loss of the cache of frequently used applications, which will make them take longer to load.
Comparison table of storage locations for deleted data
To systematize the knowledge of where deleted files are hidden on Samsung A51, it is convenient to use a pivot table. It will help you quickly figure out which application is responsible for what.
| Application | Trash location | Shelf life | Impact on memory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Gallery | Albums → Trash | 30 days | Takes up phone memory |
| My files | Menu → Trash | 30 days | Takes up phone memory |
| Google Photos | Library → Trash | 60 days | Takes up space in the cloud |
| OneDrive | Me → Cart | 30 days | Takes up space in the cloud |
As can be seen from the table, the main consumers of space on the device itself are the first two points. Cloud services affect your account limits, but not the speed of your smartphone, except for synchronization traffic.
Pay attention to the storage period. If you deleted a file 29 days ago, it's still taking up space. After a day, the system will delete it automatically, but if you need memory urgently, you can’t wait.
Use the “Storage Cleanup” function in your phone settings (Settings → Device Maintenance) to quickly see which applications are taking up the most space.
Automatic system cleaning and settings
In modern versions shell One UI for Samsung A51 the ability to automatically manage the recycle bin is provided. You can configure the system so that it deletes old files itself without requiring your intervention. This eliminates the need to remember to manually clean.
To activate this feature, go to the Gallery settings. Find the item related to the retention period for deleted items. Here you can select the option to automatically delete after 1 day, 15 days, or leave the standard 30 days. The shorter the period, the lower the risk of memory overflow.
It is also worth checking the smart storage management settings. The system may prompt you to delete blurry photos, similar photos, or screenshots that you no longer use. This is part of the function device optimization.
Automating processes is the best way to keep your phone clean. However, a periodic manual check still won't hurt, especially before installing major updates or games.
⚠️ Attention: The settings menu interface may change after a firmware update. If you do not find the described items, check the "General Settings" section or use the search in the settings by entering the word "Trash".
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to restore a photo after emptying the trash can on a Samsung A51?
After manually emptying the trash using standard recovery tools impossible. Files are marked as free space and can be overwritten at any time. There are paid services for data recovery, but they require root access and do not provide a 100% guarantee.
Why is the memory not freed immediately after cleaning?
The Android system takes time to recalculate file system indexes. Also, the cache of some applications may not update immediately. Try rebooting your device to see the current amount of free memory.
Does the Google Photos Trash take up space on your phone?
No, the Google Photos Trash takes up space in your Google cloud account. However, if the original photos are stored only in the cloud (space-saving mode), then deleting from the trash will free up space in the cloud and not on the internal drive.
How to empty the trash in all applications at once?
There is no single button for emptying all trash at once. You will have to go to Gallery, My Files and Google Photos one by one and empty each folder separately. This is done for data security purposes.
Regularly emptying the Recycle Bin is not only a way to free up space, but also a digital hygiene measure that ensures the privacy of your deleted data.
To summarize, managing memory on Samsung A51 requires attention to detail. Different apps store deleted data in different places, and control over it is in your hands. Regularly checking these sections will help you avoid situations where the phone reports a lack of space at the most inopportune moment.