How to clear the memory of an LG Android phone: an expert guide

Smartphones from the company LG, despite the cessation of production of new models, remain popular due to their reliable hardware. However, over time, even the most powerful devices begin to work slower, and the system Android signals about a lack of free space. This is an inevitable process of accumulation of temporary files, remnants of deleted apps and media content that clogs the internal memory.

When the storage is more than 90% full, the operating system begins to become unstable: applications crash, the camera cannot take a photo, and updates stop downloading. It is important for owners of devices LG G6, LG V30 or newer series LG Velvet to know how to properly free up space in order to extend the life of the gadget. In this article, we will examine not only standard methods, but also hidden cleaning functions available in the manufacturer’s shell.

There is a misconception that for cleaning you must install third-party “memory killer” apps. In fact, built-in tools Android and specialized utilities from LG cope the task much more efficiently and safer for system files. Below we will describe in detail the algorithm of actions that will help you return your smartphone to its former speed.

Analysis of storage fullness through settings

Before you start deleting files, you need to understand exactly what is taking up precious gigabytes. The system Android provides detailed statistics, but many users ignore them, relying on guesswork. To start diagnostics, go to the menu Settings → Memory (the path may vary slightly depending on the OS version).

Here you will see a color chart where data types are indicated in different colors: applications, images, videos, audio and system files. It often turns out that the lion's share of space is occupied not by photos, but by a cache of instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, which can grow to several gigabytes. The system "Other" section often hides temporary update files that can be safely deleted.

Pay attention to "Applications" section. By clicking on it, you will receive a list of all installed apps, sorted by occupied space. This allows you to quickly identify the heavyweights that you rarely use but continue to consume resources. In modern versions Android on LG the Smart Cleaning function is also available, which automatically analyzes usage and suggests deleting unused applications.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete system applications marked System or LG Serviceeven if they take up a lot places. This may lead to incorrect operation of the phone or loss of signal.

Using the built-in Memory Management tool

The Company LG has introduced a useful utility into its devices called Storage Manager (Memory Management). This tool is native to the manufacturer's shell, so it has deep access to the system and does not conflict with processes Android. You can find it by searching in the settings or in the “Tools” folder.

When launched, the utility performs a quick diagnosis and displays a list of recommendations. Typically this includes deleting large files, cleaning up downloads, and analyzing rarely used applications. The main advantage of this method is security: the system itself marks files whose deletion will not harm the operation of the phone. All you have to do is confirm the actions.

Particular attention should be paid to the cache clearing function. Unlike manually cleaning each application, the built-in manager allows you to clear the cache of all apps with one click. This is especially true after major updates Android or the installation of many new games. However, remember that after clearing the cache, applications may take a little longer to load on first launch.

Do not forget to regularly check the “Downloads” section. Often, users download installation files APK, documents or presentations, which after use become useless ballast. The built-in manager easily finds such files and offers to delete them.

Clearing cache and application data manually

Sometimes automatic tools cannot cope with specific “heavy” applications, such as social networks or navigators. In such cases, manual intervention is required. Follow the path Settings → Applications and notifications → Show all applications. Select the desired app, for example Instagram or Google Chrome.

In the application menu you are interested in two items: “Memory usage” or “Storage”. Here you will see a Clear Cache button. It is safe and only deletes temporary files. The “Clear data” (or “Reset”) button is more radical - it returns the application to the state immediately after installation, deleting logins, passwords and settings.

For instant messengers, such as Viber or WhatsApp, it is better to use the built-in cleaning tools inside the application itself, since standard cleaning data Android will delete the entire correspondence history without the possibility of recovery. In the chat settings of these applications there is a “Data Usage” section where you can selectively delete videos or GIFs.

Type of cleaning	What is deleted	Impact on account	Recommendation
Cleaning cache	Temporary files, thumbnails	No	Safe, can be done often
Data clearing	Logins, settings, database	Complete exit from account	Only if the application is buggy
Deleting the application	All app files	Re-authorization required	For unnecessary ones apps

Why does the cache take up so much space?

The cache is created to speed up applications. For example, the browser saves copies of the pages you visit so that they open faster when you return. Social networks cache viewed photos and videos. Over time, this volume can reach 2-3 GB, which is significant for budget LG models.

Working with multimedia and the “Downloads” folder

The main amount of memory on smartphones LG usually taken up by photos and videos. Modern phone cameras shoot in high definition, and one minute of 4K video can take up hundreds of megabytes. Regularly auditing your media files is the most effective way to free up space.

Check the folder DCIM → .thumbnails. This hidden directory stores thumbnails of photos for quick viewing in the gallery. Sometimes the weight of this folder can reach several gigabytes. It can be cleared through any file manager, but the system will create it again over time. Also check the folder Downloadwhere forgotten files often accumulate.

Use cloud services such as Google Photos or Yandex.Disk. Set up automatic uploading of photos to the cloud with the “Free up space” function. This will remove the originals from the phone, leaving them available in the cloud. For users LG this is an ideal option, since many models do not support large memory cards.

• 📸 Delete burst shots and unsuccessful frames immediately after shooting, without waiting for them to fill up memory.
• 🎥 Compress video files or convert them to a format with a lower bitrate if 4K quality is not critical.
• 🗑️ Do not forget to empty the "Trash" folder in the gallery, since deleted files are stored there for another 30 days.

If you are an active user streaming services (Netflix, YouTube Premium, Spotify), check your download settings. Users often forget that they downloaded a season of a TV series or albums for offline listening, which take up space for months.

Deleting unused applications and games

Applications and games are not only an installation file, but also additional data that is loaded after installation. Heavy games like PUBG or Genshin Impact can take up to 10 GB of space. If you do not play them all the time, it is better to delete and install again if necessary.

In smartphones LG there are often pre-installed applications from the telecom operator or the manufacturer itself that cannot be removed in the standard way. To remove them you will need superuser rights (Root), but obtaining root access voids the warranty and may disrupt the operation of banking applications. It is better to simply disable such apps in the settings.

⚠️ Attention: Before deleting the game, make sure that your progress is saved in the cloud (Google Play Games or developer account), otherwise you will lose all achievements.

An alternative to complete deletion is to use the “Lite” versions of applications. For example, Facebook Lite or Google Go take up much less space and consume less RAM, which is critical for older models LG with small volume RAM.

Specifics of working with a microSD memory card

Many models LG are equipped with a slot for memory cards. This is an excellent solution for storing photos and videos, but there are some nuances. If you move an application to a memory card, it may run slower, especially if the card has a low speed class. Modern format cards UHS-I or UHS-II are preferable.

In new versions Android the ability to transfer applications to an SD card is often limited by app developers. However, you can set the camera and voice recorder to save files directly to the card. To do this, go to the camera settings and select “Storage” → “SD card”.

It is important to periodically format the memory card as internal storage (if the Android version allows) or simply check it for errors via a computer. The file system of cards can become damaged, resulting in “broken” files that take up space but cannot be opened.

• 💾 Regularly back up important data from the memory card to your computer.
• ⚡ Do not remove the memory card while recording video or running applications to avoid damage to the file system.
• 🧹 Once every six months, format the memory card to restore its performance.

Radical measures: Reset to factory settings

If none of the above methods helped free up enough space or the phone continues to work slowly, the last option remains - a hard reset (Factory Reset). This action will return the phone LG to its “out of the box” state, deleting absolutely all user data.

Before the procedure, be sure to create a backup copy of your contacts, photos and important documents. The reset can be performed through the menu Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset data. You can also use recovery mode (Recovery Mode) by holding down the combination of volume and power keys when the phone is turned off.

After the reset, do not rush to install all applications at once. Install only what you need and watch the memory fill up within a few days. This will help you understand which actions lead to rapid space consumption. Often, after such a reset, the phone starts working as quickly as the day it was purchased.

Is it safe to use third-party cleaning apps (Clean Master, CCleaner)?

Using such apps is acceptable, but with caution. Many of them contain aggressive advertising and themselves consume a lot of resources. Built-in tools Android usually sufficient. If you still decide to install a “cleaner”, choose verified names and do not give them unnecessary permissions.

Why does the memory quickly fill up again after cleaning?

This is normal system behavior. Android creates temporary files for quick operation of applications. If the memory fills up abnormally quickly (for example, in an hour), perhaps some application is “leaking” (has an error in the code) or a miner virus. Check the list of recently installed apps.

Is it possible to delete the Android folder on an LG phone?

You absolutely cannot delete the system folder Android or its contents (data, obb) manually through the file manager. This will result in application inoperability and possible system crash. You can clear the contents of this folder only through the settings of a specific application.