Smartphone owners Samsung sooner or later face an unpleasant notification that the device storage is full. This happens regardless of whether you are using a budget model Galaxy A series or a flagship Galaxy S. A lack of free space leads to a slowdown of the system, the inability to install updates and problems with saving new photos.
The system Android, especially with a proprietary shell One UI, has many built-in optimization tools, which many users are not aware of. Deep cleaning requires not just deleting a couple of applications, but a comprehensive approach to analyzing files, caches and system logs.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for freeing up gigabytes on your device. We will look at both standard system tools and more advanced techniques for working with the file system that will help restore the phone to its former speed.
Diagnostics of storage fullness
Before you start deleting data, you need to understand what exactly takes up the lion's share of space. Modern versions One UI have a built-in excellent memory analyzer that visualizes file distribution.
To get to the diagnostic menu, go to Settings → Device maintenance → Memory. Here you will see a color chart where each sector is responsible for a specific type of content: applications, images, videos, audio or system files.
Users are often surprised to find that the “Other” or “System Data” category takes up tens of gigabytes. This may be due to the accumulated messenger cache, offline navigation maps, or backups that were forgotten to be deleted.
⚠️ Attention: If the “System Data” category takes up more than 20 GB and continues to grow for no apparent reason, this may indicate a file indexing error. In this case, simply deleting the photo will not help; you will need to reboot into safe mode or reset the settings.
Pay attention to the section Applications. Social networks and instant messengers tend to grow to gigantic proportions due to downloaded media files. Analysis of this section allows you to specifically remove the most “heavy” apps.
Using the built-in Samsung optimizer
The company Samsung has introduced a powerful maintenance tool that allows you to perform quick cleaning in a few touches. This method is ideal for those who do not want to dive deeply into the file structure.
Go to the menu Settings → Device maintenance and press the button Optimize now. The system will automatically close background processes, check the device for malware and offer to delete unnecessary files.
For more detailed work, click on the icon Memory in the same menu. A Clean Now tool is available here that removes temporary files, ad files, and leftovers from uninstalled applications.
Run built-in optimization at least once a week. This prevents the accumulation of small temporary files that can add up to several gigabytes.
It is important to understand the difference between clearing the cache and clearing the data. When you select a specific application in the memory settings, you will see two buttons. Clear cache safe and deletes only temporary files, while Clear data resets the application to factory settings, deleting logins and correspondence.
Use the “Storage Analysis” function, available in the bottom menu of the memory section. It will show files that have not been opened for more than a month and offer to delete them. This is a great way to find forgotten downloads.
Deep cleaning the cache of applications and messengers
The most voracious consumers of memory are instant messengers, such as Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber. They save every viewed photo and video on the internal drive, duplicating them in the system cache.
In Telegram cleaning is best done through the settings of the application itself, and not through the Android system menu. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage and click Clear cache. You can also configure automatic deletion of files downloaded more than a month ago.
For WhatsApp the procedure is similar, but has its own nuances. Go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. Here you can see the chats that take up the most space and delete media files selectively without losing text conversations.
- 🗑️ Delete the browser cache Chrome or Samsung Internet, as they save thumbnails of all pages visited.
- 📸 Clear the cache of the Camera and Gallery applications if you actively edit photos in the built-in editor.
- 🎵 Don’t forget about the cache of streaming services like Spotify or YouTube Musicif you listen to music offline.
The system partition cache can be cleared through the Recovery menu, but this requires a reboot and pressing a combination of buttons. For most users, cleaning through application settings is enough to free up 2-5 GB of space.
☑️ Monthly cleaning of instant messengers
⚠️ Attention: When clearing messenger data through the Android system settings (Settings → Applications), you may lose your entire correspondence history if it was not saved in the cloud. Use internal application settings to safely delete the cache.
Working with the gallery and duplicate photos
Media files are the main source of memory filling for most users. The cameras of modern smartphones Samsung take pictures in high resolution, and one photo can weigh 10-15 MB, and a 4K video can weigh hundreds of megabytes per minute.
In the latest updates One UI a built-in duplicate search function has appeared. Open the Gallery application, click on the menu (three bars) and select Suggestions. The system will show similar pictures and pictures in a series, offering to leave only the best option.
It is also worth checking the folder Trash in the gallery. Deleted files do not disappear immediately, but are stored there for 30 days, continuing to take up space. Emptying the Trash can instantly free up several gigabytes.
For video files, use the built-in editor or third-party compression applications. If you do not need to store the video in the original 4K 60fps quality, converting to 1080p can reduce the file size by 3-4 times without a noticeable loss of quality on the smartphone screen.
Regularly transferring photos and videos to cloud storage (Google Photos, Yandex Drive, OneDrive) and then deleting local copies is the most effective way to fight for space.
Don't forget about the folder Download (Downloads). APK installation files, PDF documents and pictures from the Internet that are no longer relevant are often saved there. Sorting files by size in the file manager will help you quickly find the “heavyweights.”
Transferring data to a memory card and to the cloud
If your smartphone Samsung supports the installation of memory cards microSD, this is an ideal solution for unloading internal memory. Modern cards with a capacity of 128 GB or 256 GB are inexpensive and hold huge amounts of data.
To transfer files, open the My Files application. Select a category, for example, “Images” or “Videos”, highlight the files you need and click Move. Specify as the target folder Memory card.
Many applications allow you to change the default save location. In the camera settings, select Save location → Memory card. Now all new pictures will be automatically recorded on external media without taking up internal space.
| Data type | Recommended storage location | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Photo and Video | Memory card / Cloud | Quick access, saving main memory |
| Documents | Cloud storage | Protection against loss, access from any device |
| Music | Memory card | Does not require internet for playback |
| Applications | Internal memory | Maximum operating speed (installation on SD cards is not recommended) |
Cloud services, such as Google Photosoffer the “Free up space” function. After uploading all photos to the cloud in original or compressed quality, the application will delete their local copies from the phone, leaving only the preview.
Removing system junk and hidden files
Sometimes the memory becomes clogged with files that are not visible in the standard gallery. These could be error logs, diagnostic usage reports, or leftovers from system updates.
To access such files, use a file manager with access to system folders or connect the phone to a PC. Pay attention to the folder Android/datawhere some applications store cached game and map data.
The Developer Mode function allows you to see more detailed memory usage statistics. Enable it by tapping 7 times on the build number in the About Phone menu, then go to Settings → For Developers → Running Services.
What is the .thumbnails folder?
The hidden folder DCIM/.thumbnails stores thumbnails of all your photos. Over time, this file can grow to several gigabytes. It can be safely deleted - the system will create it again the next time you open the gallery, but this will take time and processor resources.
It is also worth checking for old backups Samsung Smart Switch. If you made a backup to internal memory, it may take up space equivalent to the entire contents of the phone. These files are usually located in the root of the internal storage or in the folder SmartSwitch.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on your model Samsung and shell version One UI. If you do not find the specified item, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen).
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is the space not freed up after deleting files?
Check the folder Trash in the "My" application files" and "Gallery". The files are stored there for 30 days before being permanently deleted. It is also possible that the application you were using created new temporary files immediately after cleaning.
Is it possible to delete files from the Android folder?
Be extremely careful. Deleting files inside specific application folders (for example Android/data/com.whatsapp) will result in the loss of that application's data. Delete only those files whose purpose you know exactly, for example, old downloads in the folder. Download.
How to transfer applications to a memory card on Samsung?
In modern versions of Android, this function is limited. Go to Settings → Applications, select the desired application and click Memory. If the Change button is active, you can migrate the application. If it is gray, the developer has prohibited the transfer, and the application will remain in the internal memory.
What if the system writes “Memory full”, although there is space?
This may be an indexing error media scanner. Try rebooting your phone. If this does not help, clear the cache of the Media Storage application through the app settings menu (you may need to enable the display of system processes).
Does full memory affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, critically. When free space is less than 10-15%, the system cannot effectively use the page file and create temporary files for applications to run. This leads to severe slowdowns, app crashes and a long startup time for the camera.