Have you ever encountered a situation where a smartphone on Android starts to slow down, although there is free space there seems to be enough on disk? Or have you noticed that after installing several applications, the memory mysteriously “disappears”? The culprit of such problems is often inefficient data distribution on the internal storage. This is where disk analyzer comes to the rescue - a tool that visualizes the storage structure, identifies “junk” files and helps free up space without the risk of deleting important ones.

Unlike standard Android tools, which show only the total amount of occupied space, disk analyzers scan the file system at the folder and extension levelbuild interactive charts and even identify duplicates. But how exactly do they work under the hood? Why do some apps find gigabytes of junk, while others find only megabytes? And can you trust their cleaning recommendations? In this guide, we will analyze scanning algorithms in detail, compare popular utilities and learn how to interpret their reports in order to make informed decisions.

What is a disk analyzer and why do you need it on Android

Disk Analyzer is a software tool that performs deep scan of the file system devices, classifies data by type (video, image, cache, APK, etc.) and visualizes it in the form of charts or lists. Its main task is to help the user:

  • 🔍 Detect hidden filesthat take up space (for example, application cache, temporary files, remnants of deleted apps).
  • 📊 Understand memory allocation by category (what exactly takes up 10 GB out of 32 GB?).
  • 🗑️ Safely delete unnecessarywithout affecting system or user data.
  • 🔄 Find duplicates photos, videos or documents.

On Android, such utilities are especially relevant due to the peculiarities of the file system: there is no clear division into “system” and “user” data (unlike iOS), and many applications store cache and temporary files in hidden folders. For example, WhatsApp by default saves media files to /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media, and games like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact can take up to 5-10 GB for updates and resources.

It is important to understand that disk analyzers do not replace the built-in cleaning tools (for example, Settings → Storage), but complement them. Standard Android tools show only the total amount of occupied space by category (“Applications”, “Images”), while specialized utilities allow you to “dig deeper” - for example, see what exactly out of 2 GB of “Other files” is taking up space.

📊 What memory problem do you most often notice on Android?
There is not enough space, although there are few files
The smartphone slows down when the memory is full
It is not clear what is taking up space
Duplicates photo/video
No problem

How scanning works: algorithms and technologies

The process of analyzing a disk on Android can be divided into three key stages: scanning the file system, data classification and visualization of results. Let's look at each of them in detail.

1. Scanning the file system

The analyzer accesses the device storage via Storage Access Framework (for Android 5.0+) or directly via /storage/emulated/0/ (for rooted devices). The app recursively traverses all folders, collecting metadata about each file:

  • 📁 Path (for example, /DCIM/Camera/IMG_2023.jpg).
  • 📏 Size in bytes.
  • 📅 Date of creation/modification.
  • 🔖 Extension (for example, .mp4, .apk).
  • 🔒 Access attributes (hidden file, system file, etc.).

2. Data classification

At this stage, the app matches files with certain categories. For example:

Category Examples of extensions Typical source
Images .jpg, .png, .webp Camera, instant messengers, browsers
Video .mp4, .mkv, .3gp Camera, TikTok, YouTube
Application cache .tmp, folders /cache/ Social networks, games, browsers
APK and OBB .apk, .obb Application installers, games
Documents .pdf, .docx, .xlsx Office applications, downloads

3. Visualization of results

Collected data is converted into interactive charts (usually circular or columnar, where each segment corresponds to a file category. The user can click on the segment to see a detailed list of files, sorted by size. Some analyzers (for example, DiskUsage or Files by Google) also offer:

  • 🔎 Search for duplicates by checksums (MD5, SHA-1).
  • 🗑️ Quick cleaning cache and temporary files.
  • 📤 Exporting reports to CSV or TXT.
💡

If the analyzer shows a suspiciously large volume in the "Other files" category, check the folders /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/ —unremovable remains of games and applications are often stored there.

Top 5 disk analyzers for Android: comparison of capabilities

Not all disk analysis apps are equally useful. Some offer only basic visualization, others offer advanced cleaning tools. We tested popular utilities and compiled a comparison table:

Application Scan depth Additional functions Advertising/Paid functions
DiskUsage Full (including system folders) Interactive map of files, search for large ones files No extra water, free
Files by Google Limited (user data only) Clear cache, search for duplicates, cloud backup Google Drive advertising
SD Maid Deep (requires root for full access) Deleting the recycle bin, searching for dead links, task scheduler Paid version (≈300₽)
Storage Analyzer Medium (without root) Memory usage graphs, export reports No extra water, free
CCleaner Superficial Clear cache, delete browser history Aggressive advertising, paid features

Leader in functionality is SD Maid, but it requires root access to unlock its full potential. For most users, the optimal choice will be DiskUsage - it is free, does not contain advertising and provides detailed visualization. But CCleaner, despite its popularity, we do not recommend. due to intrusive advertising and superficial analysis.

Why does SD Maid show more "garbage" than other apps?

SD Maid scans not only standard folders (/DCIM, /Downloads), but also system (/data/data/), where the remains of deleted applications, log files and temporary data are stored. Without root access, these files remain invisible to other analyzers.

Step-by-step guide: how to use the disk analyzer

Let's look at the process using an example. applications DiskUsage (free, without unnecessary fuss). Follow this algorithm to analyze memory as efficiently as possible:

  1. Install and run the app

    Download DiskUsage from Google Play and provide access to storage (resolution Manage all files on Android 11+).

  2. Select the disk to scan

    On the main screen, tap on Internal Storage (internal memory) or SD Card (if any).

  3. Wait for the analysis to complete

    The process can take from 30 seconds to several minutes (depending on the amount of data).

  4. Examine the visualization

    An interactive map will appear on the screen, where each rectangle is a file or folder. The larger the rectangle, the more it weighs.

  5. Analyze large files

    Tap on large blocks to see their contents. For example, a folder can weigh 5 GB - this is a cache. data-i="174">Be careful /Android/data/com.tencent.ig/ can weigh 5 GB - this is a cache PUBG Mobile.

  6. Remove unnecessary stuff

    Long pressing on a file or folder will bring up the delete menu. Be careful: Do not delete system files (for example, in /system/)!

☑️ What to check before deleting files

Done: 0 / 4

After cleaning, we recommend rebooting the device - this will help the system correctly update the free space data.

💡

Even if the analyzer shows that the folder weighs 0 bytes, do not delete it manually - this may be an “empty” directory necessary for applications to work.

What to do if the analyzer finds suspicious files

Sometimes apps detect files with unusual names (for example, com.android.abc.xyz.tmp) or large amounts of data in unknown folders. Here is how to act in such cases:

  • 🔍 Check the file extension

    Files without an extension or with rare formats (.dat, .bin) may be part of applications. Do not delete them if you are not sure.

  • 📂 Check the file path

    Folders like /Android/data/com.whatsapp/ belong to instant messengers, and /Android/obb/ to games. Deleting content can break the apps.

  • 🛡️ Use an antivirus

    If the file looks suspicious (for example, update.apk in the root of the memory), scan it Malwarebytes or Dr.Web.

  • 🔄 Compare with other analyzers

    Install a second application (for example, Storage Analyzer) and check whether it sees the same files. If not, this may be a false positive.

⚠️ Attention: Some analyzers (for example, CCleaner) can mark files that are critical for the operation of applications as "garbage". Always check what you are deleting, especially if the file is located in folders like /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/.

If you find a folder with a name like com.sec.android.app.launcher, do not touch it - this is system data Samsung or another manufacturer. Deleting such files can lead to crashing the launcher or even bootloop (loop reboot).

Limitations of disk analyzers on Android

Despite their usefulness, disk analyzers have a number of limitations that are important to know about:

  1. Lack of access to system partitions

    Without root access apps cannot scan /system, /vendor or /data/data/ (where application settings are stored). This means that you will not see the full picture, but only user data.

  2. Inability to analyze encrypted data

    On devices with File-Based Encryption (FBE, used on Android 7+), some files may appear as “unknown” or have an incorrect size.

  3. False positives on cache

    Many apps mark application caches (for example /Android/data/com.facebook.katana/cache/) as "garbage", although deleting it can degrade performance (the application will have to download the data again).

  4. Inaccuracies in classification

    Files without an extension or with non-standard formats may be classified as "Other" which makes them difficult to identify.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei), built-in memory optimizers may conflict with disk analyzers, blocking access to files. In this case, try disabling the “Memory Cleanup” function in the battery settings.

If you need to scan system partitions, consider getting root accessbut remember that this:

  • 🔓 Will void your warranty.
  • 🛡️ Increases security risk (malware vulnerability).
  • 🔄 May cause device instability.

Alternative ways to free up space without analyzers

If you don't want to install additional apps, here are some built-in ways to clean up memory:

  • 📱 Built-in cleaning in Android

    Go to Settings → Storage and tap on the category (for example, “Application cache”). The system will offer to delete unnecessary data.

  • 🗑️ Clearing the cache of individual applications

    In Settings → Applications select a app (for example, Instagram) and click “Clear cache.”

  • ☁️ Transfer files to the cloud

    Use Google Photos (free up to 15 GB) or Yandex Disk to automatically upload photos and videos.

  • 🔄 Deleting unused applications

    In Settings → Applications sort apps by size and delete those that you have not used for more than a month.

  • 📂 Searching for large files manually

    In any file manager (for example, Solid Explorer), sort files by size and check folders /Downloads, /DCIM, /Movies.

For automatic cleaning, you can use Files by Google (built-in "Cleaning" function) or Google One (suggests deleting duplicates and large files).

💡

Regularly clearing the cache (every 1-2 months) and deleting unused applications can free up up to 30% of memory without using analyzers.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about disk analyzers on Android

❓ Why does the analyzer show that I have 30 GB occupied, but in the Android settings - only 20 GB?

This is due to the fact that the standard Android settings only take into account user data (photos, videos, applications), while the analyzers scan entire file systemincluding:

  • Hidden application folders (/Android/data/).
  • System logs (/data/log/).
  • Temporary update files (/cache/).

The difference is precisely these 10 GB.

❓ Can you trust analyzers that offer to delete “unnecessary files”?

Not always. Many apps (especially CCleaner or Clean Master) aggressively mark them as "garbage":

  • Cache of frequently used applications (for example, YouTube or Chrome).
  • Update files (.apkm, .obb).
  • Logs and dumps that may be needed for diagnostics.

Before deleting, check what exactly it is suggested to clear. If in doubt, do not delete.

❓ How to clear memory if the analyzer finds only system files?

If most of the memory is occupied by system data (/system, /vendor), try:

  1. Update the firmware (sometimes older OS versions take more places).
  2. Reset the device to factory settings (make a backup copy first!).
  3. Use ADB to remove unnecessary system applications (requires knowledge).

On some devices (for example, Samsung) you can disable pre-installed applications via Settings → Applications → Menu (⋮) → Show system ones.

❓ Why does the memory quickly fill up again after cleaning?

This is a typical Android problem associated with:

  • Automatic data caching (for example, Facebook or TikTok download videos in advance).
  • Application updates (especially games - they can weigh 1-2 GB).
  • Logs and dumps (if the device often reboots).

Solution:

  • Disable auto-downloading of media in instant messengers.
  • Limit background activity of applications in the battery settings.
  • Use Lite versions social networks (for example, Facebook Lite).
❓ Is it possible to use a disk analyzer on an SD card?

Yes, most apps (for example, DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer) support scanning external drives. However, keep in mind:

  • The analysis speed will be lower (SD cards are slower than internal memory).
  • Some files may not be displayed due to file system limitations (for example, exFAT vs FAT32).
  • On cards with a large number of small files (for example, sensors or logs), analysis may take up to 10–15 minutes.