Smartphone owners Samsung often face a situation where the internal storage fills up faster than expected. Modern apps, high-graphics games, and 4K photos take up gigabytes of space, turning a once free device into a sluggish device. The lack of a MicroSD slot in the new flagship models of the series Galaxy S and Note aggravates the problem, forcing users to look for alternative solutions.
Fortunately, the ecosystem Android and the proprietary shell One UI offer many built-in tools and hidden features to optimize disk space. You don't have to delete valuable photos or favorite apps to get your phone working quickly again. In this article, we will analyze advanced methods that allow you to actually “expand” the available memory through proper system management and the use of external resources.
Analysis of occupied space and removal of digital garbage
The first step before any radical action should be a deep diagnosis. The standard settings menu often shows only the overall picture, hiding the real gigabyte eaters. To accurately understand the situation, you need to use the built-in storage analyzer or third-party utilities that visualize the data in the form of a convenient map.
The most common culprits for lack of space are cached data from instant messengers and social networks. The application Telegram or Viber can quietly store tens of gigabytes, saving every photo and video you view. Clearing this cache through the settings of the application itself frees up a colossal volume without deleting your personal correspondence.
It is also worth paying attention to the folder Download and the system update cache. After installing a new version Android or updating the firmware One UI, the installation files often remain in memory. Removing them is safe and does not affect the operation of the system.
Use the "Device Maintenance" function in Samsung settings to automatically search for large files that you forgot to delete.
- 🗑️ Clear the application cache in the section
Settings → Applications. - 📁 Check the folder
Downloadsfor old APK files and documents. - 📸 Delete duplicate photos that often appear after synchronization failures.
⚠️ Attention: When When clearing the messenger cache, make sure that important media files are saved in the gallery, since after clearing they will disappear from chats.
Using the Ready Boost function and virtual memory RAM Plus
Although the classic technology Ready Boost is known in Windows, in the world of mobile devices Samsung implemented a similar principle called RAM Plus. This feature allows you to use part of the internal storage as additional RAM. This does not increase the physical storage volume for photos, but is critical for running heavy applications without crashes.
This option is activated in the system settings menu. The system automatically reserves a certain amount of space (usually 2 to 8 GB) by creating a page file. When physical RAM becomes full, data is temporarily transferred to disk, preventing background tasks from closing.
It is worth understanding that the speed of virtual memory is lower than that of real memory RAM, so this method serves more as an insurance policy than a full-fledged expansion. However, for budget models with a small amount of RAM, this becomes a salvation.
How does the RAM Plus algorithm work?
The algorithm analyzes the frequency of application use and moves the least active processes to a reserved area of the drive, freeing up fast memory for current tasks.
Settings are available in the section Settings → Device maintenance → Memory → RAM Plus. Here you can select the optimal size of the virtual expansion depending on your needs.
Enabling RAM Plus does not increase file storage space, but significantly increases the multitasking of the smartphone, allowing you to keep more applications open.
Transfer data to cloud storage and working with the gallery
The most effective way to “expand” memory without purchasing physical media is to transfer heavy media files to the cloud. The service Samsung Cloud is integrated into the system, but solutions from Google Photos and Yandex.Diskare also popular. Setting up automatic uploading allows you to free up local space immediately after uploading a copy to the Internet.
The "Free up space" function in the application Google Photos works flawlessly: it finds all the pictures that have already been uploaded to the cloud and deletes them from the phone's memory. You continue to see them in the application gallery, but they no longer take up a single byte in the internal storage. Files can be moved to the cloud and access can be set up via a link by deleting the original from the device. This is especially true for users who store archives of work projects. Samsung.
For documents and work files, integration with Google Drive or OneDrive. Files can be moved to the cloud and access can be set up via a link by deleting the original from the device. This is especially true for users storing archives of work projects.
| Service | Free volume | Features | Integration with Samsung |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Photos | 15 GB (general) | Smart search, compression | High |
| Samsung Cloud | 5-15 GB | Gallery synchronization | Native |
| Yandex.Disk | 10 GB | Unlimited for photos | Via application |
| Dropbox | 2 GB | Reliability, speed | Average |
Optimization of messengers and social networks
Messengers became the main culprits of memory overflow in 2026. Each forwarded video, sticker pack or voice message is duplicated in the application cache. Without regular cleaning, these apps can take up to 20-30 GB of space, which is comparable to the volume of a budget smartphone. There are built-in storage management tools in the settings. You can set up automatic deletion of media files older than a week or month. It is also recommended to disable automatic downloading of media on the mobile network so as not to clog up your memory with random pictures from chats.
In settings Telegram And WhatsApp There are built-in storage management tools. You can set up automatic deletion of media files older than a week or month. It is also recommended to disable automatic media downloading on the mobile network so as not to clutter up your memory with random pictures from chats.
The browser cache Samsung Internet or Chromedeserves special attention. When actively surfing, the browser saves many temporary files to speed up page loading. Regular cleaning of history and cache through the menu Settings → Privacy returns hundreds of megabytes of free space.
☑️ Weekly cleaning of messengers
⚠️ Attention: Disabling autosave in instant messengers may result in the loss of important files if you do not manually save them to the gallery before clearing the chat.
Deleting system updates and unused components
The operating system Android on devices Samsung contains a number of pre-installed applications and services that the average user may not need. Although it is difficult to completely remove system applications without root access he can be disabled or “frozen,” which will prevent them from updating and accumulating data.
In addition, after major firmware updates, a file of the previous version remains in the system, which is necessary for rolling back in case of failure. If your phone is stable and you do not plan to return to the old version, this file can be deleted through the recovery menu or special utilities, freeing up to 5-8 GB.
For advanced users, a method is available to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge). By connecting your phone to your PC, you can remove unnecessary system packages with the command pm uninstall -k --user 0. This requires caution, but it allows you to get rid of pre-installed software that cannot be removed in the usual way.
adb shell pm list packages | grep samsung
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.spage
Before using ADB commands, it is strongly recommended to create a full backup of your data, since deleting critical system components can lead to inoperability of the device.
Use the Package Disabler Pro application to safely disable Samsung system applications without the risk of damaging the system.
Using USB OTG as a temporary extension
Although the question is about expansion without a memory card, you cannot ignore the possibility of connecting external flash drives through the port USB Type-C. Technology OTG (On-The-Go) is supported by all modern smartphones Samsung and allows you to connect regular USB flash drives or external SSD drives.
This solution is ideal for temporary storage of large amounts of data: movie archives, backups or projects. You can transfer files to a flash drive, freeing up internal memory, and connect the drive only when you need access to this data.
The file system of the drive must be compatible with Android (usually exFAT or FAT32). Modern SSD drives with USB 3.1 interface provide data transfer speeds comparable to internal storage, which makes this method almost invisible to the user when working with files.
⚠️ Attention: Do not disconnect the USB drive without first removing it through the notification shade, this can lead to file system damage and data loss.
For convenient work with external drives, use file managers with OTG support, for example, built-in My files from Samsung or Solid Explorer. They allow you to move data between internal memory and a flash drive in a couple of touches.
An external SSD via USB-C is the best compromise between speed, volume and mobility if the built-in memory is critically short.
Is it safe to use applications to clear memory?
Most popular cleaning applications (Clean Master, CCleaner and analogues) are safe, but their effectiveness is often exaggerated. They delete the same cache that can be cleared manually. Moreover, aggressive cleaners can close necessary background processes, increasing battery drain. Samsung's built-in tools are usually sufficient.
Is it possible to transfer all applications to a cloud drive?
No, application executable files (.apk) and their data must be in the internal memory to ensure performance and security. The cloud is only suitable for storing user files (photos, videos, documents), but not for installing apps.
Why was the space not freed up after deleting files?
Often, deleted files end up in the gallery recycle bin or the trash can in the My Files application, where they are stored for 30 days. To free up space instantly, you need to empty the trash manually after deleting.
Does filling the memory affect the speed of Samsung?
Yes, critically. When free space is less than 10-15% of the total volume, the write speed to flash memory drops sharply due to the way the controller operates. This leads to interface freezes and long-term photo saving.
What is the Data section and can it be cleared?
The section /data contains all user applications and their settings. Erasing this partition via Recovery will completely reset the phone to factory settings (Hard Reset). Do this only as a last resort, having previously saved important data.