How to remove the "Other" section from the memory of a Samsung smartphone

Owners of Samsung Galaxy smartphones are often faced with a mysterious situation: the internal memory of the device is rapidly filling up, although there are no extra photos in the gallery, and installed applications take up very little space. The culprit is usually a system partition called “Other” or “Other”, which can grow to tens of gigabytes. This section is a collection of system files, temporary data, remnants of uninstalled apps and cache, which is not classified by the system as media files or applications.

The accumulation of such “digital garbage” leads to a noticeable decrease in performance Samsung, slowdown of the interface and the inability to install new updates or games. Users often wonder why standard cleaning through built-in tools does not completely solve the problem. The fact is that many hidden files are protected by access rights or erroneously marked by the system as system files, which is why they are not deleted during normal cleaning.

In this article, we will analyze in detail the mechanisms for creating the “Other” section and offer step-by-step strategies for safely reducing it. We will look at both standard cleaning methods available to every user, as well as advanced methods using debugging mode, which allow you to get to the very depths of your device’s file system.

What is hidden behind the “Other” category on Samsung

Partition "Other" is not one specific type of file, but a group category where the operating system goes. One UI places all data that does not fall under standard classifications (images, videos, audio, documents). First of all, this includes the system application cache, which grows to enormous sizes over time. For example, instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp can store gigabytes of temporary files in this section, even if you cleared their internal cache through the settings of the application itself.

Also a significant share is occupied by system logs, firmware update files that were not deleted automatically, and remnants of data from previously deleted games. Sometimes this section contains downloaded files from the browser that the system could not correctly recognize as documents. Understanding the structure of this storage is critical for proper cleaning without the risk of removing important system components.

It is worth noting that the volume of the partition may fluctuate depending on the intensity of use of the smartphone. Active users of social networks and streaming services will experience faster filling of this category due to constant streaming data buffering. The "Other" system partition on Android Samsung can take up to 30% of the total memory for no apparent reason to the user.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to manually delete files from system folders through file managers with root access without understanding their purpose. This can lead to the device becoming bricked or an endless reboot.

Basic cleaning through built-in Samsung tools

Before resorting to complex methods, you need to exhaust the capabilities of the standard optimizer built into the shell One UI. This tool was developed by Samsung engineers specifically for secure memory management and is often able to remove a significant portion of temporary files that the user does not see in the gallery. Starting optimization is the first and mandatory step in the fight for free space.

To begin, go to the menu Settings → Device Maintenance → Memory. Here the system will analyze the occupied space and offer to delete unused files. Notice the "Clear Now" button, which launches an automatic cache deletion script. However, this method often removes only the superficial layer of garbage, leaving deep system logs untouched.

Additionally, it is worth checking the “Storage” section in the settings of each heavy application separately. Go to Settings → Applications, select a demanding app (for example, Instagram or YouTube) and click “Storage”. The “Clear cache” button here works more efficiently than global clearing, since it acts specifically on the database of a specific service.

• 📱 Check the “Downloads” folder in the “My Files” application and delete old APK installers.
• 🗑️ Use the “Delete unused applications” function that the system offers when you run out of space.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone in safe mode to check if a third-party application is creating unnecessary files.

If after all these steps the volume of the “Other” section has decreased slightly, it means that protected files have accumulated on the device system files or cache, which requires more radical methods of intervention.

Using developer mode for diagnostics

Activating developer mode gives access to hidden system settings that can help identify sources of memory growth. This method is safe as long as you don't change animation settings or debugging options mindlessly. Enabling this mode allows you to see more detailed statistics on memory usage by the process System and individual Google services.

To activate the mode, go to Settings → Phone information → Software information and quickly click 7 times on the “Build number” item. After a message appears indicating that you have become a developer, a new section “Developer Options” will appear in the main settings menu. There you can find statistics on running processes, which sometimes tells you which application is generating an excessive cache.

This section also includes the “Do not save actions” function or restrictions on background processes, which can indirectly affect the amount of temporary data saved. However, the main tool here is the ability to see the actual consumption of resources in real time, which helps to identify the “culprit” of memory clogging.

Do not be intimidated by the abundance of technical terms in this menu. We are only interested in diagnostic information. If you see a process with abnormally high memory consumption that is not related to system services, this may be a sign of an error in the specific application that needs to be reinstalled.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the “For Developers” section may lead to unstable operation of the smartphone. Change only those parameters whose purpose is completely clear to you.

Clearing the cache via Recovery Mode (Wipe Cache Partition)

One ​​of the most effective and at the same time safe ways to clear system garbage is to use the recovery menu (Recovery Mode). This procedure removes temporary system files created during firmware updates or OS failures, which often take up space in the “Other” section. It is important to understand that this method does not delete does not delete your personal data, photos or contacts.

To enter recovery mode on modern Samsung smartphones with Android 11 and higher, you need to connect the device with a cable to a computer or another smartphone (USB-C). After connecting, press and hold the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them down until the Samsung logo appears, then release the power button, but continue to hold the volume up until a black menu with text appears.

In the menu, navigation is done with the volume buttons, and selection is done with the power button. Find the item Wipe cache partition and confirm your choice. The system will warn you that this action is irreversible for the cache, but is safe for the data. After the process is complete, select Reboot system now. The first boot may take longer than usual.

This procedure is especially relevant after major operating system updates Android. Old cache files from a previous firmware version may conflict with the new one and take up space that the system classifies as “Other”. Performing this operation regularly (once every few months) helps keep the system partition clean.

What to do if the Recovery menu does not appear?

If the button combination does not work, try connecting the phone to the computer charger via the original cable. On some models without a connection to a PC, the entrance to Recovery is blocked for security reasons.

Advanced cleaning via ADB and computer

For users who are ready for more complex manipulations, there is a cleaning method through the Android debugging interface (ADB). This method allows you to delete cache files and logs that cannot be accessed even through file managers with root access, since the deletion occurs at the computer command line level. This is the most radical method of cleaning the “Other” section.

First you need to install Samsung drivers and the Platform Tools package on your computer. On your phone in developer mode, you need to enable USB Debugging. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open a command prompt in the ADB folder. Enter the command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, you can start cleaning. The command to clear the cache of all applications is as follows:

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999

This command instructs the system to trim the cache of all applications to a minimum, freeing up space in the “Other” section. You can also use the command adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* to delete temporary files in a local directory. Be extremely careful when entering commands, as an error can lead to data loss.

ADB Command	Purpose	Risk level
adb shell pm trim-caches	Trimming application cache	Low
adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp	Deleting temporary files	Medium
adb shell dumpsys meminfo	Memory usage diagnostics	Safe
adb reboot recovery	Reboot to mode recovery	Safe

Using ADB requires some technical literacy, but gives the best results in the fight for every gigabyte of memory. After executing the commands, it is recommended to restart the device to apply the changes.

Prevention and management of junk files

To partition "Other" not growing again at an alarming rate, it is necessary to introduce habits of regular smartphone maintenance. Automating cleaning processes can relieve you of the burden of constant memory monitoring. Built-in Samsung tools allow you to set up automatic optimization of the device at night, when no one is using the phone.

It is also worth reviewing the messenger settings. In Telegram and WhatsApp, you can limit the automatic downloading of media files, which will prevent cache accumulation in hidden folders. Regularly manually clearing chats of heavy videos and sending important files to cloud storage also significantly reduces the load on internal memory.

Avoid installing “cleaners” from third-party sources that promise to speed up your phone. Often such applications themselves create background processes and generate additional garbage, increasing the volume of the “Other” section. Trust only built-in tools One UI or proven system utilities.

• ☁️ Set up automatic photo synchronization with Google Photos or Samsung Cloud and delete local copies.
• ⚙️ Disable the “Auto Upload” function in messenger settings for mobile data.
• 📅 Once a month, completely clear the cache via Recovery Mode.

⚠️ Attention: The interface and names of menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the model of your Samsung. Always check the latest manuals for your specific firmware version.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it safe to completely delete the Other partition?

It is not possible to completely delete this partition because it contains necessary system files. However, it can be significantly reduced by deleting cache and temporary files. Standard methods and cleaning via Recovery are safe for the user’s personal data.

Why does the memory quickly fill up again after cleaning?

This is normal system behavior. Applications re-create the cache for faster operation. If filling occurs abnormally quickly (in a few hours), perhaps one of the applications is not working correctly and is creating cyclic logs.

Do you need to do a factory reset?

Factory Reset is a last resort. It is guaranteed to clear the “Other” section, but will require a complete reinstallation of applications and restoration of data from a backup copy. Use this method only if other methods have not helped.

Does the SD memory card affect the “Other” section?

No, the “Other” section only applies to the internal memory of the device. Transferring applications and photos to a memory card can free up space in the shared storage, but will not reduce the size of the system partition in the internal memory.

Is it possible to remove “Other” without a computer?

Yes, basic cleaning methods, such as using the built-in optimizer, clearing the application cache and entering Recovery Mode, do not require connecting to a computer. The ADB method is optional and is used for deep cleaning.