How to remove unnecessary files from an Android phone: a complete guide 2026

Clogged smartphone memory is a problem that every second user faces. Android. Photos in messengers, game caches, remnants of deleted applications and duplicate documents quietly take up gigabytes of space, slowing down the device. According to Google Play Console, the average user loses up to 30% of free space due to unnecessary files, without even knowing it.

In this article we will look all methods of cleaning Android - from built-in tools to professional utilities that Even hidden debris will be removed. You will learn how to safely free up space without the risk of deleting important data, which files can be safely erased, and which ones should not be touched. We will pay special attention to hidden folderswhich are not visible in the standard file manager, but can weigh tens of gigabytes.

1. Built-in Android tools: what can be removed without risk

Starting with Android 8.0 Oreo, memory cleaning tools are integrated into the system. They do not require the installation of additional applications and work on all devices - from budget Redmi to flagship Samsung Galaxy S23. The main advantage: these tools will not delete critical system filesunlike some third-party "cleaners".

To open the built-in utility, go to: Settings → Storage → Free up place

The system will analyze the device and offer to delete:

• 📁 Application cache —temporary files that are created to speed up the operation of apps. They can be deleted without consequences, but they will be restored the next time you launch the application.
• 🗑️ Downloads is the folder where files from the browser, instant messengers and mail are saved by default. Often outdated APKs, PDFs and archives accumulate here.
• 🎬 Duplicate media files —Android can find identical photos and videos that take up space in vain. Before deleting, the system will show a preview so that you do not lose important pictures.

Pay attention to section Unused applications. apps that you have not used for more than 3 months are displayed here. They can be removed in one click, but be careful: some system utilities (for example Google Play Services) may be hidden in this list. Removing such applications will lead to malfunctions of the smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: Built-in cleaning does not delete files from folders Android/data i Android/obb —game and application data is stored here. To clean them, additional steps will be required (see section 4).

2. Manual garbage removal: which folders can be cleaned manually

If the built-in tools have not freed up enough space, it's time to look into file manager. Android has several "junk" folders that can be safely cleaned out. Use any explorer - standard Files by Google or third-party (Solid Explorer, FX File Manager).

Open the root directory of the storage and check these folders:

Pay special attention to the folder DCIM/Camera - all photos and videos taken with your phone’s camera are stored here. If you haven’t transferred them to a computer or cloud for a long time, they can take up tens of gigabytes. Use Google Photos or Yandex Disk for automatic synchronization and freeing up space.

Do not manually delete folders with the names: Android/obb (game data), Alarms, Ringtones, Notifications - these are system directories, cleaning which can lead to failures.

3. Clearing the application cache: when it really helps

Application cache - These are temporary files that are created to speed up the operation of apps. For example, Instagram caches stories and photos of the feed, and Google Maps terrain maps. Over time, the cache grows to several gigabytes, but you need to delete it wisely.

To clear the cache of an individual application:

1. Open Settings → Applications
2. Select the desired application (for example, Telegram)
3. Click Storage → Clear cache

For mass clearing, use: Settings → Storage → Free up space → Application cache

When clearing the cache does not help:

• 🔄 If the application is after clearing the cache begins to “slow down” - this means that it is actively using it (for example, Spotify caches music for offline listening).
• 🎮 In games, the cache may contain important data (textures, levels) its deletion will lead to re-downloading the next time you start.
• 📱 B. messengers (WhatsApp, Viber), the cache includes media files from chats. Clearing will delete all photos and videos that you have not saved to the gallery.

For applications that actively use the cache. (for example TikTok or YouTube), it is better to set up automatic cleaning. Files by Google there is a function Autocleaningthat deletes unnecessary files once a week.

4. Removing leftover applications and game data

When you delete an application through Google Play or settings, its data remains on the device: settings, cache, saves. These files are stored in folders Android/data and Android/obb and can occupy gigabytes. space. For example, the game Genshin Impact after uninstallation leaves up to 14 GB unnecessary files.

To completely remove the application along with the data:

1. Open Settings → Applications
2. Select the desired application
3. Click Delete → Delete all application data (if the option is available)

If the application has already been deleted, but its data remains:

Open a file manager with access to the root folders

Go to /sdcard/Android/data i /sdcard/Android/obb

Find a folder with the name of the deleted application (for example, com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact)

Delete the folder completely

Reboot the device-->

For games with large data files (for example Call of Duty Mobile or PUBGbefore deleting, check whether progress is linked to your account Google Play Games or Facebook. Otherwise, your saves will be lost.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (for example, Netflix or Spotify) store offline content in encrypted folders. If you delete them manually, you may need to delete them again. authorization.

5. Finding and removing duplicate files

Duplicates of photos, videos and documents are one of the main reasons for lack of memory. They appear when:

• 📲 Transferring files between devices (via Bluetooth, ShareIt)
• 🔄 Automatic backup (for example, Google Photos can create copies)
• 📷 Importing photos from the camera or clouds
• 🎵 Downloading music from different sources (for example, the same song in Spotify and local storage)

To find duplicates, the following applications are suitable: Files by Google (built-in scanner), Duplicate Files Fixer, CCleaner.

How to remove duplicates without risk:

1. Run a scan in the application of your choice.
2. Check the results: some apps mistakenly identify photos with different resolutions as duplicates or cropped versions.
3. Sort files by date or size to keep the most current one version.
4. Before mass deletion, make a backup copy of important data.

A lot of duplicates accumulate in the following folders: WhatsApp/Media (photos and videos from chats), Telegram/Telegram Images, DCIM/Screenshots (screenshots with the same content).

6. Hidden garbage: what professional utilities remove

Even after manual cleaning on the device. remain hidden files, which are not visible in the standard explorer. These include:

• 🗃️ Log files (.log, .tmp) - error logs and temporary system files.
• 📦 Remaining updates - folders type download_*.apk or update.zipthat remain after installing OTA updates.
• 🔍 Dalvik cache files (/data/dalvik-cache) - cache of the Android virtual machine. Requires root access for cleaning.
• 📡 Wi-Fi cache and Bluetooth —data about connected networks and devices.

To work with hidden files, you will need special utilities:

Be careful with utilities asking for root access. Incorrect use may lead to loss of warranty or "brik" the device (complete inoperability). If you are not sure of your actions, limit yourself to cleaning without root access.

⚠️ Attention: Some "cleaners" (for example, Clean Master or DU Speed Booster) aggressively delete files and show false warnings about “critical errors”. Use only proven utilities from the official Google Play.

To clear the cache Google Play Services and other system components without root access:

1. Open Settings → Applications
2. Find Google Play Services (or another system application)
3. Click Storage → Space management → Clear all data

This procedure will reset the application settings, but will not delete critical files.

7. Automation of cleaning: how to set up regular freeing of space

To avoid cleaning your phone manually, set up automatic removal of unnecessary files. Android 12+ has a built-in function Auto-cleaningthat works according to a schedule.

How to enable automatic cleaning:

1. Open Settings → Storage
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Storage settings
3. Activate the option Automatic cleaning (or Smart Storage on some devices)
4. Select the cleaning period (for example, once a week) and file types (cache, downloads, duplicates)

For more flexible settings, use Files by Google:

1. Open the application and go to the tab Cleaning
2. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner
3. Enable Auto cleaning and configure the settings:
   • 🗓️ Frequency: once a day/week/month
   • 📁 File types: cache, downloads, duplicates, large files
   • 🔄 Exceptions: folders that do not need to be cleared

On devices Samsung has its own utility Device Carethat offers:

• 🧹 Automatic garbage cleaning
• 🛡️ Battery optimization
• 📱 Security check

To enable it: Settings → Device maintenance → Automation.

8. Checklist: complete cleaning of Android in 10 minutes

If you need to quickly free up space, follow this algorithm:

Delete the cache of all applications through Settings → Storage → Free up space

Clear folder Download from unnecessary files

Delete duplicate photos and videos using Files by Google

Check folders Android/data and Android/obb for the remains of deleted games

Clear messenger cache (WhatsApp, Telegram) manually

Delete unused applications via Settings → Applications

Run a scan for hidden junk in SD Maid (without root access)

Set up automatic cleaning in Files by Google-->

After completing all the steps, reboot the device. This will help the system recalculate free space and close background processes that could be blocking file deletion.

If even after cleaning the space is not free, check:

• 📊 Section System files in Settings → Storage. Sometimes OTA updates take up a lot of space.
• 🔍 Hidden folders (turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings).
• 📱 External SD card (if it is used as internal memory).

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Xiaomi or Realme), part of the memory is reserved for system needs and is not displayed as free space. This is normal and does not require intervention.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

adb shell pm clear --user 0. com.example.app # Clearing data of a specific application
adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Download/* # Deleting all files from the Downloads folder