Messenger Telegram automatically saves all received files to the device - from photos and videos to documents and voice messages. Over time, this takes up gigabytes of memory, slows down the smartphone and makes it difficult to find the necessary data. Unlike other messengers, Telegram offers flexible storage settings, but not all users know how to use them correctly.

In this article you will find 5 proven ways to delete files from Telegram on Android from manually clearing specific media files to completely resetting the application cache. We will look at how to delete files from a specific chat, clear Telegram cache without losing messages, and also what to do if files continue to take up space even after deletion. We will pay special attention to hidden folders and autosave settings, which are ignored by most users.

1. How to delete individual files from a Telegram chat

The easiest way to free up space is to delete unnecessary media files directly from the conversation. This method is suitable if you need to get rid of several specific photos, videos or documents without affecting the rest of the data.

Instructions:

  • 📱 Open Telegram and go to the chat where the file is located.
  • 🖼️ Find the message with the media file (photo, video, document) and hold with your finger on it for 1-2 seconds.
  • 🗑️ In the top menu, click on the icon trash (or select “Delete” in the context menu).
  • 🔄 Confirm the action by selecting “Delete for everyone" (if you want to erase the file from your interlocutor as well) or "Delete from me" (only on your device).

⚠️ Attention: Deleting a file from chat does not guarantee its disappearance from the device. Telegram can save a copy in the folder /Telegram/Telegram Images or /Telegram/Telegram Documents. To completely erase the file, you will have to clear these directories as well (more on this in the next section).

📊 How often do you clear Telegram files?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when the memory runs out
Never cleared

2. Manual deletion of Telegram files through the file manager

If you want bulk delete downloaded files (for example, all photos for the last year), it is more convenient to do this through the system explorer. Telegram stores media in separate folders, accessible without root access.

How to find and delete files:

  1. Open any file manager (for example, Files by Google, Total Commander or built-in MIUI/ColorOS).
  2. Go to the root directory of the internal memory (usually /storage/emulated/0/).
  3. Find the folder Telegram —it will contain subfolders:
    • 📁 Telegram Images —all photos and pictures;
    • 🎥 Telegram Video —video files;
    • 📄 Telegram Documents —documents, archives, APK;
    • 🎵 Telegram Audio —voice messages and music;
    • 🗃️ Telegram Temp —temporary files (you can safely clear them).
  • Select unnecessary files and click “Delete.”
    • Folder File type Can I delete Consequences
    Telegram Images Photos, stickers, GIF Yes Previews in chats will disappear, but messages will remain
    Telegram Video Videos, video messages Yes The video will have to be downloaded again when viewing
    Telegram Documents PDF, DOCX, APK, ZIP Yes Documents will remain in the chat, but will open only after downloading again
    Telegram Audio Voice, music Yes You will have to download the audio again to listen
    Telegram Temp Cache, temporary files Yes No consequences

    ⚠️ Attention: Some models Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei can hide the folder Telegram from the user. In this case:

    1. In the file manager, click on the three dots (⋮) → “Settings».
    2. Activate the option "Show hidden files».
    3. If there is no folder, check the external SD card (if it is used as the main storage).

    Check if important documents are stored in the folders (passports, tickets)

    Make a backup copy of the necessary files to the cloud or on a PC

    Make sure that the deleted files are not linked to work chats

    Empty the trash after deletion (in some managers, files go there first)-->

    3. Clearing the Telegram cache through the app settings

    If you do not want to manually view folders, Telegram offers a built-in tool for clearing the cache. This method does not delete messages or chatsbut only frees up space occupied by media files.

    Step-by-step guide:

    1. Open Telegram and tap on the three horizontal lines (☰) in the upper left corner.
    2. Go to Settings → Data and memory.
    3. Select "Memory usage" (or "Storage" in new versions).
    4. Click "Clear cache" (in some versions - "Memory management» → «Clear»).
    5. Confirm the action by selecting file types to delete (photos, videos, documents).

    ⚠️ Attention: Clearing the cache does not delete files from chats —they will remain available for viewing, but will be loaded again when opened. If you need completely erase files (including their mentions in dialogs), use the methods from section 4.

    In new versions Telegram (2026+), the option "Auto cleanuphas appeared. enable it:

    1. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Auto cleanup media.
    2. Select the storage period (for example, "Delete after 3 days" or "Delete if there is not enough space»).
    3. Specify file types for automatic cleaning (photos, videos, documents).
      4. 💡

      If memory is not freed after clearing the cache, check the folder /Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/cache - sometimes temporary files remain there.

      4. How to delete files from a specific chat (including history)

      If you need completely clear the chat - including files, messages and history - use the "Clear historyfunction. This is useful for freeing up space from large groups or channels. with thousands of media files.

      Instructions:

      • 📱 Open the chat you want to clear.
      • 🖱️ Tap on chat name (at the top of the screen) → select three dots (⋮) → "Clear history».
      • 🗑️ Specify the date range (for example, "For the last year" or "All history»).
      • ✅ Check the box "Delete media files" (important!).
      • 🔴 Confirm the action with the “Clear».

    ⚠️ Attention: This operation irreversible. If the chat was private, the messages will disappear. only for youIn groups and channels, the history will remain with other participants. For full deletion (including the server Telegram) use the "Delete for everyone" function (available within 48 hours after sending).

    If you need to delete files onlybut keep text messages:

    1. Open the chat and click on search (🔍).
    2. Enter a query type:media - this will show all messages with media files.
    3. Hold your finger on any message → select the rest → tap “Delete».
    What to do if the "Clear history" button is inactive?

    This means that the chat is protected secret mode or you are not its administrator. In secret chats, the history is cleared automatically when you exit or on a self-destruct timer. For groups: only the creator or admin can clear the history for everyone.

    5. Complete Telegram reset: deleting the account and all data

    The last resort is complete deletion of the Telegram account. This will lead to:

    • 🚫 Deletion all chats, media files and contacts;
    • 🔄 Opportunities register again with the same number (but the history will not be restored);
    • 📛 Lose nickname (@username)if it is not linked to another account.

    How to delete account:

    1. Open Settings → Privacy and Security.
    2. Scroll down and select “Delete my account».
    3. Enter your phone number to confirm.
    4. Select the reason for deletion (optional) and click “Delete account».

    ⚠️ Attention: After deleting the account all files, including backups, will be erased from Telegram servers. If you plan to return, first:

    • 📤 Export important chats via Settings → Export history chat;
    • 🖥️ Save media files to your PC or cloud;
    • 🔑 Write down two-factor authentication codes (if enabled).

    An alternative to complete deletion is log out of your account (without data loss). To do this:

    1. Go to Settings → Devices.
    2. Click "Exit other sessions" (to disable all devices except current).
    3. Or select “Exit" (only for this phone).
    💡

    Deleting an account is an irreversible action. Even if you register again with the same number, chat history and files will not be restored.

    6. Additional ways to free up space in Telegram

    If standard methods do not help, try these hidden tricks:

    6.1. Disabling media auto-download

    Default Telegram automatically downloads all photos and videos. To avoid this:

    1. Go to Settings → Data and memory.
    2. Select "Auto-download media».
    3. Disable auto-download for mobile data and Wi-Fi (or leave only for selected chats).

    6.2. Cleaning the Telegram database

    Over time, the database Telegram grows and can occupy hundreds of megabytes. To optimize it:

    1. Close Telegram (make sure it is not running in the background).
    2. Go to Android Settings → Applications → Telegram → Memory.
    3. Click “Clear data" (this will delete only database cachewithout affecting chats).

    ⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse "Clear cache" and "Clear data". Second option will delete all local messages (but they will be loaded again when you open chats).

    6.3. Using cleaning bots

    There are bots that help delete files in bulk. For example, @CleanerBot or @FileManagerBot. To use them:

    1. Find the bot in search Telegram and launch it.
    2. Follow the instructions (usually you need to provide access to chats).
    3. Select cleaning criteria (for example, “delete all videos older than 30 days”).

    ⚠️ Attention: Bots require permission to access your data. Use only proven services with a high rating (4.5+).

    7. Why do Telegram files take up space even after deletion?

    A common problem: the user deletes files from the chat, clears the cache, but the memory on the device is not freed. Reasons:

    • 🗃️ The files remained in the folders (Telegram Images, Telegram Video);
    • 🔄 Telegram did not synchronize changes with the server;
    • 📱 System cache Android was not updated (the phone needs to be restarted);
    • 🤖 Virus or third-party software blocks deletion;
    • 📁 Files are hidden (for example, in .nomedia folders).

    How to solve problem:

    1. Reboot the device.
    2. Check the folders Telegram through a file manager with rights root (if any).
    3. Use applications like SD Maid or Files by Google to search for “junk” files.
    4. Update Telegram to the latest version (cache bugs are often fixed in new releases).

    If all else fails, try reinstall Telegram:

    1. Make a backup copy of chats (Settings → Export chat history).
    2. Delete the application via Android Settings → Applications.
    3. Install Telegram again from Google Play.
    4. Log into your account - chat history will be pulled up from the server, but local files will be deleted.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about deleting files in Telegram

    🔹 Is it possible to recover deleted files from Telegram?

    If the files were deleted only on your device (not “for everyone”), you can try to restore them:

    • 🔍 Via recycle bin file manager (if there is one);
    • 📱 Using data recovery apps (DiskDigger, Recuva - requires root);
    • ☁️ If the file was sent to cloud chat (for example, “Saved messages”), it can be downloaded again.

    ❌ If the file is deleted from the server ("Delete for everyone"), recovery impossible.

    🔹 Why does Telegram take up so much space even if I don’t download anything?

    Reasons:

    • 📥 Autoload media enabled (photos, videos, stickers are downloaded automatically);
    • 🗂️ Database cache has grown (Telegram stores indexes of messages for quick search);
    • 📁 Temporary files is not cleared (folder Telegram Temp);
    • 🤖 Error in the application (sometimes the cache is not cleared correct).

    Solution: disable autoloading, clear the cache manually and restart the application.

    🔹 How to delete Telegram files from the SD card?

    If you saved the files to external SD card:

    1. Open the file manager and go to /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Telegram (where XXXX-XXXX is your card ID).
    2. Delete unnecessary folders (Telegram Images, Telegram Video etc.).
    3. If there is no folder, check the settings Telegram: saving to SD may be disabled.

    ⚠️ On some devices (for example, Samsung s Android 11+) Telegram cannot save files to SD without root access.

    🔹 Is it possible to delete Telegram files without deleting them from the chat?

    Yes, for this:

    1. Delete files via file manager (how in section 2).
    2. Or clear the cache in Telegram Settings → Data and memory.

    📌 The files will disappear from the device, but will remain in the chat. The next time you open them, they will be downloaded again (if they have not been deleted from the server).

    🔹 How to prevent Telegram from saving files to the device?

    To Telegram does not save files automatically:

    1. Open Settings → Data and memory → Autoload media.
    2. Disable all options for mobile data and Wi-Fi.
    3. In the "Exceptions" section, add chats for which autoloading is allowed (for example, “Family” or “Work”).

    💡 Tip: In secret chats, autoloading is disabled by default.