Have you noticed that your smartphone has started to slow down and applications have crashed? The first thing you need to check is how much memory is occupied on an Android device. Even if you Samsung Galaxy S24 with 256 GB or a budget Redmi 12 64 GB, over time the drive becomes clogged with cache, junk files and unnecessary data. But how can you find out exactly what is taking up space, and where to find detailed statistics?

In this article we will look at all current ways to check used memory from standard Android tools to third-party utilities with advanced analysis. You will learn how to distinguish system files from user ones, why "Other" storage can take up tens of gigabytes, and what to do if the phone shows incorrect data. And at the end - a unique checklist for quickly diagnosing a full drive.

1. Standard method: through Android “Settings”

The easiest method is to use the built-in system tools. It works on all devices, from Google Pixel 8 to Realme Narzo 60, regardless of the Android version (from Android 10 to Android 15).

Instructions:

  • 📱 Open the application "Settings"** (gear on the main screen or in the application menu).
  • 🔍 Go to the section Storage (on some firmware - Memory or Storage).
  • 📊 Wait for the data to load (may take up to 30 seconds if there are many files).
  • 📉 Scroll down to see memory distribution diagram by category: Applications, Photo and video, Audio, System data etc.

The screen will display:

  • 🟢 Total memory (for example, 128 GB).
  • 🔴 Used space (for example, 87 GB).
  • ⚪ Free place (for example, 41 GB).
  • 📁 Distribution by category (what exactly takes up space).
💡

On some phones (for example, Xiaomi or Oppo) there is a button in the "Storage" section Clear - it automatically deletes cache and temporary files without risk to data.

If the chart is not displayed or the data is not updated, try:

  1. Reboot your phone.
  2. Clear application cache Settings (in Settings → Applications → Three dots → Show system → Settings → Storage → Clear cache).
  3. Update firmware (sometimes bugs with memory mapping is fixed in new versions of Android).
📊 How often do you check the used memory on your phone?
Once a week
Only when the phone starts to slow down
Never checked
I use automatic cleaning

2. Detailed analysis through the "File Manager"

Built-in file manager (or third-party, for example, Solid Explorer, FX File Manager) allows you to see which folders and files take up the most spaceThis is useful if a mysterious one is displayed in “Settings”. category "Other" 20+ GB.

How to check:

  1. Open any file manager (standard or installed from Google Play).
  2. Go to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/ is the internal memory).
  3. Click on the three dots (menu) and select Sort → By size (or Descending size).
  4. View folders:
    • 📷 DCIM — photos and videos from the camera.
    • 🎵 Music, Podcasts — audio files.
    • 🎮 Android/obb — game data (can weigh tens of gigabytes!).
    • 🗑️ Download — downloads from the browser.
    • 🤖 Android/data — cache and application files.

Pay special attention to the folders:

  • 📂 Android/data —game data is stored here (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can occupy 10–15 GB each).
  • 🗃️ Android/obb —additional game files (do not delete manually if you are not sure!).
  • 🧹 .thumbnails —photo and video thumbnails (you can safely delete).
What to do if the folder Android/data weighs too much?

If the folder Android/data occupies tens of gigabytes, this is usually game or application data (for example, offline cards Google Maps or cache TikTok). To clear it:

1. Delete unnecessary games through Settings → Applications.

2. option Clear cache or Delete additional data.

3. For social networks (for example Instagram) use the built-in cache clearing in the settings applications.

Do not delete files from Android/data manually - this can break applications!

If you use SD card, check its contents separately. Sometimes files are duplicated both on the internal memory and on the card (for example, photos from Google Photos).

Sort files by size|Check folder DCIM for old photos/videos|Delete unnecessary APKs from Download|Clear cache in Android/data through application settings|Check folder .thumbnails-->

3. Using third-party applications for memory analysis

Standard Android tools do not always show the full picture. Third-party applications, such as Files by Google, DiskUsage or Storage Analyzeroffer:

  • 📈 Visualization of occupied space in the form of interactive charts.
  • 🔍 Search for duplicates and large files.
  • 🗑️ Quick cleaning garbage (cache, temporary files).
  • 📊 Export reports (useful for comparison before/after cleaning).

Recommended applications:

Application Features Link
Files by Google Official from Google, clears cache, finds duplicates, shows junk files. Google Play
DiskUsage Shows memory in the form of a sun chart, sorts files by size. Google Play
Storage Analyzer Detailed analysis by file type, search for old and large files. Google Play
SD Maid Deletes residual files after uninstalling applications, cleans databases. Google Play

Example of working with Files by Google:

  1. Install the application from Google Play.
  2. Open it and go to the tab Cleaning.
  3. Click Free up space —the application will scan the phone and offer to delete:
    • 🗑️ Temporary files and cache.
    • 📁 Duplicate photos and videos.
    • 🎬 Large files (for example, unsuccessful downloads).
  • Select unnecessary files and click Delete.
    • 💡

    Applications like DiskUsage show hidden filesthat are not visible in the standard file manager. This helps to find “invisible” gigabytes of garbage.

    Warning: some applications require access to files (permission Manage all files). Do not provide it to little-known utilities - there is a risk of data leakage!

    4. Memory check via ADB (for advanced users) users)

    If you are familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can get the most accurate data about the used space, including hidden system files. This method is suitable for developers or users who want to see full picture, including backup partitions and update cache.

    Instructions:

    1. Install ADB on your computer (instructions are on the website Android Developers).
    2. Connect your phone via USB and enable USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → Build Number (tap 7 times) → Developer Options → USB Debugging).
    3. Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:
      4. adb shell df -h

      This command will show all memory partitions indicating:

      • 📌 Filesystem — section (for example, /data — user data).
      • 📊 Size — total size.
      • 🔴 Used — occupied space.
      • ⚪ Available — free space.

      For detailed analysis folders /data (where user files are stored) use:

      adb shell du -sh /data/* | sort -rh

      This command will sort the folders by size (from largest to smallest).

      💡

      If the command du does not work, try adb shell ls -lh /data - it will show the file sizes in current directory.

      ⚠️ Attention: ADB commands require root access to access some system folders. Without root, you will only see part of the data. Incorrect use of ADB can lead to data loss or system crash.

      5. Why does the phone show incorrect memory data?

      Sometimes Android displays incorrect. information about occupied space For example:

      • 📉 The memory is “full”, but you haven’t downloaded anything.
      • 🔄 After deleting files, the free space does not increase.
      • 🤔 Category "Other" takes up 30+ GB without explanation.

    Causes and solutions:

    Problem Cause Solution
    Memory “disappears” after update The system reserves space for OTA updates Reboot the phone or wait until the update is installed
    "Other" takes up a lot of space Application cache, temporary files, remnants of uninstalled apps Use SD Maid or Files by Google to clean
    Deleted files do not free up space Files marked as deleted, but not physically cleaned Restart the phone or use adb shell sync
    SD card shows incorrect capacity The file system is damaged or the card is fake Format the card (save the data!) or check for authenticity

    If the problem persists, try:

    1. Clear the partition cache /data via Recovery Mode (does not delete user data, but requires a reboot).
    2. Check the phone for viruses (for example, via Malwarebytes).
    3. Reset settings to factory settings (make a backup copy first!).
    ⚠️ Attention: On some phones (for example, Huawei or Honor), the built-in function Memory optimization can hide the actual distribution of files. For accurate analysis, use third-party utilities.

    6. How to free up space if the memory is full?

    If the analysis shows that the memory is critically low (<5 GB free), follow this plan:

    Step 1. Delete unnecessary applications and games

    • 🎮 Games (for example, PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact) can weigh 5-20 GB.
    • 📱 Applications that have not been used for more than a month.
    • 🗑️ Residual files after deletion (use SD Maid).

    Step 2. Clear cache and temporary files

    • 🧹 Application cache: Settings → Applications → Select application → Storage → Clear cache.
    • 🗑️ Temporary files: use Files by Google or manually delete the folder .thumbnails.
    • 📥 Downloads: check the folder Download for old APKs, documents, archives.

    Step 3. Transfer files to SD card or to the cloud

    • 📷 Photos and videos: upload to Google Photos (with the option enabled Free up space).
    • 🎵 Music: transfer to SD card or YouTube Music/Spotify.
    • 📄 Documents: use Google Drive or Dropbox.

    Step 4. Optimize system files

    • 🤖 Delete old backups (Settings → Google → Backup → Delete data).
    • 📱 Clear application data Google Play Services (can weigh several gigabytes).
    • 🔄 Update the firmware - new versions of Android manage memory better.
    💡

    If after all the manipulations the memory still fills up quickly, check your phone for background activity of applications (for example, Facebook or TikTok can download gigabytes of data in the background).

    7. Frequent errors when checking memory

    Many users make mistakes that lead to data loss or incorrect conclusions can't do:

    • 🚫 Delete the folder Android manually —this will break applications. Use only built-in cleaning functions.
    • 🚫 Format an SD card without a backup —all data will be lost.
    • 🚫 Ignore category "Other" —gigabytes of garbage are often hidden there.
    • 🚫 Use "cleaners" with aggressive algorithms (for example, Clean Master) - they can delete important files.
    • 🚫 Reset settings to factory settings without backup - you will lose photos, contacts and messages.

    Also avoid:

    • 🔋 Draining the phone completely when the memory is full - this can lead to a file system failure.
    • 📲 Installing applications on the SD card (if it is slow) - this will worsen performance.
    • 🔄 Memory clearing interrupts (for example, closing Files by Google during scanning).
    ⚠️ Attention: On phones with dynamic memory (for example Samsung One UI), part of the internal storage is reserved for RAM. This is normal. and does not mean that the memory “disappears.”

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about memory on Android

    🔹 Why does the free space not increase after deleting files?

    This happens due to the characteristics of the file system ext4/f2fsthat Android uses. Deleted files are marked as free, but are not physically cleared immediately. To speed up the process:

    1. Reboot your phone.
    2. Use the command adb shell sync (requires ADB).
    3. Install a cleaning application (for example, SD Maid).

    If the problem persists, check your phone for viruses - some malware blocks the release of memory.

    🔹 What is the “Other” category in the storage and how to clear it?

    "Other" is:

    • Cache of applications and system services.
    • Temporary files (for example, .thumbnails, .nomedia).
    • Residual data after deleting applications.
    • Hidden configuration files.

    How to clean:

    1. Use Files by Google (tab Cleaning → Junk files).
    2. Delete folder .thumbnails manually via file manager.
    3. Clear the cache of all applications through Settings → Storage → Other applications → Clear cache.
    🔹 Is it possible to increase the internal memory of the phone?

    Physically - no, but you can:

    • 📁 Use SD card as internal memory (function Adoptable Storage, available on Android 6–9). Minus: the card will be encrypted and will not work on other devices.
    • ☁️ Transfer files to cloud (Google Photos, Google Drive).
    • 🔄 Optimize memory: remove duplicates, compress photos, use lightweight versions of applications (for example, Facebook Lite).

    On new phones (Android 10+) function Adoptable Storage disabled - manufacturers recommend using cloud services.

    🔹 Why is only 112 GB available on a phone with 128 GB?

    This is normal! Manufacturers indicate decimal volume (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), and Android indicates binary (1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). The difference is about 7–10%.

    In addition, part of the memory is occupied by:

    • 🤖 Firmware (Android + manufacturer's shell).
    • 📱 Pre-installed applications.
    • 🔄 Reserve partition for updates.

    For example, on Samsung Galaxy S23 with 128 GB ~105 GB is available out of the box.

    🔹 How to check memory on the phone without turning it on (if it does not work)?

    If the phone does not turn on, but you need to find out the memory status:

    1. 🔌 Connect the phone to the computer via USB (if there is a reaction to charging).
    2. 🖥️ Use a data recovery app (for example, Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver) - it will show available files and occupied space.
    3. 🔧 If the phone is in Fastboot Mode, use the command:
    fastboot devices

    fastboot getvar all

    This will show information about the partition userdata (custom data).

    If the phone is completely dead, contact the service center - they will be able to connect to the memory via JTAG or chip-off.