As soon as the “Not enough memory” message appears on a Samsung smartphone, the device immediately starts to slow down, the camera refuses to save new pictures, and the application store blocks app updates.
In this article we will analyze proven methods for freeing up space, from simple settings to deep cleaning of the system. You will learn how to properly use built-in tools One UI and third-party utilities. The main rule is to act consistently so as not to delete important data along with garbage.
Diagnostics of occupied space through settings
Before you start deleting files, you need to understand what exactly is taking up space. Owners Samsung have access to an excellent built-in storage analyzer. Go to Settings → Device maintenance → Memory. Here the system will clearly show the distribution of data by category: images, videos, audio, documents and applications.
Pay special attention to the “Applications” section. Often it is social networks and instant messengers that take up the lion's share of memory. For example, Telegram or WhatsApp can quietly grow to tens of gigabytes due to automatically downloaded media files. By clicking on a specific application in the list, you will see the details: how much the installation file itself weighs, and how much its data and cache weigh.
System files also take up a significant amount of space, but deleting them is impossible without obtaining root access, which is not recommended for ordinary users. Instead, focus on user-generated content. If you see that the “Other” category takes up an abnormally large amount of space, this often indicates accumulated browser cache or remnants of uninstalled apps.
Pay attention to the “Downloaded” folder in the file manager - installation APK files often accumulate there, which are no longer needed after installing the applications.
⚠️ Attention! Do not try to manually delete files from system directories using third-party file managers with superuser rights. This may lead to malfunction operating system and loss of warranty.
Use of built-in Samsung optimization
Company Samsung implemented into the shell One UI a powerful tool for automatic cleaning. It analyzes the device and offers to delete unnecessary files in one click. To use it, open the application Settings and select Device maintenance, then press Memory and the button Clean Now.
This tool safely removes temporary files, ad remains, and app caches that have not been used for a long time. However, it does not affect your personal photos or documents. For deeper settings, you can go to the section Storage inside the maintenance menu and enable the “Automatic removal of unused applications” function.
Regular use of this function helps maintain performance the smartphone at a high level. The system itself decides which files can be deleted without harming the operation of apps. This is especially true for models with a small amount of built-in memory, for example Galaxy A14 or older versions of the series J.
Clearing the cache of applications and instant messengers
The most effective way to quickly free up gigabytes is to manually clear the cache of heavy applications. Messengers save every photo and video you view to local memory. Go to Settings → Applications, find the desired messenger (for example, Viber or Instagram) and select Storage.
Here you will see two buttons: “Clear cache” and “Clear data”. It is important to understand the difference between them. Cleaning cache deletes temporary files, speeding up the application, but does not affect your correspondence or logins. Clearing data resets the application to its factory state, deleting all history and settings.
There are also internal storage settings for instant messengers. In Telegram you can go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage and click “Clear cache”. There you can also set a cache size limit or set up automatic clearing of files that have not been opened for more than a week.
- 🗑️ Clear the browser cache Chrome or Samsung Internetas there Thumbnails of visited sites accumulate.
- 📸 Check the “Trash” folder in the gallery - deleted photos are stored there for another 30 days, taking up space.
- 📹 Delete old videos from messengers that are automatically saved to the gallery.
☑️ Quick cleaning checklist
Transfer data to a memory card and to the cloud
If the internal memory is full of media files, the most reasonable solution would be to transfer them. Many models Samsung support the installation of memory cards microSD. After installing the card, go to the application My files, select the desired folders (for example, DCIM or Download) and use the “Move” function.
An alternative option is to use cloud storage. Services like Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox allow you to upload photos and videos to the Internet, freeing up space on your device. In the settings Google Photos there is a convenient “Free up space” button, which deletes from the phone those pictures that have already been successfully uploaded to the cloud.
When When transferring large amounts of data, make sure that the memory card is in good condition and has sufficient write speed. Slow cards may slow down the camera when saving new photos if you set the default to save to external media.
| Data type | Recommended storage location | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Photo and Video | Cloud or SD card | Quick access, safety from loss |
| Documents | Cloud storage | Access from any device |
| Music | SD card | Traffic saving, offline access |
| Applications | Internal memory | Maximum speed work |
⚠️ Attention! Formatting a memory card as internal memory (Adoptable Storage) on smartphones Samsung is often inaccessible or hidden. Transferring applications to the card can lead to their unstable operation.
Deleting duplicates and unused content
Over time, files accumulate in memory that the user forgets about. These could be screenshots from two years ago, uploaded restaurant menus, or duplicate songs. The built-in Storage Cleanup tool in new versions can find similar images and suggest deleting them. It’s also worth checking the folder in the file manager. Files received from friends or from other devices that you no longer need are often automatically saved there. Regularly auditing these folders helps maintain order. One UI can find similar images and suggest their removal.
It's also worth checking the folder Bluetooth And Wi-Fi Direct in the file manager. Files received from friends or from other devices that you no longer need are often automatically saved there. Regularly auditing these folders helps keep things organized.
Deleting unused applications is another important step. If you haven't opened a game or app for more than six months, you probably don't need it. In the application menu, you can sort the list by date of last use to quickly identify the “old-timers.”
Hidden folders with garbage
At the root of the internal memory there are often folders with the names of deleted applications (for example, folders from games). They can be safely removed if you are sure that the app is no longer installed.
Resetting settings as a last resort
If none of the above methods helped and the memory is still occupied by strange files, the system may have a file table failure. In this case, a full factory reset may help. This will return the smartphone to its original state, as on the day of purchase.
Before performing this procedure, it is critical to create backup all important data. Use the service Samsung Cloud or connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable. After the reset, all personal files, contacts and settings will be permanently deleted.
To reset, go to Settings → General settings → Reset → Reset data. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot. This process takes from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data and memory speed.
Resetting to factory settings is a radical, but the most effective way to get rid of system garbage and file system errors that cannot be removed manually.
⚠️ Attention! Make sure the battery has at least 50% charge before starting the reset. Interrupting the process by turning off the phone may make it impossible to boot the system.
Prevention of memory filling
To prevent the “low memory” problem from returning, it is worth changing your smartphone usage habits. Disable automatic saving of media files from instant messengers to the gallery. This can be done in the settings of each specific application.
Regularly, at least once a month, audit the downloaded files. Delete old screenshots and documents immediately after they have served their purpose. It is also recommended not to store high-quality movies and TV shows on your phone if you watch them once.
Use “light” versions of applications, if available. For example, Facebook Lite or Google Go take up significantly less space and consume fewer resources than their full counterparts. This is especially useful for budget models Samsung.
- 📲 Disable auto-downloading of videos on social networks to save cache.
- 💾 Set up automatic uploading of photos to the cloud when connected to Wi-Fi.
- 🧹 Set a reminder for monthly cleaning recycle bins.
Enable the “Data Saver” mode in the mobile network settings - this will prevent applications from loading heavy content in the background, saving not only traffic, but also cache space.
Why does the memory fill up even if I don’t download anything?
This occurs due to background application processes running. Social networks, browsers and streaming services constantly cache content (pictures, videos, web pages) for faster loading when reopened. Over time, this cache can reach enormous sizes.
Is it possible to transfer all applications to a memory card?
On modern smartphones Samsung with a shell One UI this function is officially limited. Only some applications can be transferred, and only if the developer has allowed this in the app code. It is impossible to completely transfer the system and all applications to an SD card without root access.
Is it safe to delete the Android folder?
No, deleting the entire folder Android is absolutely not allowed. It stores data from all installed applications. Deleting will reset app settings and loss of progress in games. You can only delete the contents of subfolders cache within specific application directories.
How to find out which application uses the most memory?
Go to Settings → Device maintenance → Memory. Click on the menu icon (three dots) and select "Applications". Sort the list by size. The first positions are usually occupied by instant messengers, browsers and games with heavy resources.
Will installing an antivirus help to clean up memory?
Specialized antiviruses often have built-in cleaning modules, but t Samsung the built-in tool works more efficiently and securely. Third-party “cleaners” themselves can consume a lot of resources and show intrusive advertising, slowing down the phone.