Smartphone users often encounter a situation where the device’s memory is full, although there are not many obvious culprits like photos or videos. A mysterious section appears in the storage settings called "Other" or System, which can occupy tens of gigabytes. This section causes confusion: what is stored there and can it be deleted without harm to the system?
In fact, the category "Other" is a hodgepodge of system files, application caches, residual data of remote apps and temporary logs. The operating system Android groups files that are not media, documents or installed applications into this folder. Over time, this volume grows, slowing down the operation of the gadget.
In this article we will analyze in detail the nature of excess weight in the system and offer safe methods for freeing up space. You will learn how to manually clear the cache, which hidden folders can be deleted, and which ones you absolutely cannot touch. The correct approach to cleaning will allow you to return your smartphone to its former speed.
What is hidden behind the “Other” label in the storage
Section “Other” (sometimes called Miscellaneous) is not a system error, but a logical group of files. This includes data that the file manager cannot unambiguously classify. Most often, these are temporary files created by applications to speed up their work.
A significant part of the volume is occupied by caches of instant messengers and social networks. For example, Telegram or WhatsApp save all viewed images and videos in hidden directories so as not to download them again from the Internet. Even if you deleted the correspondence, the files may remain in the phone’s memory, continuing to be listed in the "Other" section.
Also, operating system update files that were not deleted after installation, and error logs are also included here. Some users find data from long-deleted games or apps in this section. If the uninstallation was incorrect, the settings and cache folders remain on the disk.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to delete files from system folders through file managers with superuser rights (Root) if you are not sure of their purpose. Removing critical libraries may cause the phone to stop booting.
Before starting deep cleaning, be sure to back up important contacts and documents in Google Drive cloud storage or on your computer.
Basic cleaning through smartphone settings
The safest and first step to freeing up memory is to use the built-in tools Android. Smartphone manufacturers, such as Xiaomi, Samsung or Huaweiintegrate special utilities for system maintenance. They allow you to safely remove garbage without the risk of damaging the OS.
First, you need to go to the settings menu. The path may vary depending on the model, but usually it looks like this: Settings → Memory (or Storage) → Cleaning. The system will analyze the data and offer to delete temporary files, thumbnails and remnants of installation packages.
Special attention should be paid to the application cache. In the list of installed apps, find those that consume the most resources (often browsers, social networks and video services). Go to the application information and click the “Clear cache”button. It is important not to confuse this button with the “Clear data” function, which will reset the application settings to factory settings.
- 🗑️ The built-in cleaner deletes temporary update files and thumbnails.
- 📱 Manually clearing the cache of heavy applications (YouTube, Instagram) frees up to 2-3 GB.
- 🔄 Regularly running optimization once a week prevents the accumulation of garbage.
Manual deletion of files through the File Manager
If automatic means did not cope with the task, you can resort to manual deletion. To do this, you will need a standard application "Files" or any third-party file manager, for example Files by Google or Solid Explorer. This method requires more care.
First of all, check the folder Download (Downloads). Often, users download APK installation files, documents or archives that are no longer needed after use. It is also worth looking into the folder Bluetoothwhere files received from other devices are saved.
Pay special attention to messenger folders. In the root directory of the internal memory there are often folders with the names Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber. There may be subfolders inside them Audio, Video, Images. Deleting the contents of these folders will free up space, but will remove media from conversations that are accessible offline.
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/This directory stores data for specific applications. If you have already deleted the app, but the folder with its name remains here, you can safely erase it. However, be careful: deleting the active app folder will result in the loss of its settings and offline content.
☑️ Checking manual deletion
Clearing the cache of instant messengers and social networks
Messengers are the main “eaters” of memory in the category “Other”. They save every photo, video and voice message you send and receive to your device. Over time, this collection can reach tens of gigabytes, even if you do not save files to the gallery.
There is a built-in cache management tool. Go to Telegram There is a built-in cache management tool. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you will see the occupied volume and can clear the cache with one button. Moreover, you can configure automatic cache deletion: for example, delete files that have not been opened for more than 3 days.
In WhatsApp the situation is a little more complicated. You need to go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. The application will show a list of chats sorted by space. You can go into a specific dialogue and delete only large files (videos), leaving text correspondence untouched.
⚠️ Attention: The messenger settings interface is regularly updated by the developers. If you do not find the specified menu items, use the search inside the application settings for the word “Memory” or “Cache”.
- 📹 Video files take up 80% of the space in the messenger cache.
- ⚙️ Setting up auto-delete in Telegram saves space in the background.
- 💬 Deleting media from specific chats in WhatsApp is safer than completely clearing it.
Why is the cache not cleared completely?
Sometimes the system blocks the deletion of some temporary files because they are used by active processes. Rebooting the device before cleaning can help unlock these files.
Using specialized utilities
When built-in tools are not enough, third-party optimization applications come to the rescue. There are many solutions on the market, such as CCleaner, Clean Master (with caution) or SD Maid. These apps scan the system deeper than a standard explorer.
One of the most effective tools is considered SD Maid. It can find “corpses” - files and folders left after applications are uninstalled. The “System Cleaner” function in this utility safely deletes logs, cache and temporary files without affecting important user data.
When using such apps, it is important not to overdo it with the “speedup” or “processor cooling” functions, since they are often a marketing ploy and only drain the battery. Focus exclusively on the functions of cleaning files and analyzing storage.
| Name of the utility | Main function | Presence of advertising | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | Search for duplicates and garbage | No | High |
| SD Maid | Removing application remnants | In the free version | High |
| CCleaner | Cleaning the cache and registry | Yes | Average |
| Clean Master | Complex optimization | A lot | Average |
Third-party utilities are effective for finding hidden garbage, but require be careful about the permissions you grant them.
Radical measures: Reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods helped reduce the size of the partition "Other", and it continues to occupy a critical amount (for example, more than 10-15 GB on a relatively new phone), there may be an error in the file system. In this case, the only solution is a complete reset.
The procedure Factory Reset returns the phone to the state it was in when purchased. This deletes absolutely all user data, applications, settings and, most importantly, clears the file system of any logical errors and accumulated garbage.
Before performing a reset, you must make a full backup. Use your account Google to save contacts, calendar and application list. It is better to copy photos and videos to a computer or cloud storage, since after the reset the internal memory will be completely clear.
Settings → System → Reset → Delete all data (Factory Reset)After the reboot, the phone will work as quickly as possible, and the partition "Other" will take up the minimum possible volume required for the system to operate. In the future, it is recommended to regularly carry out preventive cleaning to prevent the partition from growing again.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that the phone is charged at least 50-60% before starting the reset. Turning off the power during the formatting process can lead to irreversible damage to the software.
What should you do if “Other” does not decrease even after a reset?
If, after a hard reset and clean installation, the “Other” section immediately takes up an abnormally large amount of space, this may indicate a hardware failure flash memory or a bug in a specific firmware version. In this case, you should contact the service center.
Prevention and data storage rules
To prevent the problem with memory overflow from returning, it is worth changing your smartphone usage habits. Regular monitoring of the storage will help you notice the increase in partition volume in time "Other" and react before the phone starts to slow down.
Set up automatic uploading of photos and videos to the cloud. Services like Google Photos allow you to store media files in unlimited quantities (in compressed quality) or in original quality using space in your Google One account. After downloading, delete copies from the device.
Periodically check the list of installed applications. Remove those that you have not used for the last 3-6 months. Often it is forgotten games and apps that accumulate cache and data in the background, quietly filling up memory.
- ☁️ Turn on photo synchronization with the cloud to automatically delete local copies.
- 📅 Once a month, check the “Downloads” folder and messenger trash.
- 🚫 Disable autosaving of media from instant messengers to your phone gallery.
Use a microSD memory card to store photos and music if your smartphone supports this function. This will unload the internal memory where the system and the “Other” section are stored.
Why does the “Other” section increase immediately after updating Android?
After updating the system, files of the old firmware version remain on the disk, necessary for rolling back in case of an error. Usually they are deleted automatically after a few days or after the first reboot, but sometimes they take up space of up to several gigabytes.
Is it possible to delete the Android folder completely?
No, you cannot delete the entire folder Android . It stores critical data for application operation. You can only delete specific subfolders inside Android/datathat relate to already deleted apps.
Does the “Other” section affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, indirectly. If the internal memory is more than 90% full, the system does not have enough space to create temporary files and swap, which leads to noticeable freezes and slowdown of the interface.
How to find out which application creates the most files in “Other”?
It is difficult to see this using standard means. It is recommended to use utilities like DiskUsage or SD Maid, which visualize the occupied space and show the size of the folders of each application.
Is it safe to use root access to clean “Other”?
Using root access gives full access to the system, but increases the risk of accidentally deleting important system files. For the average user, the risk of system breakdown exceeds the potential benefit from clearing several megabytes.