Modern instant messengers, such as Telegram, have turned from simple means of communication into powerful media combines capable of accumulating gigabytes of information directly in the memory of your smartphone. Users often encounter a situation where notifications about low free space appear suddenly, blocking the installation of new applications or receiving important files. The reason for this is most often overgrown cache and accumulated application data that is not deleted automatically.
Clearing this data is a process that requires understanding the difference between temporary files and important information. If you just want to free up space, deleting the cache is enough, but if the app isn't working properly, you may need to completely clear the data. It is important to act consistently so as not to lose access to your account or important files that were not saved in the cloud.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the ways to free up space, from the standard settings of the messenger itself to deep cleaning through the system menu Android. You will learn which folders you can delete without fear and which you shouldn’t touch, and you will also understand how to set up automatic cleaning in the future so that the problem does not happen again.
The difference between clearing the cache and completely deleting data
Before taking decisive action in the smartphone settings, you need to clearly understand how these two processes differ. Cache These are temporary files that the application saves to speed up its work: image thumbnails, video previews, temporary copies of documents. Deleting them is safe and will not affect your correspondence, contacts or account settings.
On the other hand, the function “Delete data”** (or “Reset” / “Clear Data”) in the Android system settings returns the application to the state immediately after installation. This means that you will be logged out of your account, all locally saved settings, secret chats (which are not stored in the cloud) and possibly some media files will disappear if they have not been downloaded from the server again. Use this method only as a last resort.
Telegram cache can take up from 500 MB to 10 GB or more, depending on the activity of your chats and channels. Regularly clearing the cache is the best way to maintain the performance of your smartphone.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting data through the Android system settings will result in logging out of your account. Make sure you remember the phone number and have access to the SIM card for re-authorization.
For most users who simply want to free up space, it is enough to use the built-in tools of the messenger itself, which allow flexible storage management. System cleaning is required less frequently, for example, when the app malfunctions or before a complete reinstallation.
Cleaning storage through the built-in Telegram settings
The safest and recommended by developers way to free up space is inside the application itself. This method allows you to delete the cache while saving all your conversations and media files in the cloud. To get started, open the application and go to the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind three bars in the upper left corner or located in the “Settings” section on devices iPhone and some versions Android.
In the settings menu you need to find the section responsible for using resources. The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same. You need to get to the “Data and Memory” item, where the management of downloading and storing files is hidden. This is where the powerful “Memory Usage” tool is located.
☑️ Checking Telegram settings
After going to the “Memory Usage” section, you will see detailed statistics: how much space is taken by photos, videos, files and other cache. By pressing the Clear cachebutton, you will instantly free up space. Don’t worry, your photos and videos will not disappear from chats without a trace - they will simply be deleted from the device and will be downloaded again from the cloud only when you open the corresponding chat again.
Here you can also set up automatic clearing. This will save you from having to do it manually in the future. You can set a timer, for example, “3 days” or “1 week”, and the application itself will delete old temporary files, making room for new ones.
Deleting data through the Android system settings
If the application does not work correctly, freezes or does not start, a deeper cleaning may be required through the operating system settings. This method differs from internal wipe in that it affects not only temporary files, but also the application databases on the device. To do this, open Settings your smartphone and find the section Applications or Applications and notifications.
In the list of all installed apps find Telegram. Clicking on it will take you to the application management menu. Here you are interested in the item Storage or Memory. In the window that opens, you will see two main buttons: “Clear cache” and “Erase data” (or “Clear data”). The first button is safe, the second is radical.
What happens when you erase data?
When you select the “Erase data” option, Android deletes the local message database, notification settings, PIN codes for logging into the application and authorization. After this, when starting, Telegram will ask you to enter your phone number and verification code, as during the first installation. All cloud correspondence will remain on the server and will be loaded after logging in.
Using the “Erase Data” function makes sense if you plan to sell the phone or give it to another person, or if the file structure of the application is damaged and causes errors. In normal cases, to free up space, it is enough to limit yourself to clearing the cache, which we discussed in the previous section.
System data clearing completely resets the application, requiring re-authorization, but effectively solves software errors associated with damage to local files.
Managing auto-download of media files
One of the main reasons for rapid overflow smartphone memory is automatic downloading of media files. By default Telegram can save all received photos and videos to the phone gallery, even if you did not open them. To prevent this, you need to configure startup settings.
Return to section Settings -> Data and memory. Here you will see three blocks: “When using a mobile network”, “When connected to Wi-Fi” and “When roaming”. For each of them you can set restrictions. It is recommended to disable auto-downloading of videos completely or limit it to the file size, and also disable saving to the gallery.
- 📱 Mobile network: Set a limit on photos (for example, up to 1 MB) and completely disable auto-downloading of videos so as not to waste traffic and space.
- 📶 Wi-Fi: You can allow downloading of photos and videos, but be sure to disable the “Save in gallery” option if you do not want to clog up the main memory of the phone.
- 🌍 Roaming: here it is better to prohibit the downloading of any media content automatically in order to avoid huge bills from the operator.
It is also worth paying attention to the settings of individual chats. If you are a member of channels that post hundreds of pictures a day, it makes sense to go to the settings of this particular channel or group, select “Notifications” and turn off the sound, and in some versions of the application, auto-loading media for this chat.
Manually deleting Telegram folders in the file manager
For advanced users who are used to controlling the file system of their device, a manual method is available cleaning. In the latest versions Android (starting from version 11), access to folders is limited by security policy, but basic media files often remain accessible through the standard file manager.
Open the Files or My Files application and go to the internal memory. You need to find the folder Android, then data, and then the folder org.telegram.messenger. Inside it there is a directory files, and in it there is a folder Telegram. This is where all received files are stored.
| Folder | Description of contents | Can they be deleted? |
|---|---|---|
| Telegram Images | All received images | Yes, if not needed |
| Telegram Video | Downloaded videos | Yes, they take up a lot of space |
| Telegram Audio | Music and voice messages | Yes, but voice messages may disappear from the chat |
| Telegram Documents | Documents, APK files, archives | Yes, after checking importance |
When you delete files from here directly, bypassing the application, they will disappear from the device forever. If you delete a file from a folder Telegram Video, only the preview will remain in the chat, and when you try to open the video, it will be downloaded again from the cloud. This is a great way to selectively clear space, leaving, for example, important documents, but deleting old videos.
⚠️ Attention: In new versions of Android, access to the folder
Android/datamay be hidden for third-party file managers. Use only the built-in file manager of your smartphone to access these system directories.
Using Telegram Premium and cloud storage
Owners of a paid subscription Telegram Premium get additional memory management capabilities, although they do not directly delete data, but help to work more efficiently with the cloud. The main philosophy of the messenger is to store everything in the cloud. This means that deleting a file from your phone does not remove it from your conversations.
If you deleted application data or a specific file to free up space, you can return to it at any time. However, if you want to clear the space permanently, you must use the Delete for Everyone feature. This action will delete the file from the Telegram servers, and it will disappear for all participants in the conversation, freeing up space in your cloud storage (although Telegram limits are almost limitless, order in chats is important).
It’s also worth mentioning the “Saved Messages” function. Many users use it as cloud storage, uploading heavy files there. Periodically reviewing this chat and deleting old archives or videos from there will help keep the amount of data under control without losing important correspondence with friends.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will my correspondence be lost after clearing the cache?
No, the correspondence will not be lost. Clearing the cache deletes only temporary files (pictures, videos) so that they take up less space on the phone. The text of messages and the list of contacts are stored on the server and in the cloud, they will remain untouched. When you reopen the chat, the media files will be downloaded again.
How to clear the cache in all chats at once?
To do this, you do not need to enter each chat separately. Use global cleanup via Settings -> Data and memory -> Memory usage -> Clear Telegram cache. This action will free up space in all dialogs at the same time.
Is it possible to delete Telegram and install it again to clear place?
Yes, this is a radical but effective way. When you remove the application (uninstall), all local data is erased. After re-installing and logging in using your phone number, all your cloud correspondence will be downloaded again, and “junk” temporary files will not be created until you start actively using the messenger again.
Why does the Telegram folder become bloated again after cleaning?
This is normal behavior. The messenger creates a cache for fast operation. If you have many active channels with videos and pictures, the cache will grow again. To slow down this process, configure auto-cleaning of the cache in the application settings (for example, keep files for 3 days) and disable auto-downloading of videos.