Android guide
How to free up storage on an Android phone
A full Android phone slows down, stops taking photos and refuses updates. Most of the space usually goes to photos and videos, messaging apps and apps you no longer open. Android has good built-in tools for all three — menu names just vary a little from one brand to another. This guide covers stock Android (Pixel) and Samsung phones; on other brands, search for “storage” in Settings.
See what is filling your phone
On a Pixel or stock Android phone, open Settings › Storage. Your used space is broken down by category — apps, images, videos, audio, documents, system — and you can tap a category to see what’s in it. The Free up space button opens Files by Google, covered in step 3.
On Samsung, go to Settings › Device care › Storage — on older versions of One UI, the menu is called Battery and device care. Besides the categories, Samsung’s storage screen lists shortcuts such as Duplicate files and Large files.
Use “Free up space” in Google Photos
If Google Photos backs up your pictures, your phone probably still holds a second copy of everything already safe in your account. Google Photos can remove those device copies in one go:
- Open Google Photos and tap your profile picture or initial at the top right.
- Tap Free up space on this device.
- Tap Free up [x] from device to confirm.
Check that backup is turned on and complete first: this feature deletes the photos from your phone. They stay in Google Photos, but you won’t see them in your phone’s built-in gallery app any more, nor in Google Photos while you’re offline. Photos and videos less than 30 days old may be kept on the device.
Run a clean with Files by Google
Files by Google (preinstalled on many phones, free on the Play Store) gathers the usual space wasters in one place. Open the menu (☰), tap Clean and go through the cards:
- Junk files: temporary app files. Be aware that these are deleted permanently, not moved to the trash.
- Duplicate files: identical copies of the same file; the original is marked with an Original badge.
- Delete large files and Old screenshots: usually the quickest wins.
- Delete unused apps: apps you haven’t opened in a long while.
Except for junk files, what you delete goes to Files’ own Trash (Bin on UK-English phones) for 30 days, so you can still change your mind.
Archive or uninstall apps you don’t use
Since Android 15, you can archive an app: Android removes the app itself but keeps its data and its icon, so you can bring it back later by tapping the faded icon. Open Settings › Apps, choose the app (via See all apps if needed) and tap Archive; on older versions, use Uninstall.
For an app that keeps growing, open Settings › Apps › app name › Storage & cache and tap Clear cache, which only removes temporary data. Don’t confuse it with Clear storage, which permanently deletes all the app’s data.
Sort your photos and videos
Backed up or not, your gallery is usually the biggest category. Start with videos — one long clip can weigh as much as hundreds of photos — then screenshots, which pile up by the thousand. In Google Photos or your phone’s gallery app, select them in batches and delete what you no longer need.
To keep future videos lighter, check your camera app’s video settings: 4K at 60 fps produces much bigger files than 1080p at 30 fps.
Rein in messaging apps
WhatsApp, Telegram and similar apps quietly store every photo, video and voice note you receive. Most of them have a storage manager in their settings that lists your heaviest conversations and files: delete the big items there, and turn off automatic media downloads or automatic saving to your gallery so the space doesn’t fill up again.
Empty the trash
Deleted photos aren’t gone straight away. In Google Photos, they sit in the Trash (Bin on UK-English phones), under Collections, for 30 days; tap Empty Trash to delete them for good. Samsung’s Gallery also keeps deleted items for 30 days in its own trash, called Recycle bin or Trash depending on the phone, and Files by Google has its own Trash too. Empty them once you’re sure, to get the space back right away.
Sort your gallery with a swipe
Clean-up tools are great for junk files, but they can’t tell which of your photos matter. Swipix shows your gallery one photo at a time: swipe right to keep, left to delete.
Piles take you to the biggest wins first: Heaviest ranks photos and videos by file size, Duplicates groups identical and similar shots, and Screenshots and Videos isolate the usual suspects. You review your selection before confirming, and deleted items go to Android’s trash, recoverable for 30 days.
Everything runs on your phone — your photos are never uploaded. Swipix is free to download, with an optional Premium subscription for unlimited swipes and the advanced piles, and it’s also available on iPhone.
- Photos never leave your phone
- Recoverable for 30 days
- iPhone & Android
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to clear an app’s cache?
Yes. “Clear cache” only deletes temporary data; some apps may simply be a little slow the next time you open them. “Clear storage” is different: it permanently deletes all the app’s data.
Does “Free up space” in Google Photos delete my photos?
It deletes them from your phone, but only items that are already backed up. They stay in your Google Photos account, where you can view them when you’re online, though they no longer appear in your phone’s built-in gallery app.
Why does my Android storage fill up again so quickly?
The usual causes are messaging apps saving every photo and video you receive, high-resolution video, app caches and old downloads. Turn off automatic media saving in your messaging apps and sort your gallery regularly.
What’s the difference between archiving and uninstalling an app?
Archiving removes the app but keeps its data and its icon, so you can restore it by tapping the icon. Uninstalling removes the app and its data.