Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space

Freeing up storage space on your Android phone isn't fun, but it doesn't have to be boring. Google 's Files app turns the often-slow manual cleanup into a quick, easy process.

Download Files by Google app

Freeing up storage space on your Android phone can feel like a time-consuming treasure hunt. You might dig through your Gallery app to find unwanted photos and videos, scroll through your app drawer to uninstall apps you don’t use, or delete random downloads. While those methods work, you don’t need to waste time doing all of these things manually. There’s a much faster way.

Files by Google is a free, lightweight file manager that makes cleaning up your phone storage pretty simple. Many phones running  stock Android come with the app pre-installed, but if your phone doesn't, you can download it from the Play Store.

Once set up, checking and cleaning up storage is as simple as opening the app, letting it scan your phone, and following its cleaning suggestions.

Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space
Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space

Use suggestions in the "Clean" tab in the Files app

The Clean tab in the Files by Google app lists all the common storage wasters in one neat list. Instead of navigating through storage settings or using cleaning apps, you can use this tab to find all those junk files, old screenshots, large videos, unused apps, and forgotten downloads.

To get started, open the Files app, tap the three-bar menu in the top left corner, and select Clean . At the top of the screen, you'll see your phone's current storage status, giving you a quick overview of how much space is used and how much space is available. Tapping this will take you directly to your phone's storage settings for more details.

In the storage summary, Files displays all cleanup recommendations. Each card highlights a category, shows how much space you can free up, and provides a preview of the files mentioned.

The app also shows you exactly how much storage space each file is using, so you know what you're getting before you decide to delete it. However, before you rush into deleting any files, preview them to make sure you don't lose any important data in the process.

Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space
Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space
Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space

Don't forget to clean out the trash!

Cleaning out unwanted files and apps using the Files app can feel satisfying, but you won't see an immediate increase in free space. That's because, with the exception of junk files and uninstalled apps, anything you delete through the Clean tab isn't deleted immediately. Instead, it's moved to the Trash folder , where it remains for up to 30 days before the app automatically deletes it.

To do this, open the Files app, tap the three-bar menu in the upper left corner, and select Trash . You'll see a list of all the items you've deleted in the past month. Tap the All items checkbox to select them all, then tap Delete . Tap Delete again to confirm, and the files will be gone forever.

Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space
Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space
Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space

If you find any items you want to keep, select them and hit Restore . This is an extra step, but it serves as a safety measure in case you accidentally delete something important.

Tags: #Android
Sign up and earn $1000 a day ⋙

Leave a Comment

How to Use Locket Widget for Android

How to Use Locket Widget for Android

The new Locket Widget app has an Android version after iOS users were able to use Locket Widget on iPhone before.

Good Lock App Unlocks Features You Never Knew Existed

Good Lock App Unlocks Features You Never Knew Existed

If you think you know your Galaxy device well, Good Lock will show you how much more it can do.

6 hidden tricks that can be applied to Samsung cameras

6 hidden tricks that can be applied to Samsung cameras

People used to rely on separate apps just to scan QR codes. Then one day they opened their Samsung camera and saw it highlight a link as soon as they pointed the camera at it.

11 Tips Worth Sharing When Taking Photos with Your Phone

11 Tips Worth Sharing When Taking Photos with Your Phone

If you're tired of generic tips that never work, here are some that have been quietly transforming the way you take photos.

Top 10 best educational games for kids on mobile

Top 10 best educational games for kids on mobile

Most kids prefer to play rather than study. However, these mobile games that are both educational and entertaining will appeal to young kids.

6 problems that drive Samsung phone users crazy

6 problems that drive Samsung phone users crazy

Galaxy devices aren't immune to issues, ranging from mildly annoying bugs to things that drive you crazy.

These settings make switching to Samsung so much better.

These settings make switching to Samsung so much better.

Switching to Samsung is like opening a hidden treasure chest. While the default setup is fine, a few quick settings tweaks can turn your phone into an unputdownable device.

Tips to exploit the full potential of the USB port on Samsung phones

Tips to exploit the full potential of the USB port on Samsung phones

The USB port on your Samsung phone is for more than just charging. From turning your phone into a desktop computer to powering other devices, these little-known apps will change the way you use your device.

Samsung features to help protect your phone from theft

Samsung features to help protect your phone from theft

The good news is that if you have a Galaxy phone, Samsung includes a number of features that help protect your phone and user data in case the device is stolen.

How to AirPlay to Android TV Without Paying a Dime

How to AirPlay to Android TV Without Paying a Dime

Mirroring your Android phone or Windows PC to your Android TV has always been easy, but now iPhone, iPad, and even Mac users can enjoy the same convenience.

7 Samsung Features You May Not Be Using for Better Photos

7 Samsung Features You May Not Be Using for Better Photos

Great photos are more than just a matter of pointing and shooting. If you own a Samsung phone, you have a secret treasure trove of camera tricks waiting to be unlocked for your creativity.

How to hide private photos on Android

How to hide private photos on Android

All the photos you take on your smartphone are saved in your device's photo library so everyone can see them, even your private photos.

7 Simple Ways to Make Your Samsung Phone Look Less Boring

7 Simple Ways to Make Your Samsung Phone Look Less Boring

Your expensive Samsung Galaxy doesn't have to look exactly like every other phone on the market. With a few tweaks, you can make it more personal, stylish, and unique.

Why do so many people decide to switch to Samsung after years of using iPhone?

Why do so many people decide to switch to Samsung after years of using iPhone?

After getting bored with iOS, they finally switched to Samsung phones, and have no regrets about that decision.

How to Use Locket Widget for Android

How to Use Locket Widget for Android

The new Locket Widget app has an Android version after iOS users were able to use Locket Widget on iPhone before.

Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space

Quick Android cleaning tips to reclaim gigabytes of space

Freeing up storage space on your Android phone isn't fun, but it doesn't have to be boring. Google's Files app turns the often-slow manual cleanup into a quick, easy process.

Good Lock App Unlocks Features You Never Knew Existed

Good Lock App Unlocks Features You Never Knew Existed

If you think you know your Galaxy device well, Good Lock will show you how much more it can do.

How to turn off lock screen blur effect on iPhone

How to turn off lock screen blur effect on iPhone

From iOS 26 onwards, Apple has added a new setting to the Always On Display feature, allowing you to blur the background image. If you don't want this blur effect and want to see the background clearly, turn it off according to the instructions below.

How to Turn on Adaptive Power Notifications to Slow Down iPhone

How to Turn on Adaptive Power Notifications to Slow Down iPhone

iOS 26 has a notification setting that tells you when Adaptive Power slows down your iPhone if enabled. Here's how to turn on the notification that Adaptive Power slows down your iPhone.

How to make iPhone read text to you?

How to make iPhone read text to you?

Accessibility Reader on iPhone is a text-to-speech feature that helps you follow content without having to see it directly.

How to Change Folder Color in iPhone Files App

How to Change Folder Color in iPhone Files App

The Files app on iOS 26 has an additional option to change folder colors so you can easily categorize folders of the same type and topic of data storage.

6 hidden tricks that can be applied to Samsung cameras

6 hidden tricks that can be applied to Samsung cameras

People used to rely on separate apps just to scan QR codes. Then one day they opened their Samsung camera and saw it highlight a link as soon as they pointed the camera at it.

11 Tips Worth Sharing When Taking Photos with Your Phone

11 Tips Worth Sharing When Taking Photos with Your Phone

If you're tired of generic tips that never work, here are some that have been quietly transforming the way you take photos.

Top 10 best educational games for kids on mobile

Top 10 best educational games for kids on mobile

Most kids prefer to play rather than study. However, these mobile games that are both educational and entertaining will appeal to young kids.

How to share location in Family Sharing iPhone

How to share location in Family Sharing iPhone

Family Sharing lets you share your Apple subscriptions, purchases, iCloud storage, and location with up to six people.

Why iPhone Battery Drains Overnight and How to Fix It

Why iPhone Battery Drains Overnight and How to Fix It

If you've ever woken up to find your iPhone battery suddenly down to 20% or less, you're not alone.

Download full set of iOS 18 wallpapers with high resolution

Download full set of iOS 18 wallpapers with high resolution

Apple has just officially launched iOS 18, the latest version of the operating system for iPhone with attractive features, along with beautiful wallpapers.

6 problems that drive Samsung phone users crazy

6 problems that drive Samsung phone users crazy

Galaxy devices aren't immune to issues, ranging from mildly annoying bugs to things that drive you crazy.

These settings make switching to Samsung so much better.

These settings make switching to Samsung so much better.

Switching to Samsung is like opening a hidden treasure chest. While the default setup is fine, a few quick settings tweaks can turn your phone into an unputdownable device.