I freed up 13GB on my Galaxy with out deleting something I cared about


My Samsung Galaxy was running out of storage, and I used to be bored with continually deleting pictures, movies, and essential paperwork simply to make room. This time, although, I made a decision I would not delete any of them. Instead, I needed to determine what was actually consuming up all that area on my telephone and whether or not I might do away with it with out dropping something essential.

And I’m glad I did. I discovered fairly a number of issues taking over pointless area, and after eradicating what I did not want, I freed up over 13GB of storage with out deleting something I truly cared about.

My storage was stuffed with issues I did not even need

1GB of storage and nothing value maintaining

Manage storage in Galaxy S26 Ultra's settings app Credit: Shimul Sood / MakeUseOf

First, I needed to determine what was taking over a lot area. So I opened the Settings app, went to Storage, and began trying by way of the largest recordsdata. That’s once I seen simply what number of random pictures and huge movies I had obtained on WhatsApp over time. Most had been forwarded messages I did not even keep in mind receiving, not to mention needing anymore.

So, I began deleting them, and earlier than I knew it, I had freed up nearly 1GB of storage — that is plenty of area for recordsdata I did not even care about maintaining. I’d suggest checking the Storage part in your Galaxy’s Settings app each every so often. It’s a simple approach to see what’s consuming up area, delete what you not want, and keep away from filling your telephone a lot that it starts affecting performance.

Files by Google helped me discover much more litter

My telephone had change into a museum of forgotten downloads

I additionally needed to verify I hadn’t missed something, so I opened Files by Google to see if I might take away extra litter. The app makes it simple to search out junk recordsdata, duplicates, and huge pictures or movies you might need forgotten about. At least that is what occurred for me.

If you wish to test and do the identical in your Galaxy, comply with these steps:

  1. Open the Files by Google app in your telephone.
  2. Under Categories, you may discover Downloads, Images, Videos, Audio, Documents, and Apps.
  3. Go by way of every class and test which recordsdata you not want.
  4. After you assessment a class, faucet the three-dot menu within the top-right nook.
  5. Tap Select all to take away every part in that class, or manually choose the recordsdata you do not want.
  6. Then, faucet the Delete icon.

I strongly suggest reviewing every part earlier than deleting something, particularly when you’ve got essential paperwork or pictures saved in your telephone.

I took my candy time reviewing the recordsdata, and by the point I used to be completed, I had freed up one other 7.6GB of storage. That’s a reasonably important quantity of area for issues I did not even find out about.

SD Maid SE did the ultimate job

Quite a lot of skeletons in my telephone’s closet

SD Maid SE app opened on Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Credit: Shimul Sood / MakeUseOf

Even after clearing out these pointless recordsdata, I needed to see if the rest was taking over area on my telephone. That’s once I determined to strive SD Maid SE. Unlike the opposite strategies I’d used, this app can discover issues that are not all the time simple to identify, like leftover recordsdata from uninstalled apps, non permanent recordsdata, and app caches that construct up over time.

I downloaded SD Maid SE on my Galaxy and gave it the permissions it wanted to scan my telephone. Depending on the options you utilize, the app could ask for entry to notifications, storage, utilization statistics, and accessibility companies. Some of those permissions are fairly intensive, however they’re wanted for sure cleansing features to work correctly.

Once every part was arrange, I ran the app’s cleansing modules to search for leftover app knowledge, pointless non permanent recordsdata, caches, and duplicate or related pictures. What I significantly favored was that I did not need to blindly belief the app to delete every part it discovered. I might assessment every scan’s outcomes, resolve what I needed to maintain, after which affirm what to take away. And I’d strongly suggest doing the identical.

Just as a result of a file is flagged as pointless doesn’t suggest you will not want it later, particularly with app knowledge and media.

Since SD Maid SE asks for pretty delicate permissions, I additionally revoked them as soon as I completed cleansing. You can all the time grant them once more the following time it’s essential to use the app. I’d reasonably not depart these permissions enabled when I’m not utilizing it, particularly since I’m pretty particular about my privacy.

To my shock, SD Maid SE freed up one other 4.7GB of storage. I’d already cleared out fairly a bit utilizing Samsung’s storage settings and Files by Google, so I did not count on a lot pointless knowledge to nonetheless be taking over area on my telephone.

13.3GB lighter, and my pictures are nonetheless proper the place I left them

By the time I completed cleansing up my Galaxy, I’d freed up about 13.3GB of storage, and the distinction has been noticeable. My telephone feels a little bit extra responsive, and I’m not continually worrying about working out of area. If your Galaxy is fighting storage, I’d positively suggest attempting these strategies earlier than you begin deleting belongings you care about.

Just assessment every part earlier than eradicating it, and revoke any pointless permissions you’ve got granted alongside the way in which. After all, freeing up storage should not imply giving up your essential recordsdata or your privateness.



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