Unlike desktop computers, Android doesn’t have a universal recycle bin for deleted files. Instead, individual Android apps typically manage their own trash or “recently deleted” folders. To free up storage on your Android phone, you need to empty the trash within these apps. This guide will show you how to empty the trash in Google Photos and Files by Google, two popular apps for managing photos and files on Android.
Clear the trash in Google Photos
To permanently delete your photos and videos from Google Photos and free up storage:
- Launch Google Photos: open the Google Photos app on your Android phone.
- Go to library: in the bottom bar of the Photos app, tap “Library.”
- Open trash: on the “Library” screen, tap “Trash” at the top.
- Empty trash: on the “Trash” page, tap the three dots in the top-right corner. In the menu that appears, select “Empty trash.”
- Confirm deletion: a prompt will appear asking for confirmation. Choose “Allow” to permanently delete all items in your trash.
Be aware that once you empty the trash in Google Photos, the deleted photos and videos are permanently gone and cannot be recovered.
Empty the trash in Files by Google
If you use the Files by Google app to manage your files on Android, here’s how to empty its trash:
- Launch Files by Google: open the Files by Google app on your Android phone.
- Open menu: tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner of the app.
- Go to trash: in the menu that opens, select “Trash.”
- Select all files in trash: on the “Trash” page, tap “All items” to select all deleted files.
- Delete files permanently: at the bottom of the screen, tap “Delete.”
- Confirm deletion: a prompt will appear to confirm permanent deletion. Choose “Delete.”
Similar to Google Photos, files deleted from the Files by Google trash are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
Other ways to free up Android phone storage
Emptying the trash in apps like Google Photos and Files by Google is an effective way to reclaim storage. Beyond emptying the trash, there are other methods to free up even more storage space on your Android phone, including:
- Clearing app cache: many apps store temporary cache files that can accumulate and take up space. Clearing app caches, such as Discord’s cache files, can free up storage.
- Reducing WhatsApp storage: WhatsApp media and backups can consume significant storage. Managing WhatsApp storage usage can reclaim considerable space.
- Removing Dropbox cache: if you use Dropbox on Android, clearing its cache files can also free up storage.
By combining emptying the trash in apps with other storage-saving methods, you can effectively manage and free up space on your Android phone.
