Most smartphones, such as those in the Samsung family, have a function that temporarily saves deleted files in a kind of 'purgatory', better known as the trash can. Knowing how to manage it can be the key to freeing up space and keeping your phone running at full capacity, without having to desperately search for photos or videos you can delete. Therefore, today we are going to see How to access the trash on your Samsung device and empty it when you need to free up space.
Where is the trash can on your Samsung?
One of the basic things you need to know is where to find the trash on your Samsung device. Whenever you delete a photo, video or other file, it doesn't disappear immediately from the device, but instead goes to the trash where it remains for a temporary period before being permanently deleted, in this case, that period is 30 days.
To access the trash on your Samsung, the easiest way is to do it from the Gallery from your phone. Once you are in the gallery, you just have to click on the three dots that usually appear at the top right (the so-called menu icon), select the option Trash, and You will see all the files you have deleted in the last few days.
If you need to permanently delete these files before the 30-day cycle ends, simply select the 'Empty Trash'. Remember that once this is done, recovering those files will be impossible, so make sure you no longer want them.
Is it necessary to empty the trash?
In theory, you shouldn't have to worry about manually emptying the trash on your Samsung, as files are automatically deleted after 30 days. However, there are cases where it can be useful to do it manually. If your phone is starting to run out of space or you need to make some space quickly, emptying the trash can be a quick and effective solution.
Until the files are completely gone, they continue to take up space on your device, even if you don't see them. For this reason, cleaning out the trash from time to time will help you keep your phone's performance at a good level, especially if you are one of those people who take a lot of photos and videos.
Steps to empty the trash on your Samsung
Now that you know where to find the trash can, here's how to empty it easily:
- Open the Gallery of your device.
- Tap the three dots at the top right to bring up the menu.
- Select option Trash.
- Click on the optionEmpty Trash' and confirms.
It is important to know that you can also delete only some files, instead of emptying the entire trash. To do this, select the files from the 'Edit' option and choose between Restore o Permanently delete.
How to disable the trash function?
If you prefer that the files you delete do not go to the trash and disappear directly from your device, you can disable the trash function on your phone. Please note that by doing this, you will not be able to recover deleted files under any circumstances, as they will not be stored anywhere temporarily.
To disable the trash on your Samsung, follow these steps:
- Access the Gallery of your mobile.
- Open the menu by tapping the three dots at the top right.
- Go to Settings.
- In the advanced options section, disable the feature that indicates that deleted files are stored in the trash for 30 days.
The system will ask you to confirm if you really want to disable it, since all files that are in the trash at that time will also be permanently deleted.
Other apps with 'Trash' function
In addition to Samsung's gallery, several Android apps have their own trash system. Here are some of the most important ones:
Google Photos
En Google Photos, all the videos or images you delete go to a trash can that saves the files for 60 days before you delete them permanently. To empty this trash, you just have to go to Google Photos, access the side menu on the three-line icon and select the option TrashFrom there, you can empty the contents manually.
Google Drive
En Google Drive, something similar happens. When you delete a file, it goes straight to the trash, but there's no easy button to empty the trash completely. Instead, you'll have to manually select all the files and then hit 'Delete permanently'.
Google Files
Google Files, the Android file management app, also has a trash bin. When you delete files from this app, they are moved to a temporary trash bin that automatically cleans up the files within 30 days.
gmail
En gmail, emails that you delete are not deleted immediately. They go to the trash, where they remain for a while. 30 daysYou can empty it manually if you need to free up space.
Deleting junk files on Android
Aside from emptying your Samsung's trash, it's also important to remove other types of junk files that can build up on your phone over time. Here are some tips to free up more space:
Clear cache data
Apps store cache data to make them run faster, but this data also takes up a considerable amount of space on your phone. clear cache For an app, go to your device settings, select an app and go to its storage option to delete cache data.
Delete unnecessary downloaded files
Sometimes we download files that we use only once and forget to delete them. Take some time to go through your downloads folder and get rid of anything you no longer need.
Tips to keep your mobile in good condition
Once you have emptied the trash and deleted unnecessary files, you can follow these tips to maintain your device's performance:
- Make regular backups: Storing your photos and videos on cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox is a good way to free up space.
- Use an SD card: If your Samsung device supports it, inserting an SD card can significantly extend your storage.
- Delete apps you no longer use: We often install apps with the intention of using them, but then forget about them. They take up valuable space and resources on your device.
As you see, Managing and emptying the trash on a Samsung device is very simple. and it can be the key to your mobile working properly. Don't forget that in addition to emptying the trash, You can also optimize the performance of your smartphone by removing junk files. and making small storage improvements overall.