Most modern Android smartphones and tablets come with generous storage starting at 256GB, but going as high as 512GB or even 1TB. Usually, dual-SIM phones have even more room for expansion via Micro-SD cards. With this much storage, it’s easy to amass a large number of downloads files.
Still, you will find a situation when you need more space, even with a considerable amount of storage. One of the best means to recover some storage would be through the deletion of your downloads, and this guide will walk you through doing just that.
Why Delete Android Downloads?
The principal reason for erasing downloads on Android is that it recovers storage space. Even considering huge capacities on modern devices, the space is filled up pretty fast by photos, videos, apps, and games. Take this, for instance:
- High-resolution photos can take at least 10MB each.
- A video of only 30 seconds in 4K resolution can be over 100MB.
- Games such as Genshin Impact can take even over 20GB.
If you have space for new downloads, and your device does not have an option for expandable storage, then you may opt to delete old downloads quickly.
How to Delete Downloads on Android
To delete downloads on your Android device, you’ll need a file manager app. Most devices come pre-installed, and some can be downloaded for free in the Google Play Store. Here is how to use it:
- Install and open the Files app
- – If you haven’t used the Files app previously, you can download and install it from the Google Play Store.
- – Open the application; allow it to manage files by providing access, saying ‘Allow access to manage all files’ in settings.
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Get into Downloads
- – On the main screen, look for ‘Categories’ and select the ‘Downloads’ folder.
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Select Files to Delete
- – Long press on any file to select it, indicated by a blue check mark. It is also possible to batch select several files at once.
- – Tap the bin/trash can icon in the top right after selecting the files you want to delete.
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Confirm Deletion
- – This will open a pop-up at the bottom of the screen where you are prompted to confirm the deletion of the selected files.
By these steps, you will have removed downloads from an Android device. Using the same application, you can view and delete files from other folders. Also you can read Samsung is stopping its own messaging app.
Extra Tips
- Manufacturer-specific File Managers: Some manufacturers actually provide their own file manager apps; for example, Xiaomi’s File Manager and Samsung’s My Files. Although steps may vary a bit, the process remains almost the same for different applications.
- Be Cautious: Absolutely do not delete any files unless you are extremely sure that you will never need them. A number of system files will be absolutely useless looking but are very essential for running your device.
One of the easiest ways to free up some space on an Android device and ensure you’ve got room for new files and apps is by clearing downloads.