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How to Empty Trash on Android Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido
Last Updated: December 16, 2025 Fact Checked
Clearing Cache and Unneeded Files
|
Clearing Junk Using Files by Google
|
Emptying Trash Within Apps
|Show more|Show less X
This article was reviewed by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 20,613 times.
Do you want to remove trash and delete junk so you have more space on your Android? While they don't have trash cans like Windows computers, you can still get rid of the junk that's clogging your phone and slowing it down. This wikiHow article teaches you numerous ways to get rid of trash on Android.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Clearing Cache and Unneeded Files
1 Clear the cached data. Although your app cache usually optimizes how your phone interacts with apps, it can also clutter your storage and create speed issues. You can clear the app data by going to Settings > Apps. You then can navigate to a specific app, then tap Storage > Clear cache.[1]XResearch source
2 Delete downloaded files. To do this, go to 'My Files > Downloads > ⋮ > Edit then tap files to select them (you can select multiple files). Finally, tap the trash can icon to delete your selected files.
To manually empty the trash folder that you've moved these downloaded files to, tap ⋮ > Trash > ⋮> Empty. Otherwise, files in the trash folder will automatically be removed from your system in 30 days.
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3 Uninstall apps you don't use. Uninstalling apps means that you'll also be removing all the data that they store, which may speed up your phone. To uninstall apps, press and hold the app icon (from either the Home Screen or the App Drawer) and tap Uninstall.[2]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Clearing Junk Using Files by Google
1 Open Files by Google. This app icon looks like a multicolored folder.
If you don't have the Files by Google app, you can download it for free from the Google Play Store. It will automate deleting junk files and eliminate the need for you to manually delete anything, like in the previous method.
2 Tap Clean. You'll see this tab in the bottom left corner of your screen with some sparkling icons.[3]XResearch source
You'll see a list of what the app suggests you to clean up to free more space on your Android.
3 Tap Clean under "Junk files." Doing so will eliminate the need for you to go through your phone and delete unnecessary items.
If you don't see this here, then there aren't any "Junk" files on your phone! You can, however, proceed with the suggestions to clear more room on your phone.
For items like "Large files," you can tap Clean to see more suggestions. Tap the files to review them or select them to be deleted. Once you have the files selected, tap Move files to Trash. [4]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Emptying Trash Within Apps
1 Open an app that has a trash can inside it. Apps like Google Photos or Dropbox have a trash can inside the app that you can empty to help your Android run smoother.
One app that's on almost every Android is called Google Photos. Although the directions here use Google Photos as an example, other apps like Dropbox or File Manager have similar steps to empty their trash folders.
2 Tap Library. It's usually an icon of shelved books at the bottom of your screen.
If you're not using Google Photos, you may need to tap a three-line or three-dot menu icon instead.
3 Tap Trash. This might be labeled differently for different regions, like "Bin" instead of "Trash."[5]XResearch source
If you're not using Google Photos, this could be something like "Recently Deleted" instead.
4 Tap ⋮ and Empty trash. You'll see the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of your screen. To restore an image from Google Photos, tap the image instead and select Restore.
You might see an option to Delete All if you're not using Google Photos.[6]XResearch source
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Reviewed by: Luigi Oppido Computer & Tech Specialist This article was reviewed by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 20,613 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 4Updated: December 16, 2025 Views: 20,613 Categories: HacksArticle SummaryX
1. Open an app that has a trash can inside it. 2. Tap Library. 3. Tap Trash. 4. Tap the three-dot menu icon and Empty trash. Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reviewed by: Luigi Oppido Computer & Tech Specialist This article was reviewed by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 20,613 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 4 Updated: December 16, 2025 Views: 20,613 Categories: Hacks Article SummaryX
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1 Clear the cached data. Although your app cache usually optimizes how your phone interacts with apps, it can also clutter your storage and create speed issues. You can clear the app data by going to Settings > Apps. You then can navigate to a specific app, then tap Storage > Clear cache.[1] 
2 Delete downloaded files. To do this, go to 'My Files > Downloads > ⋮ > Edit then tap files to select them (you can select multiple files). Finally, tap the trash can icon to delete your selected files. 
3 Uninstall apps you don't use. Uninstalling apps means that you'll also be removing all the data that they store, which may speed up your phone. To uninstall apps, press and hold the app icon (from either the Home Screen or the App Drawer) and tap Uninstall.[2] Advertisement 
1 Open Files by Google. This app icon looks like a multicolored folder. 
2 Tap Clean. You'll see this tab in the bottom left corner of your screen with some sparkling icons.[3] 
3 Tap Clean under "Junk files." Doing so will eliminate the need for you to go through your phone and delete unnecessary items. 
1 Open an app that has a trash can inside it. Apps like Google Photos or Dropbox have a trash can inside the app that you can empty to help your Android run smoother. 
2 Tap Library. It's usually an icon of shelved books at the bottom of your screen. 
3 Tap Trash. This might be labeled differently for different regions, like "Bin" instead of "Trash."[5] 
4 Tap ⋮ and Empty trash. You'll see the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of your screen. To restore an image from Google Photos, tap the image instead and select Restore.