How to Empty Trash on Samsung Phone

Are you struggling with limited storage space on your Samsung phone? One effective way to free up some space is by emptying the trash. Similar to a recycle bin on your computer, the trash on your Samsung phone stores deleted items temporarily before they are permanently removed. By clearing your trash regularly, you can optimize your device’s storage and avoid slowdowns. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of emptying the trash on your Samsung phone. Let’s get started!

What Is the Trash on a Samsung Phone?

The trash on your Samsung phone, also known as the Recycle Bin, is a folder that holds deleted items for a certain period of time before permanently deleting them. This feature allows you to recover accidentally deleted photos, videos, messages, contacts, and other types of files. However, it’s important to note that the items in the trash still occupy storage space on your device until they are permanently removed. Emptying the trash is essential if you want to create more space on your Samsung phone.

How to Empty the Trash in Samsung Gallery

The Samsung Gallery app is a popular choice for managing and viewing photos and videos on Samsung phones. Follow these steps to empty the trash in Samsung Gallery:

1. Open the Samsung Gallery app on your phone.
2. Tap on the three-bar icon or the three-dot icon to access the menu.
3. Look for the “Trash” or “Recycle Bin” option and tap on it.
4. You will see a list of deleted photos and videos in the trash folder.
5. To delete individual items, tap on “Edit” and select the files you want to remove. Then, tap on the “Delete” button.
6. If you want to empty the entire trash folder, tap on the three-dot icon and choose “Empty” or “Delete all.” Confirm your decision when prompted.

How to Clear the Trash in Samsung Files

The Samsung Files app is a versatile file manager that allows you to navigate and organize files on your Samsung phone. Here’s how you can clear the trash in Samsung Files:

1. Open the Samsung Files app on your phone.
2. Tap on the three-dot icon to access the menu.
3. Select the “Trash” or “Recycle Bin” option.
4. Inside the trash folder, you will find a list of deleted files.
5. To delete individual files, tap on “Edit” and select the files you want to remove. Then, tap on the “Delete” button.
6. If you want to empty the entire trash folder, tap on the three-dot icon and choose “Empty” or “Delete all.” Confirm your decision when prompted.

How to Empty the Trash in Samsung Messages

The Samsung Messages app is where you can access and manage your text messages on Samsung phones. To empty the trash in Samsung Messages, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Samsung Messages app on your phone.
2. Tap on the three-dot icon to access the menu.
3. Look for the “Trash” or “Deleted Messages” option and tap on it.
4. You will see a list of deleted messages in the trash folder.
5. To delete individual messages, tap on “Edit” and select the messages you want to remove. Then, tap on the “Delete” button.
6. If you want to empty the entire trash folder, tap on the three-dot icon and choose “Empty” or “Delete all.” Confirm your decision when prompted.

How to Clear the Trash in Samsung Contacts

The Samsung Contacts app is where you can manage your contacts and address book on Samsung phones. Here’s how you can clear the trash in Samsung Contacts:

1. Open the Samsung Contacts app on your phone.
2. Tap on the three-bar icon or the three-dot icon to access the menu.
3. Look for the “Trash” or “Deleted Contacts” option and tap on it.
4. You will see a list of deleted contacts in the trash folder.
5. To delete individual contacts, tap on “Edit” and select the contacts you want to remove. Then, tap on the “Delete” button.
6. If you want to empty the entire trash folder, tap on the three-dot icon and choose “Empty” or “Delete all.” Confirm your decision when prompted.

How to Empty the Trash in Samsung Notes

The Samsung Notes app is a powerful tool for taking notes and organizing your thoughts on Samsung phones. Follow these steps to empty the trash in Samsung Notes:

1. Open the Samsung Notes app on your phone.
2. Tap on the three-bar icon or the three-dot icon to access the menu.
3. Look for the “Trash” or “Deleted Notes” option and tap on it.
4. You will see a list of deleted notes in the trash folder.
5. To delete individual notes, tap on “Edit” and select the notes you want to remove. Then, tap on the “Delete” button.
6. If you want to empty the entire trash folder, tap on the three-dot icon and choose “Empty” or “Delete all.” Confirm your decision when prompted.

How to Clear the Trash in Google Photos

If you use the Google Photos app on your Samsung phone, you should also clear the trash in Google Photos to free up storage space. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Launch the Google Photos app on your phone.
2. Tap on the “Library” tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Look for the “Trash” or “Bin” option and tap on it.
4. Inside the trash folder, you will find a list of deleted photos and videos.
5. To delete individual items, tap on “Select” or “Edit” and choose the files you want to remove. Then, tap on the “Delete” button.
6. If you want to empty the entire trash folder, tap on the three-dot icon and select “Empty trash.” Confirm your decision when prompted.

How to Empty Trash Files From All Apps at Once

While Samsung doesn’t offer a native option to clear trash files from all apps at once, you can still manage them efficiently. Follow these steps to clear trash files from different apps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung phone.
2. Navigate to the “Battery and device care” or “Device care” section.
3. Tap on the “Storage” or “Storage management” option.
4. Scroll down until you find the “Trash” or “Recycle Bin” section.
5. Tap on the apps listed under the trash section to access their respective trash folders.
6. Depending on the app, you may find an option to “Empty” or “Delete all” at the top of the screen. Tap on it to remove all items from the trash folder.
7. If there is no such option, tap on the three-dot icon or the “Edit” button to select individual files for deletion. Then, tap on the “Delete” button.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Clear Cache on Samsung Galaxy Phone of Any App?

To clear the cache of any app on your Samsung Galaxy phone, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Tap on “Apps” or “Applications” to view the list of installed apps.
3. Select the app you want to clear the cache for.
4. Tap on the “Storage” or “Storage and cache” option.
5. Tap on “Clear cache” to remove the temporary files stored by the app.

Clearing the cache can help free up storage space and improve the performance of the app.

How to Disable Trash in Samsung Apps?

If you prefer to permanently delete files instead of sending them to the trash folder, you can disable the trash feature in Samsung apps. Here’s how:

1. Open the settings for the specific Samsung app.
2. Look for the option related to the trash or recycle bin.
3. Toggle off the option to disable the trash feature.
4. Once disabled, deleted items will be permanently removed without being sent to the trash folder.

How to Fix Storage Not Increasing After Clearing Trash?

If you notice that your storage space doesn’t increase after clearing the trash, try the following steps:

1. Force close the app you cleared the trash for.
2. Restart your Samsung phone.
3. Check the available storage space again to see if it has increased.

Restarting your phone can help refresh the system and accurately reflect the changes in storage space.

Additional Tips to Free Up Storage Space

In addition to emptying the trash on your Samsung phone, there are several other ways to free up storage space and optimize your device’s performance. Here are some additional tips:

1. Uninstall unused apps: Go through your app list and uninstall any apps that you no longer use or need.
2. Clear app cache: Clear the cache of individual apps to remove temporary files and free up storage space.
3. Transfer files to an external storage device: If your Samsung phone supports expandable storage, consider transferring files like photos, videos, and documents to an SD card.
4. Use cloud storage: Upload your files to cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox to free up space on your device.
5. Delete unnecessary files: Regularly go through your files and delete any unnecessary documents, screenshots, or downloads.
6. Optimize storage settings: Enable features like “Smart Storage” or “Optimize Storage” in your device settings to automatically manage storage space.
7. Use streaming services: Instead of downloading music or videos, stream them directly from online services like Spotify or YouTube.

By following these additional tips, you can further enhance your Samsung phone’s storage management and ensure optimal performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, emptying the trash on your Samsung phone is a simple yet effective way to free up storage space and improve device performance. By regularly clearing the trash in apps like Gallery, Files, Messages, Contacts, Notes, and Google Photos, you can optimize your storage and avoid storage-related issues. Additionally, implementing other storage-saving practices can help you make the most of your Samsung phone’s storage capacity. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to enjoy a clutter-free and efficient smartphone experience.