Find & delete files on Android (2024)

On your phone, you can usually find your files in the Files app Find & delete files on Android (1). If you can't find the Files app, your device manufacturer might have a different app. Learn how to get help for your specific device.

Important:

Find & open files

  1. Open your device's Files app Find & delete files on Android (2). Learn where to find your apps.
  2. Your file categorieswill show.
  3. To sort by name, date, or size, tap a file category Find & delete files on Android (3) More Find & delete files on Android (4) Find & delete files on Android (5) Sort by.
  4. To open a file, tap it.

Delete files

  1. Open your device's Files app Find & delete files on Android (6).
  2. Tap a category Find & delete files on Android (7) a file.
  3. Tap Delete Find & delete files on Android (8) Find & delete files on Android (9) Move 1 file to Trash.

Share, print, save to Drive & more

Sharefiles

  1. Touch and hold the file.
  2. Tap Share Find & delete files on Android (10).

Do other actions, like printing or adding to Google Drive

  1. To open a file, tapit.
  2. Search for options. If needed, tap More Find & delete files on Android (11).

Find music, movies & other content

You can download files like music, movies, or books in various apps. To find that content, go to the app where you downloaded it. For example,learn how to find videos downloaded in the Google Play Movies & TV app.

Transferfiles to a computer

When you connect your device to a computer by USB cable, open the computer's "Downloads" folder to find the files that are on your device. Learn how to move files between your computer and your phone.

Get to know your Android phone

Learn how to use your Android device and get the most out of Google. Get step-by-step guides and instructional videos on how to set up your phone, customize your settings, and use apps.

Find & delete files on Android (2024)

FAQs

Find & delete files on Android? ›

You can restore recently deleted photos and videos that are still in your trash. Items that are permanently deleted can't be restored. Backed up photos and videos stay in your trash for 60 days. Photos and videos that weren't backed up stay in your trash for 30 days.

Where is my Delete file on Android? ›

Here is how to retrieve deleted files on your Android phone:
  1. Open the app in which you have deleted files (Gallery, My Files, Messages and so forth).
  2. Find and tap on three-vertical-dots ︙ or three-horizontal-lines ☰.
  3. Select 'Recycle Bin'.
  4. Tap 'Edit'.
  5. Select the file you want to retrieve and tap 'Restore'.

Where do I find my files on Android phone? ›

View your files
  1. On your Android device, open Files by Google .
  2. Tap a category. You'll see files from that category in a list.
  3. To change how the files display, tap Grid view . To go back to a list, tap List view .
  4. Optional: To sort your files, on the top right, tap More . Select Sort by.

How to clear files on Android phone? ›

Clear your junk files
  1. On your Android device, open Files by Google .
  2. Tap Menu Clean .
  3. On the "Junk files" card, tap Clean xx MB.
  4. On the confirmation dialog, tap Clear.

Is there a recently deleted file on Android? ›

You can restore recently deleted photos and videos that are still in your trash. Items that are permanently deleted can't be restored. Backed up photos and videos stay in your trash for 60 days. Photos and videos that weren't backed up stay in your trash for 30 days.

Where are deleted files located? ›

Check the Recycle Bin

On almost all computer systems, once a file has been deleted this is the place it will end up next. With a quick search in the Bin, your wayward file can easily be selected and restored to its original folder as long as you have not emptied it.

How do I find My Files on my Samsung Android? ›

To find the My Files folder, search using the app search or in the default Samsung folder on your apps screen. My Files sorts your files into categories, such as Images, Videos, Audio and Downloads. If you have recently downloaded a file and are trying to locate it, tap "Downloads" to access or delete the file.

Can I delete files in Android folder? ›

Tap the more (three dot) icon next to the file or folder. Tap Delete. You are prompted to confirm. Confirm the deletion.

Is it good to clear the cache on Android? ›

Clearing the cache on your Android phone can improve performance, fix app problems, and free up storage space. Cache is a temporary storage space that apps use to store data they need to access quickly. To clear the cache, go to Settings > Apps > select the app > Storage > Clear Cache.

How do I remove unwanted files? ›

To delete temporary files:
  1. In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, and select Disk Cleanup from the list of results.
  2. Select the drive you want to clean up, and then select OK.
  3. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of. To get a description of the file type, select it.
  4. Select OK.

Does Android have a built-in file manager? ›

Most manufacturers ship their Android devices with a built-in file manager these days, but it's usually just a bare-bones application that's not suitable for power users who deal with a large amount of data. Thankfully, there are a lot of third-party file managers on the Google Play Store that can get the job done.

Where do I open file manager? ›

Like many of the finer things in life, File Explorer has gotten better with age. To check it out in Windows 10, select its icon on the taskbar or the Start menu, or press the Windows logo key + E on your keyboard.

How to recover deleted folders in Android? ›

Download and run Android Data Recovery
  1. Android 2.3 or earlier:
  2. Step 1: Go to Settings and click on Applications.
  3. Step 2: Then tap on Development and then check "USB debugging"
  4. Android 3.0 to 4.1:
  5. Step 1: Enter Settings.
  6. Step 2: Click on Developer options.
  7. Step 3: Then Check "USB debugging"
  8. Android 4.2 or newer:

Where do deleted files go after the Recycle Bin? ›

Once purged from the Recycle Bin, the deleted files are rendered inaccessible through Windows File Explorer but are still stored on the storage device they were deleted from. They are then allowed to be overwritten by new data.

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