Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to empty the trash on your Samsung phone. As smartphone users, we all accumulate a lot of unwanted and unnecessary files, such as deleted photos, videos, documents, and app data. These files take up valuable storage space, and it’s important to regularly clear them out to keep your Samsung phone running smoothly.
In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of emptying the trash on different Samsung phone models, including popular models like the Samsung Galaxy S21, S20, and Note 20. Whether you are a new Samsung phone user or a long-time owner, we have got you covered. By following our instructions, you will be able to reclaim precious storage space while maintaining the optimal performance of your Samsung phone.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in and learn how to empty the trash on your Samsung phone!
Inside This Article
- Method 1: Emptying Trash Using the Gallery App
- Method 2: Emptying Trash Using the Samsung Messages App
- Method 3: Emptying Trash Using the Samsung Email App
- Method 4: Emptying Trash Using the My Files App
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Method 1: Emptying Trash Using the Gallery App
If you have a Samsung phone and want to empty the trash, you can do so easily using the Gallery app. The Gallery app is a pre-installed application that allows you to view and manage your photos and videos. One of its features is the Trash folder, where deleted photos and videos are temporarily stored before being permanently deleted. To empty the trash on your Samsung phone, follow the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Accessing the Samsung Gallery App
To begin, locate the Gallery app on your Samsung phone. You can usually find it on the home screen or in the app drawer. Tap on the app icon to open it.
Step 2: Opening the Settings Menu
Once you have opened the Gallery app, look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the screen. Tap on it to open the Settings menu.
Step 3: Enabling the Trash Option
In the Settings menu, scroll down until you find the “Trash” option. Tap on it to access the trash settings. On this screen, you will see the option to enable the trash feature. Toggle the switch to turn it on.
Once the trash feature is enabled, all your deleted photos and videos will be moved to the Trash folder instead of getting permanently deleted.
Now that you have enabled the trash feature on your Samsung phone, you can proceed to delete items from the trash folder or set up automatic trash emptying. Follow the next sections to learn more.
Method 2: Emptying Trash Using the Samsung Messages App
If you’re looking to empty the trash on your Samsung phone specifically for messages, you can do so using the Samsung Messages app. Follow these steps to clear your message trash and free up space on your device.
1. Open the Samsung Messages app on your phone. You can usually find it on your home screen or in the app drawer.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu icon located at the top-right corner of the screen. This will open the settings menu for the Messages app.
3. From the drop-down menu, select “Settings” to access the various settings options for the app.
4. Scroll down and find the “General” section. Tap on it to expand the options.
5. Look for the “Storage” option and tap on it. This will bring you to the storage settings for the app.
6. In the storage settings, you will see an option called “Empty Trash.” Tap on it to proceed.
7. A confirmation message will appear, asking if you want to permanently delete all the messages in the trash. Review the message and tap “OK” to confirm the action.
8. The trash in your Samsung Messages app will now be emptied, and the deleted messages will be permanently removed from your device.
By following these steps, you can easily empty the trash in your Samsung Messages app and declutter your message inbox. It’s a quick and effective way to free up storage space on your device and keep your messages organized.
Method 3: Emptying Trash Using the Samsung Email App
If you use the Samsung Email app to manage your emails on your Samsung phone, you can also easily empty the trash folder within the app. Here’s how:
1. Open the Samsung Email app on your phone. You can usually find it in your app drawer or on your home screen.
2. Once you’re in the app, navigate to the menu or settings option. This can usually be found by tapping on the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner of the screen.
3. In the menu or settings, look for the option to access your email account settings. This may be labeled as “Manage Accounts,” “Account Settings,” or something similar.
4. After accessing your email account settings, you should see a list of options related to your account. Look for the option that says something like “Trash” or “Deleted Items.”
5. Tap on the “Trash” or “Deleted Items” option to view the items in your trash folder.
6. Once you’re in the trash folder, you can select the emails or items you want to permanently delete. You may have the option to select multiple items by tapping on them individually or using the select all option.
7. After selecting the emails or items, look for the delete or trash icon/button in the app. This is usually represented by a trash bin or a similar icon.
8. Tap on the delete or trash icon/button to permanently remove the selected emails or items from your trash folder.
9. You may be prompted to confirm the deletion. If so, follow the on-screen instructions to confirm and complete the process.
That’s it! You have successfully emptied the trash folder in the Samsung Email app on your Samsung phone. It’s always a good idea to regularly delete unwanted emails or items from your trash to free up storage space and keep your inbox organized.
Method 4: Emptying Trash Using the My Files App
If you prefer using the My Files app to manage and delete files on your Samsung phone, you can also empty the trash directly from this app. The My Files app gives you a convenient way to access and organize your files, including those in the trash folder.
Follow these steps to empty the trash using the My Files app:
- Open the My Files app on your Samsung phone. You can usually find it in the app drawer or on your home screen.
- In the My Files app, navigate to the location where the trash folder is located. By default, the trash folder is usually located in the Internal Storage or the SD Card storage.
- Open the trash folder and you will see a list of deleted files that are still in the trash.
- Select the files that you want to permanently delete by tapping on the checkboxes next to them. You can select multiple files at once if you want to delete them all.
- Once you’ve selected the files, tap on the delete button or the trash icon to permanently delete them from your phone.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted. Note that once you delete the files from the trash, they cannot be recovered.
By following these steps, you can effectively empty the trash using the My Files app on your Samsung phone. This process allows you to have full control over the files stored in the trash folder and ensures that they are permanently removed from your device.
Conclusion
Emptying the trash on your Samsung phone is a simple yet important task to keep your device organized and free up storage space. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily navigate to the trash folder on your Samsung phone and remove unwanted items from it. Remember to check the trash folder regularly to avoid accidentally deleting important files.
Additionally, optimizing your phone’s storage can improve its overall performance and ensure smooth operation. Consider regularly deleting unnecessary files, clearing app caches, and using cloud storage options to backup and store your data. By doing so, you can maintain a clutter-free phone and enjoy a seamless user experience.
So, take a few minutes now to empty your trash folder and enjoy a more organized and efficient Samsung phone. Keep your device running smoothly and make the most out of its storage capacity.
FAQs
1. How do I empty the trash on my Samsung phone?
To empty the trash on your Samsung phone, follow these steps:
– Open the Gallery app
– Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner
– Select “Trash”
– Tap “Empty” or “Empty Trash”
– Confirm the action if prompted
This will permanently delete all the photos and videos in your trash folder.
2. What happens when I empty the trash on my Samsung phone?
When you empty the trash on your Samsung phone, all the files stored in the trash folder will be permanently deleted. This means that you will not be able to recover them once they are emptied from the trash. Make sure to double-check the contents of the trash folder before emptying it to avoid any accidental deletions.
3. Can I recover deleted photos after emptying the trash on my Samsung phone?
Unfortunately, once you have emptied the trash on your Samsung phone, the deleted photos cannot be recovered using the built-in features. However, if you have enabled cloud backup or have a third-party data recovery tool installed, you may still have a chance to recover the deleted photos. It is recommended to regularly back up your important files to avoid any data loss.
4. Is there a way to automatically empty the trash on my Samsung phone?
Yes, you can set your Samsung phone to automatically empty the trash at regular intervals. To do this, follow these steps:
– Open the Gallery app
– Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner
– Go to “Settings”
– Select “Trash”
– Enable the option for “Auto delete”
– Choose the desired time interval (e.g., 15 days, 30 days)
Once this setting is enabled, any files in the trash folder that are older than the selected time interval will be automatically deleted.
5. Can I recover files from the trash on my Samsung phone if I change my mind?
Yes, if you have recently deleted files and haven’t emptied the trash yet, you can recover them from the trash folder on your Samsung phone. Simply follow these steps:
– Open the Gallery app
– Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner
– Select “Trash”
– Tap and hold on the file you want to recover
– Select “Restore” or “Recover”
The file will be restored to its original location on your phone.