Keeping rails of media and other files on your Android device can be catchy. You may have downloaded something from the web, social media apps or email and it doesn't appear in the Downloads folder.

Similarly, if y'all've non disabled the auto-download feature on your device, some files will even so be downloaded to your device without your knowledge. Plus, deleted files likewise remain in storage until they're overwritten with new data or yous format your device.

All these together make information technology harder to put all your downloaded files together and delete what yous don't need.

This guide explains the dissimilar options you take to delete downloads on Android.

3 Ways to Delete Downloads on Android

At that place are several options to help you delete downloads on Android devices including using a USB cablevision to view your files on a laptop and manually deleting the files. Alternatively, you can use the native My Files app on your device, or install a tertiary-political party app to help y'all select the files yous want and permanently delete them from your device.

Note: Before deleting your files, make sure you back them up to your preferred cloud storage or external difficult drive just in instance you accidentally delete an important file or retention.

How to Delete Downloads on Android Telephone Using a USB Cable

Yous can delete downloads on your Android device if y'all accept a USB cable and laptop.

  1. To practise this, become the USB cable that came with your Android phone and utilise it to connect the device to a computer.
  1. The computer will detect your phone and a new File Explorer window volition appear. Select your device from the list of continued devices, and go to the folder that contains the files you want to delete.

How to Delete Android File Downloads via My Files App

You tin also delete downloads individually from dissimilar folders on your Android device. These folders include media file downloads from social media apps similar Facebook or Twitter, cloud storage and from your SD card if bachelor.

  1. To do this, open the My Files (or Files) app on your device.
  1. Next, tap the Downloads folder. Here, you lot'll discover all your general downloads, but it would take longer to find the exact files you want to delete, especially if yous don't know the file name or type of file.
  1. Once you detect the file or files you desire to delete, select the file and and so select Delete (trash icon) at the lesser of your screen.

Annotation: If yous want to delete all files from the Downloads binder, press and hold one file and and then tap the circle at the top left side of your screen to select All files.

  1. Tap Delete and so tap Delete over again to ostend your action.

How to Delete Media File Downloads on Android

If y'all just want to delete a video or all video downloads from your Android device, open My Files app and select Images, Videos or Audio category. Either of these folders will incorporate all the prototype, video or music downloads in your device and you can select individual files or all files for deletion.

  1. If you select the Images folder, y'all'll find all image downloads including Screenshots, social media image downloads, and other image files saved on your device.
  1. The Videos folder contains videos downloaded from social media including GIFs and videos you lot recorded using your device's camera.
  1. The Audio folder contains all audio files downloaded or saved on your device including any phone telephone call recordings, music, notification ringtones and external audio files.

How to Delete Certificate Downloads on Android

The Documents folder on your device contains all the documents you may have saved or downloaded from your electronic mail, social media apps, and other sources.

  1. To delete certificate downloads, go to My Files and tap the Documents folder. Here, you'll observe all the documents on your device in different file formats such as Word or PDF documents, and more than.
  1. Printing and concord the certificate download you want to delete, tap Delete and and then confirm the action by tapping Delete once again. To delete all certificate downloads, press and concord ane of the files, select All at the top left side then tap Delete.

Tertiary-party Apps You Can Utilise to Delete Downloads on Android

You lot can also permanently delete data from your Android device'south storage using a tertiary-party deletion app. One such app is the File Shredder, which works by deleting the files you select and and then overrides the data with random data to go rid of the files completely.

You tin can besides apply an app like Secure Delete to delete private files forever, especially if y'all intend to dispose of or sell your device.

Permanently Delete Downloads From Your Device

Deleting data from your phone or tablet is a great way to redeem your precious storage space and go rid of clutter that would otherwise touch your device'south performance.

The best mode to delete unwanted downloads is by using a USB cable and deleting them manually from a computer as the files will go directly to the Recycle Bin. Yet, if you don't want to leave whatever trace of such files, you lot can delete them directly on your device.

Were y'all able to delete downloads on your Android device using whatever of these steps? Share your experience with us in a comment.