2 Ways to Find the Trash Folder on Android

Quick Tips

• Most apps have a dedicated trash folder or recycle bin that will store items for up to 30 days from the date of deletion.
• You can select all the items from the dedicated app and delete them permanently from your Android phone.
• Certain native apps might not have a dedicated trash folder or recycle bin on Android.

Method 1: Find Trash on Android Using the Gallery/Photos App

Even if you delete some photos stored on your device’s phone app, they might still be available in the trash folder. In this case, here’s how to find and delete these photos on your Android device.

I. Using the Phone Gallery

Note: We’re using the phone gallery of a Samsung Galaxy device for demonstration. The process for finding trash on your device’s phone gallery might differ slightly.

Step 1: Open your device’s phone gallery and tap on the hamburger icon. Then, tap on Recycle bin.

Step 2: Here, select all the items you want to delete. Once done, tap on Delete all. Tap on Delete to confirm.

II. Using the Photos App

Step 1: Open the Google Photos app and tap on Library at the bottom right corner. Here, tap on Bin.

Step 2: To clear the trash, long-press and select the items to clear. Then, tap on Delete and tap on Delete permanently.

This will delete all the items from Google Photo’s trash folder.

Tip: Your deleted text messages might also be stored in the relevant recycle bin. In this case, you can recover these deleted text messages or delete them permanently from your Android device.

Method 2: Use the File App to Find Trash

There can be times when the files you have deleted will still be available on your Android device. To stop that, let’s look at how to find and empty trash on the Files by Google app and Samsung’s My Files app.

Tip: You can also use certain third-party apps to find large files on Android and delete them accordingly.

I. Via Files by Google App

Step 1: Open the Google Files app and tap on the hamburger icon at the top-left corner. Here, tap on Trash.

Step 2: Once the trash folder opens, tap on All items. Then, tap on Delete. Again, tap on Delete to confirm.

II. Using My Files App on Samsung

Step 1: Open the My Files app and tap on Recycle bin. Then, tap on the three-dot icon at the top-right corner.

Step 2: Here, tap on Empty. Then, tap on Delete.

This will instantly delete the selected files. Once deleted, these files cannot be recovered on your Android device.