Managing files and data on a smartphone is essential to ensure its proper functioning, and one often overlooked aspect is managing the trash. Like on a computer, deleted items on a phone are often sent to the trash before being permanently erased. This allows for the recovery of accidentally deleted files but can also lead to unnecessary data accumulation that takes up storage space. In this article, we will explore the steps to empty the trash on your Oppo phone to free up space and optimize your device’s performance.
Understanding how the trash works on an Oppo phone
The trash system on Oppo phones works similarly to that of a computer. When you delete a file (photo, video, document, etc.), it does not immediately disappear from the phone. Instead, it is moved to a temporary folder called “trash”. This feature allows for the recovery of files deleted by mistake.
However, since these files remain stored in the trash, they continue to take up space on your device. That’s why it’s important to regularly empty the trash to free up storage space and optimize the phone’s performance.
Emptying the trash in the Oppo Photos app
On an Oppo phone, deleted photos are first sent to a specific trash folder in the Photos app. Here’s how to empty this folder and free up storage space:
- Open the Photos app: Launch the native Photos app on your phone.
- Access the trash: At the bottom of the screen, you will see the “Library” option. Tap on it, then look for the “Trash” or “Recently Deleted Items” section.
- Select files to permanently delete: In this section, you will find all recently deleted photos and videos. You can either select them individually to delete them or click on the “Empty Trash” or “Permanently Delete” option to erase everything at once.
- Confirm deletion: You will be prompted to confirm that you want to permanently delete the files. Once confirmed, the files will be erased and can no longer be recovered.
Emptying the trash in the Oppo Files app
If you have deleted documents or other types of files on your Oppo phone, they may be sent to the trash in the Files app. Here are the steps to empty it:
- Access the Files app: Open the Files app on your device.
- Open the Trash section: On the Files app interface, look for the “Trash” option in the menu or settings. This contains all the deleted files.
- Permanently delete: You can now choose to delete the files one by one or completely empty the trash using the corresponding option.
- Confirm deletion: As with photos, you will need to confirm the deletion of the files, which will result in their permanent removal from your phone.
Emptying the trash of your third-party apps
Some third-party apps, such as file managers, messaging apps, or cloud apps, also create internal trash bins. For example, files deleted in WhatsApp or Google Drive may also be sent to temporary folders before being permanently deleted. Here are some tips for emptying these trash bins:
- WhatsApp: If you delete a media file in WhatsApp, it is placed in the app’s trash. To empty this trash, go to Settings > Storage and Data > Manage Storage. There you will find the option to permanently delete the deleted files.
- Google Drive: If you use Google Drive to back up your files, deleted items end up in Drive’s trash. To empty it, open Google Drive, go to the “Trash” section, then select “Empty Trash”.
