Keeping track of media and other files on your Android device can be tricky. You may take 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 machine-download characteristic on your device, some files will still exist downloaded to your device without your knowledge. Plus, deleted files also remain in storage until they're overwritten with new information or you format your device.

All these together make it harder to put all your downloaded files together and delete what y'all don't need.

This guide explains the unlike options you have to delete downloads on Android.

3 Ways to Delete Downloads on Android

There are several options to help you delete downloads on Android devices including using a USB cable to view your files on a laptop and manually deleting the files. Alternatively, you lot tin can utilize the native My Files app on your device, or install a third-party app to assist you select the files you want and permanently delete them from your device.

Note: Before deleting your files, make certain you back them up to your preferred cloud storage or external hard bulldoze just in case you accidentally delete an of import file or memory.

How to Delete Downloads on Android Telephone Using a USB Cable

You tin delete downloads on your Android device if you have a USB cable and laptop.

  1. To do this, get the USB cablevision that came with your Android phone and use it to connect the device to a estimator.
  1. The computer volition detect your phone and a new File Explorer window will appear. Select your device from the list of continued devices, and go to the folder that contains the files y'all want to delete.

How to Delete Android File Downloads via My Files App

You lot can as well delete downloads individually from different folders on your Android device. These folders include media file downloads from social media apps like Facebook or Twitter, cloud storage and from your SD carte if bachelor.

  1. To do this, open the My Files (or Files) app on your device.
  1. Adjacent, tap the Downloads folder. Here, you'll find all your general downloads, but it would take longer to notice the verbal files you want to delete, especially if you lot don't know the file proper name or type of file.
  1. Once you observe the file or files y'all want to delete, select the file and then select Delete (trash icon) at the bottom of your screen.

Note: If yous want to delete all files from the Downloads binder, press and hold 1 file and then tap the circle at the acme left side of your screen to select All files.

  1. Tap Delete and and then tap Delete again to confirm your action.

How to Delete Media File Downloads on Android

If yous only 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 contain all the image, video or music downloads in your device and yous tin can select individual files or all files for deletion.

  1. If you select the Images folder, you'll notice all prototype downloads including Screenshots, social media image downloads, and other prototype 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 photographic 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 Document Downloads on Android

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

  1. To delete document downloads, go to My Files and tap the Documents folder. Here, you'll discover all the documents on your device in unlike file formats such as Word or PDF documents, and more.
  1. Press and concord the document download you lot want to delete, tap Delete and then ostend the action past borer Delete once more. To delete all document downloads, press and concord one of the files, select All at the elevation left side then tap Delete.

Third-party Apps You Can Utilize to Delete Downloads on Android

Y'all can also permanently delete data from your Android device's storage using a third-party deletion app. One such app is the File Shredder, which works by deleting the files yous select and then overrides the data with random data to get rid of the files completely.

You can as well utilize an app similar Secure Delete to delete private files forever, specially if y'all intend to dispose of or sell your device.

Permanently Delete Downloads From Your Device

Deleting information from your phone or tablet is a great style to redeem your precious storage space and go rid of clutter that would otherwise affect your device's functioning.

The best way to delete unwanted downloads is by using a USB cable and deleting them manually from a computer as the files will go direct to the Recycle Bin. However, if you don't want to get out whatsoever trace of such files, you can delete them straight 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.