topic Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section.... in Tech Talk

Explained: 'Other' in Analyze Storage....

TheMystic — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 06:52:01 GMT

In this post, I'll explain what makes up 'Others' in the Disk Storage Analysis feature of the stock My Files app:

Images, Videos, Audio files, Documents, Compressed Files and Recycle Bin are self explanatory.

Installation files is space occupied by apps saved in .apk format. You may have downloaded these or backed them up from the installed apps.

Apps show the space occupied by apps actually installed on your device. This includes app data AND app cache.

System is space occupied by Operating System, Updates, and other System Files.

Secure Folder and Work Profile show the space occupied by these profiles in your system.

Now we are left with the most misunderstood part - 'Others'.

As you can see, the 'Others' section in my phone is currently occupying about 43 GB.

These are files that are not classified in any of the remaining categories like images, videos, music, documents, installed apps, etc.

Obviously, most of these aren't temp files or cache. A bit of these could be temporary files, but they are a very small minority. Likewise, Secure Folder and Work Profile have their own classification, so files from these profiles too aren't included.

In my case, files ending in .apks and .xapk (Split APKs), .jar (ROMs downloaded) and a couple of other formats comprise this section. These are files I keep as a backup. Ideally, .apks and .xapk must be included under Installation Files.

If you download Software for other Operating Systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, etc., then those too are included in this section, depending on the extension of those files (.zip is counted under Compressed Files).

If you use a music or video streaming service, and you download files for offline use, then depending on how those services encrypt the downloaded files, these MAY BE included in 'Others' because encrypted files do not fall under any of the remaining categories. Or they could be counted under 'Apps'. You don't want to delete these as they would be required for offline use.

OTHER POTENTIAL CANDIDATES

1. Space allocated to RAM Plus.

2. Android data and obb folders. Ideally, they must be counted under 'Apps', but i wouldn't be surprised if they are counted under 'Others' since the My Files app doesn't have access to these folders currently.

SUMMARY

In short, files in 'Others' are largely useful files, and that's why there is no method offered to blindly delete them.

That said, they should be offering a way to see the files that make up this category, along with the location of those files, and the ability to delete them, if they are user created (not app or system created).

At the moment, the space shown under 'Others' is a mathematical calculation (total space used minus sum of all the remaining categories), and so the app is unable to provide the composition of this category.

Install one of the following apps:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobile_infographics_tools.mydrive

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cls.partition

They will show you what comprises 'Others'.

Hope this helps.

Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

Anonymous — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:25:21 GMT

Ok!

Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

mHappiee — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:44:28 GMT

Hmmmmmm....
.
Noice info 👍

Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

Anonymous — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:50:44 GMT

Ye bhi add kar lo bro
Default file manager Android folder me data wale folder ko access nahi kar sakta hai
Usme bhi data hoga
Jo ye show nahi karta

Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

TheMystic — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:07:58 GMT

That should be counted under 'Apps'.

But i will edit the OP for this possibility too. 😀

Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

Anonymous — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:55:16 GMT

Oh 🤔

Aur ram plus ka kya ?

Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

srplive — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:56:26 GMT

Well explained

Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

TheMystic — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:57:15 GMT

Good point. I'm not sure, but i guess it is counted under 'System'.

Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

TheMystic — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:58:15 GMT

Thank you. 🙂

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

Anonymous — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:59:18 GMT

Nah .. ram plus aane se phle bhi mere me system ka size utna hi tha 🤔

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

TheMystic — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:03:15 GMT

OP edited. Thanks.

But someone must tell me why my System is taking up 50 GB. 😀 (hope you remember our earlier conversation).

Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

IcyJay30 — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:24:59 GMT

Have you turned off 'usage access' to files, cause some apps are also counted in others when its off
And i think ota updates are also included in this

Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section....

TheMystic — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:10:27 GMT

Usage Access is turned ON.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section...

mHappiee — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:10:36 GMT

Ram Plus does not effect 🤔

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage sect..

mHappiee — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:11:15 GMT

Before

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage sect..

mHappiee — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:11:35 GMT

After

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section...

mHappiee — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:12:33 GMT

Before Ram Plus

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage section...

mHappiee — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:13:30 GMT

After Ram Plus deployed

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage sect..

TheMystic — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:14:28 GMT

I too think it should be counted under 'System'. That's why it is mentioned as a potential candidate in the OP since he says it isn't counted under 'System' in his case.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Explaining the 'Other' in Analyze Storage sect..

mHappiee — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:16:08 GMT