Cache cleaning question SM-G935F

wissaib · Feb 14, 2020

Hi everybody. I have a question regarding what I think relates to cache cleaning of my Galaxy S7 Edge SM-G935F.

From time to time I empty the cache of my device either directly from the settings, or by using the AppMgr Pro III application. Both of them give similar results.

I notice how over time the available space in the internal memory starts to slowly decrease. I understand that probably it has mostly to do with application updates, considering that all my videos and photos taken with the camera go to the SD card, and I never store non essential files in the internal memory.

Every few months my phone operator releases a few system updates for the phone. Most of the time they are small and do not bring any noticeable change. However, after every time that I apply one of them I see that the available space in the internal memory increases greatly, I can easily gain 1 GB with an update.

All of this makes me wonder, if there is any folder that is slowly filling up with garbage, which is outside of the reach of even the built in cache cleaner, and is cleaned only when applying a system update.

If such folder exists, is there any way to clean it by myself without needing to wait a few months for an Android update? Currently I'm running Android 8 with only official updates.

It is also important to mention that the same happens with my Galaxy Tab S2 SM-T710, which runs Android 7, also with only official updates.

Thanks in advance

svim · Feb 14, 2020

Both your S7 Edge and Tab 2 will have two different 'cache' situations. One is the system cache and the other are your app caches.
The system cache is used by the Android operating itself and resides in its own dedicated system partition so you don't interact with it directly. You need to boot your devices into their Recovery Mode and use the text-only interface to wipe the system cache.
The individual app caches, what you're apparently referring to, are what you are deleting when using the Settings menu option. All your apps use their own caches as temporary working files so even when you delete them, each app will just have to rebuild its missing cache again. Generally the contents of those caches 'recycle' themselves, getting added and deleted as needed by the app.
Also keep in mind that any cache (system or app) is temporary matter, that doesn't retain any vital data like saved account or password, or settings configuration data. So deleting them doesn't affect you or your files and things you need to be saved. Caches are also not that sizable, relatively speaking, so you're not going to gain a lot of storage space by constantly deleting them. Again, every time you use an app it will just have to rebuild its missing cache anyway. Deleting an app's cache is a task to try when an app might be misbehaving, but doing it just a save a little storage space is just going to be a temporary measure.

wissaib · Feb 14, 2020

svim said:
Both your S7 Edge and Tab 2 will have two different 'cache' situations. One is the system cache and the other are your app caches.
The system cache is used by the Android operating itself and resides in its own dedicated system partition so you don't interact with it directly. You need to boot your devices into their Recovery Mode and use the text-only interface to wipe the system cache.
The individual app caches, what you're apparently referring to, are what you are deleting when using the Settings menu option. All your apps use their own caches as temporary working files so even when you delete them, each app will just have to rebuild its missing cache again. Generally the contents of those caches 'recycle' themselves, getting added and deleted as needed by the app.
Also keep in mind that any cache (system or app) is temporary matter, that doesn't retain any vital data like saved account or password, or settings configuration data. So deleting them doesn't affect you or your files and things you need to be saved. Caches are also not that sizable, relatively speaking, so you're not going to gain a lot of storage space by constantly deleting them. Again, every time you use an app it will just have to rebuild its missing cache anyway. Deleting an app's cache is a task to try when an app might be misbehaving, but doing it just a save a little storage space is just going to be a temporary measure.

I understand. Thank you for the answer.

This means that after applying an Android update, this Android cache is cleaned, and therefore, I have more free space available, am I correct?

svim · Feb 14, 2020

The internal storage in your two devices are divided into several partitions. Most of them are system partitions and are dedicated solely to the operating system, with a big one being set aside as the user data partition. The system partitions are for the most part inaccessible by you, the user, so what pertains to the operating system (updates and upgrades) is a separate issue when it comes to free storage space in that user data partition where all your apps, files, data, reside. Those system-level partitions do take up space in your internal storage but you don't really have a lot to do with that. You do have complete control over what's going in your user data partition.
And just in case you're thinking of upgrading to a new device in the near future, Android's partition scheme has been altering since Oreo so things like the system cache partition are being phased out of use, but as far as doing a task like wiping an app's cache (or all the apps caches at once via the Settings menu) that's still the same.

wissaib · Feb 15, 2020

svim said:
The internal storage in your two devices are divided into several partitions. Most of them are system partitions and are dedicated solely to the operating system, with a big one being set aside as the user data partition. The system partitions are for the most part inaccessible by you, the user, so what pertains to the operating system (updates and upgrades) is a separate issue when it comes to free storage space in that user data partition where all your apps, files, data, reside. Those system-level partitions do take up space in your internal storage but you don't really have a lot to do with that. You do have complete control over what's going in your user data partition.
And just in case you're thinking of upgrading to a new device in the near future, Android's partition scheme has been altering since Oreo so things like the system cache partition are being phased out of use, but as far as doing a task like wiping an app's cache (or all the apps caches at once via the Settings menu) that's still the same.

Thank you for the answer.

Then, what is the reason for which I gain sometimes even 1 gb of free space after making a system update, even if it's a small one?

svim · Feb 15, 2020

Wouldn't be able to answer that without being able to actually look at your phone before and after the update. Hopefully someone with more knowledge and first-hand experience on this 1GB gain issue will chime in with a less vague answer.

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