Every Android handset out there has 6 main partitions, all of which are crucial to the device's well being and functionality. Without these things, your device will basically be useless. This guide will list and describe what those 6 partitions are and what is contained in them. Keep in mind that not all of these partitions are accessible with just a file explorer, if you want to make backups or view some of these partitions, you may have to take extreme and at times complicated measures to do so. Be sure to like if this guide taught you anything or helped you out. 
How can I view my device's partitions?
*Root access
*Any file explorer with a root explorer function built-in (such as ES file explorer)
The main partitions are...
/Boot (Is NOT viewable in Android)
/Recovery (Is NOT viewable in Android)
/Data (Userdata) (Is viewable in Android)
/Cache (Is viewable in Android)
/System (Is viewable in Android)
/Misc (Is NOT viewable in Android)
/Boot - The boot partition is a partition in your device that, as the name would suggest, allows your phone to boot, without this partition your phone would be a hard brick. This partition contains the ramdisk, kernel, and much more sensitive information of your phone's boot process. This partition SHOULD NOT BE WIPED OR ERASED unless it is 100% necessary. This partition is (sometimes) responsible for the first logo you see when your phone first turns on, and is also responsible for what you see when you shut your phone down and plug it in to an electrical source. This partition also contains the code that allows you to boot into recovery mode, download mode, and into Android. It is crucial not to modify this partition in any way, shape or form, unless you 100% need to. Doing so in the wrong way can & will put your device in a "permanent coma". If you do need to wipe this partition (if you even can), YOU MUST NOT REBOOT YOUR DEVICE!
/Recovery - This partition basically, as the name suggests, contains your phones recovery mode, which is made for you to perform certain recovery operations on your device. This partition can be modified without harming the well being of your device, however if modified incorrectly may hinder your chances of booting your device. If the recovery partition is modified incorrectly, your device will either just reboot into Android, or it will go into download mode, suggesting to you that you messed up and need stock recovery. You would only need to wipe this partition if your installing a custom recovery.
/Data - Often named "Userdata" instead of "Data" on some devices, this data basically contains all your data, and wiping this partition is basically performing a factory reset on your phone. All of your photos, videos, music, apps, etc are wiped. Modifying this partition incorrectly on some devices can/will put you in a boot loop. For example, if you copy an app from /system over to /data, or backwards, your device may not boot properly, and you may need to flash back to stock.
/Cache - This partition basically contains all of Androids temporary data, such as temporary configuration data, app data, etc. Wiping this partition will not harm the well being of your phone in any way, all it will do is remove all of the temp data. This data does rebuild overtime, as you cannot wipe the cache partition while booted into Android, as this may cause damage. Wiping this partition can only be done while booted into recovery mode.
/System - This partition contains the entire Android operating system. If you wipe this partition (via custom recovery) your device will still boot, but you will basically see a blank screen. Wiping this partition does not harm the well being of your device, because no boot or hardware configuration data is kept there. The only reason you would need to wipe this partition is if you are installing a custom operating system.
/Misc - This partition contains miscellaneous info about your device, such as hardware configuration info, usb configuration info, region/carrier id, and much more sensitive information, including the info that is needed for your phones wifi, bluetooth, and cell phone tower connection radios to function properly. This partition IS CRUCIAL for your device to function at all, as modifying or wiping this partition will either result in a half working phone, or a phone that doesn't work at all. I do NOT recommend messing with this partition unless it is 100% necessary, and even then I still probably wouldn't recommend it.
There are many other partitions in your Android device that I simply didn't have the time or effort to list and describe here, however, I will make the recommendation not to mess with any of your device's bootloader partitions, as doing this can (and sometimes will) brick your phone.
How can I view my device's partitions?
*Root access
*Any file explorer with a root explorer function built-in (such as ES file explorer)
The main partitions are...
/Boot (Is NOT viewable in Android)
/Recovery (Is NOT viewable in Android)
/Data (Userdata) (Is viewable in Android)
/Cache (Is viewable in Android)
/System (Is viewable in Android)
/Misc (Is NOT viewable in Android)
/Boot - The boot partition is a partition in your device that, as the name would suggest, allows your phone to boot, without this partition your phone would be a hard brick. This partition contains the ramdisk, kernel, and much more sensitive information of your phone's boot process. This partition SHOULD NOT BE WIPED OR ERASED unless it is 100% necessary. This partition is (sometimes) responsible for the first logo you see when your phone first turns on, and is also responsible for what you see when you shut your phone down and plug it in to an electrical source. This partition also contains the code that allows you to boot into recovery mode, download mode, and into Android. It is crucial not to modify this partition in any way, shape or form, unless you 100% need to. Doing so in the wrong way can & will put your device in a "permanent coma". If you do need to wipe this partition (if you even can), YOU MUST NOT REBOOT YOUR DEVICE!
/Recovery - This partition basically, as the name suggests, contains your phones recovery mode, which is made for you to perform certain recovery operations on your device. This partition can be modified without harming the well being of your device, however if modified incorrectly may hinder your chances of booting your device. If the recovery partition is modified incorrectly, your device will either just reboot into Android, or it will go into download mode, suggesting to you that you messed up and need stock recovery. You would only need to wipe this partition if your installing a custom recovery.
/Data - Often named "Userdata" instead of "Data" on some devices, this data basically contains all your data, and wiping this partition is basically performing a factory reset on your phone. All of your photos, videos, music, apps, etc are wiped. Modifying this partition incorrectly on some devices can/will put you in a boot loop. For example, if you copy an app from /system over to /data, or backwards, your device may not boot properly, and you may need to flash back to stock.
/Cache - This partition basically contains all of Androids temporary data, such as temporary configuration data, app data, etc. Wiping this partition will not harm the well being of your phone in any way, all it will do is remove all of the temp data. This data does rebuild overtime, as you cannot wipe the cache partition while booted into Android, as this may cause damage. Wiping this partition can only be done while booted into recovery mode.
/System - This partition contains the entire Android operating system. If you wipe this partition (via custom recovery) your device will still boot, but you will basically see a blank screen. Wiping this partition does not harm the well being of your device, because no boot or hardware configuration data is kept there. The only reason you would need to wipe this partition is if you are installing a custom operating system.
/Misc - This partition contains miscellaneous info about your device, such as hardware configuration info, usb configuration info, region/carrier id, and much more sensitive information, including the info that is needed for your phones wifi, bluetooth, and cell phone tower connection radios to function properly. This partition IS CRUCIAL for your device to function at all, as modifying or wiping this partition will either result in a half working phone, or a phone that doesn't work at all. I do NOT recommend messing with this partition unless it is 100% necessary, and even then I still probably wouldn't recommend it.
There are many other partitions in your Android device that I simply didn't have the time or effort to list and describe here, however, I will make the recommendation not to mess with any of your device's bootloader partitions, as doing this can (and sometimes will) brick your phone.
Last edited:
