Guide

How to Clean Up Your Android Photo Gallery

By Aleksandrs Vozņarskis, developer of Picmori

Last updated: October 29, 2026 · 7 steps · ~30 minutes

Short answer: back up, then open Files by Google → Clean and clear the Duplicate files and Old screenshots cards. Review your biggest videos, then empty the trash in every app you used.

That clears most of the clutter on any Android phone, Samsung included: duplicates, screenshots, blurry shots and large videos. Menu names differ a little between phone makers; the steps below are the same.

On an iPhone? Read the iPhone version of this guide.

Back up first: On Android, not every deletion goes to a trash folder. Google Photos and Files by Google keep deleted items for a while, but some cleaner apps, Picmori included, delete permanently after you confirm. Do step 2 before you delete anything in bulk.

Step 1: Check what's using your storage

Step 1: Android Settings, Storage with Images and Videos marked — **Settings → Storage**. Images and Videos near the top? This guide wins back real space.

Step 2: Back up before deleting

Google Photos: profile picture → backup on, wait until it says done.
Computer: USB cable, File transfer, copy DCIM and Pictures.

Deleting inside Google Photos removes the backup too. Only the copy on a computer is separate.

Step 3: Remove exact duplicates

Files by Google → Menu → Clean → Duplicate files → Select files.
Keep the one marked Original, move the rest to Trash.

Picmori board with three similar shots side by side, one kept and two marked Will be deleted — Bursts aren't exact copies. Picmori opens them side by side, one marked to keep. More: duplicates on Android.

Step 4: Delete old screenshots

Step 4: Google Photos on Android with the Screenshots folder marked — Google Photos keeps them in a **Screenshots** folder: open it, touch and hold to select, delete.

Files by Google shows an Old screenshots card in the same Clean tab.

Step 5: Clear out blurry and failed shots

Files by Google may suggest low-quality photos in its Clean tab. Otherwise it's a pass of your own: a failed shot rarely comes alone, and Picmori's side-by-side board above helps with those series.

Step 6: Review large videos

One long video can outweigh a thousand photos. The Large files card in Files by Google lists the heaviest first. Want to keep one? Copy it to a computer first.

Step 7: Empty the trash

Step 7: Google Photos Trash with Empty trash marked in the More menu — Google Photos: **Collections → Trash → More → Empty trash**.

Files by Google: Menu → Trash → Delete.
Samsung Gallery: its own Recycle bin in the menu.

Photos Picmori deletes on Android skip the trash: gone after you confirm. That's why step 2 matters.

Keeping it clean

A one-time cleanup decays in a few months. A few minutes with your newest photos every day keeps it clean.

Picmori adventure map: each chapter on the road is a session of 25 photos — Picmori makes it a game: each chapter on its map is a session of 25 photos, and your profile keeps your streak.

TL;DR: Back up, remove duplicates (Files by Google → Clean → Duplicate files), delete old screenshots, clear out blurry shots, delete or offload large videos, then empty the trash in every app you used. Keep it clean with a small daily habit.

Clean up with Mori

Picmori turns sorting your gallery into an adventure: swipe to keep or delete, walk the map, open chests. Free for iPhone and Android.

Download on theApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play

Nothing is deleted until you confirm. Your photos never leave your phone.

On a computer? Point your phone's camera here to get Picmori.