How to Empty the Recycle Bin on Google Pixel 4 XL

In the usual sense, there is no recycle bin on Android. Downloaded files, applications, and the like are deleted forever. The only analog of the recycle bin is a special function available in the «Gallery». It is disabled by default, but if you enable it at some point, you will sooner or later notice that the memory on your device is running low. This happens because all deleted photos and videos are saved on the smartphone and continue to take up space. To solve this problem, you need to clean the recycle bin in Google Pixel 4 XL.

Where to find the recycle bin

As already noted, it exists only within the Gallery application. By default, it is disabled, and to enable it, you need to synchronize your data with the cloud services of the manufacturer. It works like this:

1. Photos are initially stored only on your device.
2. As soon as you synchronize data with cloud services, photos begin to be stored in two places: on your device and the company’s servers.
3. If you delete photos from your device, they will remain on your device in compressed form, plus they will be stored in their original version on the servers.
4. If you decide to restore photos, the photos will be downloaded from the company’s servers to your smartphone.

It sounds complicated, but it works simply for users. Also, note that this feature is not available on all devices. This is offered by Chinese smartphone manufacturers - Xiaomi, and Huawei (Honor). And for the first time, this function appeared with Apple with their Apple ID. If it is enabled on your device, then there should be a «Recently Deleted» folder in the «Gallery».

Clean the recycle bin in Google Pixel 4 XL

Follow the instructions:

1. Open «Gallery».

2. Go to «Recently Deleted».
3. Select the file(s) you want to delete. If you want to delete everything, click on the trash can icon.
4. Click «Delete».

If you suddenly need deleted files, we recommend using recovery tools. There are several free programs on Google Play for smartphones, but we recommend using paid versions of computer software, like Aomei.

Is there a system recycling bin

If you have looked at how to empty the Recycle Bin on other sites, then you will have come across the phrase «System Recycle Bin» in the comments to the articles. According to commentators, this is a folder that is an analog of the Windows Recycle Bin. Such a folder does not exist in Android! However, not everything is so simple.

The fact is that many manufacturers offer access to files through special applications - file managers, analogs of «Explorer» from Windows. Usually, they call these applications «Files». If you don't have something like this, you can always download something similar from Google Play. And already in these apps, there is a recycle bin, where deleted files are stored for 15 to 30 days.

To clear it:

1. Open your file manager. It may be called «Files», «Explorer», «File Manager», «Folders» and the like.
2. Go to the «Overview» tab.
3. Go to «Recently Deleted».
4. Select the file(s) you want to delete. If you want to delete everything at once, click on the trash can icon.
5. Confirm deleting files.

Note that files will only be deleted to «Recently Deleted» if you have specified that they should be sent to this folder. If you were not given such a choice when deleting files, the files are deleted permanently and cannot be recovered.

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