Erasing downloads on your Android device can help you save a lot of space. Most of the things you download aren’t necessary after a while and only take-up valuable storage space.
There are various ways you can delete all or part of your downloaded content. In this article, you’ll learn how to:
- Delete your Android download history without a third-party app
- Clear your Android download history on Chrome
- Erase your download history on Opera (Android)
- Delete your download history on Firefox for Android
- Uninstall downloaded apps
Delete Your Android Download History Without a Third-Party App
Done with Android Oreo
Open your device’s app drawer and look for an app called My Files or Files. If you’re having trouble finding it, it may be sitting in a folder called Tools.
If you’re using Android version Oreo, you’ll need to:
- Open the Files app
- Tap on the three vertical lines to open the side menu
- Choose the Downloads menu item
- Long-press on the downloaded files that you want to delete until you see a check-mark appear
- Tap on the Remove option at the top or the trash icon if you’re using Android Oreo
- To clear your entire download history
- Tap on the More option at the top right
- Tap on Select all
- Choose the trash icon
How to Clear the Android Download History on Chrome
Some of the files that you downloaded may still be stored in your browser’s history. To delete your browser download history in Chrome, follow the steps below.
- Open Chrome
- Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right to open the menu
- Tap on Downloads to see a list of the downloaded files
- Long-press on the files that you want to erase
- Tap on the trash icon to delete the downloaded files
Erase Your Download History on Opera for Android
For Opera users, finding your downloaded files is also an easy task. All you need to do is go to:
- Open the Opera browser on your Android device
- Tap on the red Opera symbol at the bottom right, then on Downloads to see a list of the downloaded files
- Choose the three vertical dots at the top right to open a menu, then tap on Select in that menu
- Tap on the three dots once more (top right), later on, Select all, and finally on the trash icon to delete your entire download history in Opera on Android.
If erasing your entire download history and files was an accident, not to worry. Opera will allow you to undo that action for a few seconds immediately after deleting something.
How to Erase Your Download History on Firefox on Android
It’s also easy for Firefox users to delete their download history and downloaded files as well.
- Open Firefox and go to Settings
- Tap on Clear private data
- Make sure the Downloads option is checked, then tap on Clear Data at the bottom right
- Steps to get to Downloads in Firefox
How to Uninstall Downloaded Apps
Sometimes, you’ll find that an app you downloaded does not live up to your expectations, and you want to delete it. If the app was free, all you have to do is uninstall it.
There are different ways to uninstall an app, for example, you can drag and drop to uninstall an Android app. To do this:
- Open the app drawer
- long-press on the app you want to uninstall
- drag it to the Uninstall trashcan icon at the top left and let go
- When the confirmation dialog pops up, confirm that you wish to uninstall the app.
Conclusion
Things can get so busy that you forget to erase all the files you downloaded. The problem with forgetting is that all those forgotten files take up valuable space on your device. Did you have a lot of files to erase? Let me know in the comments below.
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