Where are large videos stored on my Samsung phone?

Large videos on your Samsung phone are stored in the DCIM/Camera folder by default, which lives in your phone's internal storage. If you have a microSD card inserted and have set it as the default storage location, videos may be saved there instead. This guide walks you through finding, managing, and clearing out large video files so you can free up storage on your Samsung device.

Where does my Samsung phone save videos by default?

By default, your Samsung phone saves videos to its internal storage, inside a folder called DCIM/Camera. This is where the Camera app automatically places every photo and video you record. Unless you have manually changed the storage location in your Camera settings, that is where your videos are sitting right now.

To check or change this setting, open the Camera app, tap the gear icon to open Settings, and look for Storage location. If your phone has a microSD card slot and a card inserted, you will see the option to switch saving to the SD card. Changing this setting only affects new recordings going forward, not videos already saved to internal storage.

Videos you download from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or your web browser are stored in different folders. WhatsApp videos, for example, go into a folder called WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Video. Downloaded files typically land in the Download folder. These locations matter when you are hunting for the files that are eating up the most space.

How do I find large video files taking up space on my Samsung?

The quickest way to find large video files on your Samsung phone is through the built-in My Files app. Open My Files, tap Analyse storage or look for a Large files category, and your phone will list files sorted by size so you can immediately see which videos are taking up the most room.

Here is a step-by-step approach using My Files:

1. Open the My Files app (you can find it in your app drawer or search for it).
2. Tap Analyse storage near the top of the screen.
3. Select Large files to see a list sorted from biggest to smallest.
4. Tap and hold any file to select it, then delete or move it.

You can also go to Settings, tap Battery and device care, then Storage. This gives you a breakdown of what is using your space, including videos, photos, and app data. Tapping on Videos takes you directly to those files. This is especially useful if you want a quick overview without digging through folders manually.

What's the difference between internal storage and SD card on Samsung?

Internal storage is the built-in memory that comes with your Samsung phone and cannot be removed. An SD card (also called a microSD card) is a small removable card that slots into the side of compatible Samsung models, adding extra space. The key difference is that internal storage is faster and always available, while an SD card is expandable and removable but slightly slower for some tasks.

Not all Samsung phones support microSD cards. Flagship models like the Galaxy S25 series do not have an SD card slot, while many mid-range and budget Galaxy A series phones do. You can check whether your phone has a slot by looking at the side of the device for a small tray, or by going to Settings, then About phone, and checking your storage details.

When it comes to storing large videos, using an SD card is a practical way to keep your internal storage free. However, some apps and features may require files to be on internal storage to work correctly, so it is worth keeping your most-used media accessible internally and archiving older videos to the SD card.

Why is my Samsung phone storage full even after deleting videos?

Deleting videos does not always immediately free up storage because Samsung phones move deleted files to the Recycle Bin in the Gallery app, where they are kept for 30 days before being permanently removed. Until you empty that bin, the space is not actually recovered.

To empty the Recycle Bin and truly free up storage, open the Gallery app, tap the three-line menu icon, select Recycle bin, and then tap Empty or select individual files and delete them permanently.

Other reasons your storage may still feel full include:

• App cache: Apps store temporary data that builds up over time. Go to Settings, then Battery and device care, and tap Optimise now to clear some of this automatically.
• Downloaded content: Streaming apps like YouTube or Netflix may store offline videos. Check each app's settings to remove downloaded content.
• WhatsApp and messaging media: These apps can quietly accumulate large amounts of video in the background without you realising it.
• System updates: Pending or recently installed software updates can temporarily use additional storage space.

How can I free up space by moving videos off my Samsung phone?

The most effective ways to free up storage by moving videos off your Samsung phone are to transfer them to a computer, upload them to cloud storage, or move them to a microSD card. Each method keeps your videos safe while clearing room on your device.

Move videos to a computer

Connect your Samsung phone to a PC or Mac using a USB cable. On your phone, swipe down the notification bar and tap the USB connection option, then select File transfer. Your phone will appear as a drive on your computer, and you can drag and drop video files from the DCIM/Camera folder to your computer. Once copied, you can safely delete them from your phone.

Upload videos to cloud storage

Samsung offers Samsung Cloud and integrates with Google Photos, both of which can back up your videos automatically. Open the Gallery app, go to Settings, and enable cloud sync. Once your videos are safely backed up, you can delete the local copies to free up space. Google Photos also has a Free up space button that removes locally stored photos and videos that are already backed up.

Move videos to an SD card

If your Samsung phone has a microSD card slot, open My Files, navigate to your DCIM/Camera folder, select the large video files you want to move, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Move. Then select your SD card as the destination. This keeps the videos on your phone and accessible in the Gallery, but frees up internal storage space.

How SamMobile helps you get more from your Samsung phone

Managing storage, finding hidden files, and keeping your Samsung device running smoothly can feel confusing, especially when settings menus change with every One UI update. That is exactly where we come in. At SamMobile, we cover practical topics like this every day so you always have a clear, up-to-date answer.

Here is what you can expect from us:

• Plain-language guides written for everyday Samsung users, not tech experts
• Up-to-date tips that reflect the latest One UI features and Samsung software changes
• Honest advice on Samsung devices, settings, and storage management without the jargon
• Regular Samsung news and updates so you always know what is new

Whether you want to dig deeper into your Samsung device or stay on top of the latest software changes, SamMobile is your go-to resource. And if you have a specific question we have not answered yet, do not hesitate to get in touch with us directly.