How to Clean Other Files on Xiaomi Redmi 3S

The memory overflow problem on Xiaomi Redmi 3S smartphone often becomes critical when the user discovers the mysterious category “Other”, which can take up gigabytes of usable space. This category is not a system error, but a collection of temporary files, application cache, residual data after remote programs and system logs that a standard storage analyzer can not classify as photos or videos. For owners of budget devices with internal memory of 16 or 32 GB, ignoring this problem can lead to a serious slowdown of the MIUI interface and the inability to install new updates.

Many users mistakenly believe that standard cleaning through the built-in Security app solves the problem completely, but the system algorithms often leave hidden folders with data from messengers and browsers. To really make room, you need to understand the structure of the Android file system and apply a comprehensive approach that includes both software cleaning methods and manual garbage removal through connection to the computer. In this guide, we will discuss in detail secure ways to free up space that do not require Root rights and do not carry the risk of damaging the firmware of your device.

Analysis of contents of the category "Other"

Before you start deleting data, you need to clearly understand what exactly is hidden under the “Other” label in the settings of the Redmi 3S store. This category accumulates all the data that the system cannot uniquely attribute to media files, documents or installation packages of applications. The main “eaters” of space here are social network cache, offline maps of navigators, temporary update files and logs of system processes that accumulate for months.

Special attention should be paid to messengers such as WhatsApp or Telegram, which often save the received media files in their own hidden directories, ignoring the standard gallery. Also, a significant part of the Other can be streaming data if you used the offline viewing feature, or the remnants of remote games with heavy graphics assets. Understanding the source of memory filling allows you to act point-by-point without removing excess.

For accurate diagnosis, we recommend using a built-in analyzer or third-party utilities that visualize data distribution, which will help identify a particular application that mismanages its cache and inflates the amount of memory it occupies. Without such analysis, cleaning turns into an “area shooting”, which is not always effective.

Use of built-in MIUI cleaning tools

The first and safest step for the owner of Xiaomi Redmi 3S should be to use the standard optimization tools provided by the MIUI shell. The system has an built-in algorithm that is able to find obvious debris, but to access the deeper layers of cleaning you need to activate advanced functions. The standard “Cleanup” button often works superficially, so it is important to know where the more powerful tools are hidden.

To access deep cleaning, you need to open the Security app and go to Cleanup. Here, in addition to quick cleaning, you should pay attention to the Deep Clean tab, where the system will prompt you to remove large files, duplicate applications and rarely used programs. However, to get to the bottom of the problem with the Other, you often need to manually tweak the settings of specific applications through the memory management menu.

It is important to note that clearing the cache through the settings of a particular application is more effective than general cleaning of the system. By going through the Settings → Apps → All applications, you can choose the most “heavy” application (for example, a browser or social network) and click the “Clear Cache” button. This action is safe for your personal data, such as logins and correspondence, but guaranteed to free up space in the “Other” category.

⚠️ Note: When using the Clear Data feature (as opposed to Clear Cache), you will reset the app to a state immediately after installation. This means removing all saved passwords, settings, and history within this application, so only use this option if you are ready to re-sign in.

Manual cleaning through Explorer and file management

If the automatic tools can’t handle the amount of garbage, you’ll have to use a manual method that requires careful attention but produces the best results. The owner of Redmi 3S needs to open the standard Explorer app and carefully examine the contents of internal memory, the main goals here are folders with the names of remote applications, temporary directories and update archives.

Special attention should be paid to the folder Android/data, While it is risky to touch files inside this folder, it is safe to delete the contents of the Download folder, where installation files often accumulate. APK, The files that have already been used, as well as various documents and images obtained from the Internet. MIUI/debug_log, If it exists, there may be debugging logs that take hundreds of megabytes.

• 🗑️ Download folder – here are stored all downloaded files from the browser, which are often forgotten to delete.
• 🗑️ Bluetooth directory – it automatically saves all files received through bluetooth, including unnecessary pictures and music.
• 🗑️ Temp or Tmp folder is a classic temporary file storage that can be deleted without fear.

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When you manually delete files through Explorer, first move suspicious files to a separate folder on the memory card. Use your phone for a couple of days, and if nothing breaks, feel free to delete this folder.

And remember, the gallery, where hidden albums can have screenshots of cropped images or thumbnails of deleted photos. In the Gallery app, go to the albums and check the Screenshots and Cuts folder, and often have hundreds of unwanted copies that the system considers media, but the user forgets about them, and they indirectly affect the overall picture of the occupancy.

Cleaning up garbage messengers WhatsApp and Telegram

Messengers are the main culprits behind the “Other” category on Xiaomi Redmi 3S. They create multiple copies of images, videos and voice messages that are often duplicated in different folders. On WhatsApp, for example, every photo viewed is saved to cache and then copied to the gallery, taking up a double place. For effective cleaning, it is better to use the built-in tools of the messengers themselves, not just the system conductor.

Telegram is even more complicated, as the app caches all the media you have viewed by default for quick access. To fix this, go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use and set a cache limit or enable autodelete. There is also a Clear Cache button that will safely delete temporary files without affecting your correspondence, since they are stored on the server.

When clearing WhatsApp through the file manager along the way Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media You can find the WhatsApp Images and WhatsApp Video folder, and they often have a.Statuses folder inside them, where you save your contact statuses, and you can delete it completely without affecting the app.

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Regularly cleaning the messenger cache through their own settings is the most effective way to control the growth of the “Other” category without the risk of losing correspondence.

Removal of system logs and debugging data

MIUI-based Android maintains detailed logs that can be useful for developers to find bugs, but are completely useless to the average user. These logs can accumulate and take up a significant amount of memory. Deleting them does not require complex manipulations, but you need to know which folders are responsible for this function. They are often in the root directory or in hidden system partitions accessible through the Explorer.

One way to clean up is to reset debugging settings. Go to Settings → For Developers (if the menu is hidden, click 7 times on “MIUI Version” in the About Phone section). Find the “Log” or similar item and make sure it is disabled or limited. You can also try to clear the Logger or Journal system application data, if it is in the application list, through the memory management menu.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.log extension or system files that you do not know the purpose of if they are in folders with system process names (for example, com.android.systemui.

There is also a method of cleaning through the engineering menu, but it requires caution. Entering the code ##6484## opens the testing menu where you can find items for checking memory, but the cleaning function is rare and depends on the firmware version. A more reliable way is to manually search for folders called logs, logs, debug at the root of internal memory and carefully remove them.

Cleaning through connection to a computer (ADB and Explorer)

The most radical and effective way to see hidden files that aren't displayed on your smartphone screen is to connect Redmi 3S to your computer. Using file transfer mode (MTP), you get access to the full file structure. On a large screen, it's easier to analyze folder sizes and find heavyweights that are hiding in the back of directories.

For advanced users, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool is available. By connecting a phone with USB debugging enabled, you can execute a command to clear Dalwick's cache or system cache, which often makes room for the "Other" category.

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999

When connecting to a PC, it is also convenient to use specialized software, such as Total Commander with an ADB plugin or utility from the manufacturer, which allows you to sort files by size and date, which helps you quickly find forgotten video files or archives that the system persistently considers “Other.”

Cardinal measures: Reset to factory settings

If none of the above methods has helped reduce the size of the Other category and it continues to grow, occupying a critical amount of memory, it is possible that the file system has accumulated errors or corrupted system indexes. In this case, the only reliable solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings. This action will completely delete all user data, applications and, most importantly, clean the Other partition to zero.

Before performing this procedure, be sure to back up your important data to an external medium or cloud storage, as it will not be possible to recover deleted files after reset. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Reset and Reset → Reset and confirm the action. The phone will restart and begin the cleanup process, which can take 5 to 15 minutes.

• 🔄 Completely deletes all user and application data.
• 🔄 Restores the original state of the file system and system partitions.
• 🔄 Guaranteed eliminates the problem of inflating the category “Other”, if it is not caused by physical wear and tear of memory.

Once you've finished resetting, don't rush to install all the apps at once, install only the ones you need, and check how your memory is performing in a couple of days, and this will help you understand which application was causing the problem if it happens again, often by specific photo editing apps or cached map navigators.