Xiaomi Storage is Different: What It Is and How to Clean the Place

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO users often face a mysterious situation where internal memory is filling up rapidly. When trying to understand the reasons for the lack of gigabytes, users find a category in the system analyzer that is frightening because of its size. In the memory management menu, this section can be called “Other”, “System” or occupy the lion’s share in the “Occupied” column. What is hidden behind this mysterious tag and why it does not disappear even after all the photos are deleted?

In fact, the term "Other" in the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem is a collective name for all the data that the system cannot uniquely classify as apps, images, videos, music or documents, including temporary files, remnants of deleted programs, error logs, messenger cache and system updates, and understanding the nature of these files is the first step to effectively managing your gadget's space.

Many users mistakenly believe that the inflating of this partition indicates a virus or a critical error of hardware. However, in most cases, this is the normal behavior of the Android operating system with an add-on from the Chinese manufacturer. Proper work with the file manager and knowledge of hidden cleaning functions allow you to return the device hundreds of megabytes or even several gigabytes of free space without losing important data.

⚠️ Warning: Before performing any actions to clean system folders or reset settings, be sure to back up important data. Deleting system files can lead to unstable interface operation.

The Anatomy of the “Other” Section: What It Is Made Of

To effectively combat memory overflow, it is necessary to clearly understand what data is hidden under the label “Other” – first of all, the cache of installed applications. Social networks such as Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber have a habit of accumulating media files in their own hidden directories, which the standard analyzer does not always correctly recognize as “Images” or “Video”, instead, it summarizes their volume into a total pile of unclassified data.

The second big component is system logs and error reports. The operating system is constantly recording information about its work, and if a service fails, the report file can grow to a huge size. This includes temporary update files that were not automatically deleted after the new version was successfully installed. MIUI. Sometimes in this section "fall" files left over from long-deleted games or programs, whose installation packages (OBB-files) have not been erased by the uninstallator.

Offline map files and video streaming are worth special attention. Services like Yandex.Maps, 2GIS or YouTube Premium store data for working without the Internet in secure cached folders. For a system, it is just a set of bytes in an unknown format, so they are classified as “Other.” If you actively use navigation or watch videos offline, these applications can be the main culprits for space shortage.

Standard cleaning methods through system settings

The safest and most recommended way to free up space is to use built-in optimization tools. Xiaomi has built a powerful tool into the shell that can find and remove safe garbage. To access it, you need to go to the Settings menu → Memory or use the pre-installed application Security → Cleanup. The system will scan and suggest removing temporary files that do not affect the operation of the applications.

But standard cleaning is often superficial. To get to deeper layers of debris, use the Deep Cleaning feature inside the Security app, which analyzes not only the system cache, but also large files, duplicate photos and rarely used applications. The scanner's algorithm is constantly updated to better identify file types previously classified as "Other."

It is important to note that once cleaned through standard means, the volume of the Other partition may decrease slightly. This is normal, since system files and the cache of active applications will be recreated (created again) in the background immediately after running programs. Cache is necessary for fast loading of frequently used functions, so you can not completely get rid of it, and you do not need to.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party accelerator apps from the Play Market with dubious reputations, they often show false memory data and can delete important system processes, causing reboots.

Manual cleaning through Conductor and cache management

For more advanced users who want to know exactly what is taking up space, the manual method through the built-in Explorer is fine. Unlike standard cleaning, this method allows you to visually estimate the size of folders. Open the Explorer app, click on the folder icon in the top menu and select size sorting. You are interested in Android folders, MIUI and messenger root directories.

Special attention should be paid to the Android/data folder. This is where the application data is stored. Inside you can find folders with the names of messengers (for example, org.telegram.messenger) and go to the cache. contents subfolder of this folder can be safely deleted. However, be careful: deleting files from the files folder can lead to loss of correspondence or settings within the applications.

Another effective method is to clear the cache of a particular heavy app through settings. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find a memory-consumption leader program (often a browser or social network). Go to Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse this button with the Clean Everything or Erase Data button, as the latter option will completely reset the application to the state after installation, removing your logins and settings.

Using Developer Mode and ADB for Deep Cleaning

If standard methods don't work and the Other section continues to grow, you can resort to more radical but effective measures. Developer mode in MIUI allows you to access hidden debugging menus. To activate it, you need to quickly click seven times on the build number in the About menu, and then in the advanced settings you will see the Developer Item, where you can find options for resetting cache or limiting background processes.

The most powerful tool is the use of a computer and the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge). By connecting a smartphone over USB with debugging enabled, you can execute a command to delete temporary files that are not available even through root rights in some cases. The adb shell pm trim-caches 99999999999 command forces the system aggressively to delete the cache of all applications to free the specified number of bytes.

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999

Using ADB requires caution. Incorrectly typing commands can lead to the wrong files being deleted. Before executing any commands through a computer, make sure you understand their purpose. This method is especially useful for cleaning the system cache that has swelled after a major firmware update and is not deleted by standard means.

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Expert advice: If you use ADB frequently for cleaning, create a bat file on your computer with the right commands.This will speed up the maintenance process of the phone and eliminate errors when manually entering commands each time.

Table: Comparison of methods of cleaning storage

For the convenience of choosing the right way to vacate, let’s compare the basic methods for their effectiveness and safety. Each option has its advantages and risks, which must be considered depending on your situation and level of training.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal balance is a combination of built-in cleaning and manual cache management of heavy applications. Using ADB or obtaining Root rights is justified only in cases where the system almost ceases to function due to memory overflow, and other methods do not help.

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The main conclusion: Don't try to clean the "Other" partition to zero. The system will always occupy a certain place for its normal operation. It is optimal to keep 15-20% of the total memory free.

Overflow prevention and work with messengers

The main source of garbage in the category “Other” are messengers. Telegram, for example, by default stores all media feed in the memory of the phone. To prevent the growth of this partition in the future, you need to change the settings of the application itself. In Telegram, go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use and set a cache limit, for example, 1 GB or 500 MB. The application will automatically delete old files, freeing up space.

WhatsApp and Viber have similar settings. Go to Settings on WhatsApp → Data and Storage → Storage Management. You can see which chats are taking up the most space and delete media selectively without deleting the correspondence itself. Regularly checking these settings is the best way to prevent memory problems.

It's also worth turning off auto-save files to the gallery, and if chat photos aren't saved to a shared DCIM or Pictures folder, it's easier for the system analyzer to properly classify them as application data rather than as "Other," which will make it easier to manage the files further.

⚠️ Note: When setting up autodelete cache in messengers, remember that after cleaning the old photos and videos will disappear from the chat and will only be downloaded again when you re-view them (unless they are deleted from the server).

When to Consider Resetting or Replacing a Device

Sometimes the Other partition grows to absurd sizes due to a file system error or broken memory sectors. If after all the manipulations, including a full factory reset (Settings → Advanced Settings → Reset and Reset → Resetting), the problem returns in the first days of use, perhaps it is the physical wear and tear of the drive.

Factory reset is a nuclear weapon in the fight for space. It deletes absolutely all data, returning the phone to the "out of the box" state. Before this procedure, make sure to make a full backup through the Mi Cloud or to the computer. Often, after a reset, the "Other" partition takes up the minimum possible 5-7 GB, which is the norm for a modern system.

In conclusion, the “Other” category in Xiaomi’s storage is not a virus or bug, but a feature of the Android file system. Regular maintenance, messaging setup, and the use of built-in cleaning tools will keep this partition under control. Don’t be afraid to delete the cache, but do it consciously, understanding what data you are losing in the process.

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