Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a nasty situation: internal storage is crowded and the lion’s share is occupied by the mysterious “Other” category. Android can show that there is almost no free memory left, even though your personal photos and videos take up very little, which causes panic as the device starts to work slower, applications fly out, and new files simply have nowhere to save.
The Other section is not a system error, but the total amount of system files, application cache, residual data after deleted programs and temporary files. Cleaning this section requires caution, since rash actions can lead to the loss of important data or unstable operation of the MIUI shell. In this article, we will discuss safe and effective ways to return gigabytes of free space.
Before we go to radical measures, we need to understand the nature of garbage accumulation. Android is actively caching data to speed up the work of commonly used applications. Over time, this cache grows to a giant size, occupying a place that is formally not related to photos, videos, or documents, which is why standard cleaning often proves to be ineffective.
What’s Hiding in the “Other” Category on Android
The partition that users see as “Other” or “System” is a mixture of different types of data, primarily the cache of messengers and social networks, and apps like Telegram or WhatsApp store the media you’ve viewed in hidden folders that the system doesn’t always correctly classify as media.
It also stores data from streaming services like YouTube or Netflix that save a buffer for smooth video playback. Another source of heavy files is the remnants of deleted applications. When you delete a game or program, its configuration files and temporary data often remain in memory, continuing to take up space.
Importantly, part of this volume is system logs and error reports. MIUI keeps detailed logs of system operation, which can grow if a device has malfunctioned. It is critical to understand that manually deleting system files through the file manager can lead to a "bricking" of the device, so you need to work through standard tools or secure utilities.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete files with names that contain "system," "android," or "data" unless you are 100% sure of their origin.
For a deeper understanding of the data structure, consider the table of the main components that form the volume of the Other:
| Type of data | Description | Security of removal |
|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Temporary files to speed up program launches | Safe (apps will recreate them) |
| Logs of the system | Records of OS performance and errors | Safe. |
| Remains of deleted APKs | Installation files and temporary data | Safe. |
| Cash. Telegram/WhatsApp | Saved media from chat rooms | Safe (unless you need it offline) |
| Systemic databases | Settings and search indexes | Dangerous (may knock down settings) |
The analysis shows that most of the garbage is user data stuck in system folders, and understanding this helps you choose the right cleaning strategy without having to reset your settings completely.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to start the fight for space is to use Xiaomi’s regular funds, and every smartphone has a Security app preinstalled, which includes a powerful Cleanup tool that can find obvious garbage and remove it without risk to the system.
Launch the app and select Clean. The system will scan and prompt you to delete temporary files, ads in folders and remnants of deleted applications. However, the standard mode often does not see a deep-lying cache.
In deep cleaning mode, you'll see large files, rarely used apps, and duplicate photos. Here's the Apps tab, where you can see in detail how much space each software you install takes up. Select heavy apps and click Clear Cache. This action is secure and doesn't delete your logins or correspondence.
The regular utility is good for regular maintenance, but it doesn’t always handle the “heavy” messenger cache that’s hidden from the system analyzer. So after using the built-in cleaner, it’s recommended to check the settings of specific apps, such as Telegram or YouTube, through their own menus.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning your data through the app menu, don’t confuse the Clear Cache button with the Erase All Data button. The second action will completely remove the app along with your accounts and settings.
Manual cleaning of the cache of messengers and social networks
The main memory eaters on modern smartphones are messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber and Instagram store every photo and video viewed in the memory of the device. Over time, the folder with the Telegram cache can grow to 10-20 gigabytes, which the system often refers to as the “Other” section.
To clean Telegram, you need to go to the Settings of the app itself, then select Data and Memory → Memory Use. Here you will see the "Clear Cache" button. Surprisingly, once cleaned, the messenger database does not disappear - when you reopen the dialogue, media files will be downloaded from the cloud again, if they are stored there.
Similar to YouTube, the app saves a huge number of temporary files to buffer videos. Cleaning is better done through the system menu: Settings → Apps → All apps → YouTube → Memory → Clear cache.
Here is a list of actions that will help to free up space in popular apps:
- 📱 In Telegram, enable autodelete the cache (Settings) → Data and memory → Auto-delete media by setting a limit of, for example, 3 days.
- 📸 On Instagram, clear your search history and cache through your phone’s settings, as there’s no such feature inside the app.
- 🎵 In Spotify or Yandex.Music, check the Cash settings and delete downloaded tracks for offline listening if they are no longer needed.
- 💬 On WhatsApp, go to Settings → Data and storage → Storage management to remove large files from specific chats.
Regularly checking these settings allows you to keep the Other section within reasonable limits without the need for third-party software. Automating the process in Telegram, for example, solves the problem of cache growth on the root.
Remove.thumbnails folder and system debris
One of the most famous black holes in Android memory is the.thumbnails folder. It's located on the DCIM/.thumbnails path and stores thumbnails of all your photos and videos. Even if you deleted the original photos, thumbnails can stay, taking up gigabytes of space.
To access this folder, you will need a file manager with access to hidden files (a standard “Conductor” from Xiaomi can do this – you just need to turn on the display of hidden files in the settings). Find the DCIM folder, find.thumbnails inside it and delete its contents.
What if the.thumbnails folder appears again?
Also, you should pay attention to the folder. MIUI It's often the root directory, and it's often the debugging logs, the crash reports, and the temporary update files. debug_log and gallery (inside) MIUI) Often contain unnecessary garbage that can be safely removed.
Using advanced file managers like Total Commander or FX File Explorer gives you more control over the file system, allowing you to sort files by size and find hidden giants that are not visible in the standard interface.
⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when deleting files in the root directory, only delete what you are sure of origin (such as folders with logs or cache), ignoring system folders with names like Android, data, obb».
Use of SD Maid utility and reset settings
If the built-in tools and manual cleaning didn't help, specialized software comes to the rescue. SD Maid is considered one of the most authoritative utilities for cleaning Android. Unlike many "accelerators", it actually works with the file system, finding the "body" of remote applications and system debris.
To work efficiently, SD Maid will require advanced access rights, which are provided through a computer connection (ADB) or the presence of Root rights. The garbage function will find the remnants of remote programs, and the System will clear the logs and cache. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce the Other partition.
In extreme cases, when the “Other” partition takes an abnormally large amount (for example, 30-40 GB on a 64 GB phone) and nothing helps, the radical method remains – a complete reset.
☑️ Preparation for a complete reset (Hard Reset)
Reset is done via Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. After this procedure, the phone will return to the “out of the box” state, and the “Other” section will be minimal. This is guaranteed to solve the problem, if it is not caused by a hardware memory malfunction.
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After resetting, do not restore applications from backup with a “package”: install them manually – this will prevent the old garbage and cache from returning to the system.
Prevention and optimization of storage
To keep the memory overflow problem from returning, it is important to maintain digital hygiene: check the storage regularly, at least once a month, and disable auto-save media files in the gallery for work chats in instant messengers, so that they do not duplicate in the system.
Use cloud services to store photos. Sync with Google Photos or Yandex.Disk with the “free up space” function allows you to store originals in the cloud, leaving only compressed copies on the phone or completely removing them from the device’s memory.
It's also worth revising the list of installed apps, and many of the programs you haven't used in six months are still stuck in your memory, and removing unused software is the easiest way to prevent them.
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Regular cleaning of messenger cache and use of cloud storage for photos is the best prevention of overflow of the “Other” section.
Compliance with these simple rules will allow your Xiaomi or Redmi to work quickly and steadily throughout its life, memory is a valuable resource, and its competent management directly affects the user experience.