What is stored in the folder “Other” on Xiaomi smartphones and how to clean it

Have you ever looked into the Storage section of your Xiaomi and wondered why the Other folder takes up gigabytes of memory when you didn't save anything? This mysterious category is one of the most talked-about topics among owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones. Unlike the Photos, Videos or Audio folders, the content of The Other doesn't show up explicitly, which raises a lot of questions: what files are, can they be deleted and how to free up space without breaking the system?

In this article, we will take a closer look at what types of data fall into the “Other” category on Xiaomi, why they are there, and provide step-by-step instructions for safe cleaning. You will also learn which files you absolutely cannot touch so as not to disrupt MIUI or Android.

What is the “Other” folder and why does it take up so much space?

The Other folder (or Other in the English version of MIUI) is a collection category for files that the system cannot classify as standard sections: Photos, Videos, Audio, Documents or Applications.

• 📁 App cache (including Google and Xiaomi system services)
• 🗃️ Temporary files (remains after updates, error logs, memory dumps)
• 🔄 Residual data from remote applications
• 📱 Files. MIUI (topics, widgets, system settings)
• 🔒 Secure system files (configurations, databases)

On Xiaomi smartphones, the Other folder often grows to 5-15 GB, especially if you’ve been using the device for more than a year, and the reason is because of the MIUI architecture, which aggressively caches data to speed up work, but doesn’t always clean it correctly, for example, after a firmware update, old files can remain in memory as junk even though the system no longer uses them.

It is important to understand that not all files in Other are useless, some of which are critical to the stable operation of a smartphone, for example, deleting the cache of system applications (for example, com.miui.home) can lead to interface failures or even a cyclical reboot of the device.

What specific files are hidden in the Other?

To understand what exactly takes up space, consider the main types of files in the Other folder and their origin:

Especially a lot of space is occupied by cached data from social networks (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram) and instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp). For example, Telegram can store up to 1-2 GB of temporary files (miniatures, stickers, chat media) in the Other, even if you did not save them to the gallery.

Another “invisible” memory eater – updates MIUI. When you load a new firmware, the system saves it to a temporary folder (/cache or /data/ota_package), It doesn't always clean up the residues after installation, and as a result, it can have a few gigabytes of old firmware that will never be useful again.

How to Safely Clean the Other folder?

Before you start cleaning, remember the golden rule: never manually delete files through the file manager unless you know what they are for.This can lead to data loss or smartphone failure. Instead, use built-in MIUI tools and proven methods.

Clear the cache through "Settings → Warehouse → Clean"

Delete unnecessary files in "Files → Categories → Other"

Disable auto-update themes in "Themes → Settings"

Remove old firmware in "Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI → Three Dots → Remove Downloaded Packets"

Restart the phone after cleaning

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Here is a step-by-step instruction for vacating the seat:

1. Clean the system applications cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Sort the list by size and select the heaviest applications (e.g. Google Play Services, MIUI System). Click Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Delete temporary files: Open Files (or File Manager) app, go to Other category and manually check files. Pay special attention to folders called temp, cache or logs.
3. Cleaning through Recovery Mode: If standard methods don't help, reboot your phone in Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume Up), select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache. This will delete temporary files without losing personal data.

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If after cleaning the cache, the application began to work slower, just restart it - the system will restore the necessary data automatically.

For advanced users, there is a way to delete residual data from remote applications via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

adb shell pm list packages -u # List of applications with residual data


adb shell pm clear com.example.app # Data cleanup of a specific application

But remember: this method requires USB debugging enabled and can result in loss of saves in games or application settings.

What files can not be deleted in the “Other”?

Some files in the Other category are critical to MIUI operation, and deleting them may result in:

• ⚠️ Cyclical reboot (bootloop)
• ⚠️ Network loss (mobile internet or Wi-Fi will not work)
• ⚠️ Failures in the interface (the icons will disappear, the launcher will not work)

⚠️ Never manually delete the following folders and files: /data/system/ — Contains user and system settings; /data/dalvik-cache/ — cache of the Android virtual machine; files with the extension.db or.db-wal – application database; folders com.android.providers.settings and com.miui.home – responsible for the operation of the interface.

If you accidentally delete a critical file, try resetting through Settings → Additional → Reset. In extreme cases, you will have to refashion your smartphone through the Mi Flash Tool.

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Before any manipulation of system files, make a backup through "Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset".

Why is the “Other” folder filling up again?

Even after cleaning thoroughly, the Other folder can grow back in a few days. This is normal behavior for Android and MIUI, as the system is constantly:

• 🔄 Caches data to speed up application launches;
• 📥 Downloads updates in the background;
• 📊 Collects logs for diagnosis (especially if debugging is enabled) USB);
• 🎨 Downloads themes and widgets from the Xiaomi cloud.

To slow down the growth of the Other, do the following:

1. Turn off auto-update themes in Topics → Settings → Auto-update.
2. Limit the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
3. Turn off log collection (if you don’t need debugging) via Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (5 times tap) → Additional settings → Disable log collection.

It is also worth regularly (every 1-2 months) to clear the cache through Settings → Storage → Clean. This will not delete critical data, but will help keep the Other under control.

Hidden MIUI functions for memory management

Xiaomi has built into MIUI a few hidden tools that help you manage memory more efficiently than standard methods.

1. Deep Clean: Go to Settings → Storage → Clean → Deep Clean. This tool analyzes unused files, including remnants from deleted applications and old APKs.
2. Memory Optimization: In Settings → Additional → Optimization is a Memory Cleanup feature that closes the background processes and frees up RAM. This indirectly reduces the volume of the Other, as it reduces the number of temporary files.
3. Hidden MIUI folder: In the file manager, turn on the hidden folder display (Three dots → Settings → Show hidden files). There you will find the.MIUI folder, which stores backups of the themes and settings. It can be cleaned, but be careful - this will reset your themes to standard.

Another little-known trick is to reset the cache partition, which will not delete your data, but will clear the temporary files of the system.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume Up to Enter Recovery Mode.
3. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart.

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If the partition cache resets, the phone is faster, it means the problem was the fragmented temporary files, repeat this procedure every 3-6 months.

What to do if the “Other” takes more than 10 GB?

If the Other folder has grown to 10GB or more, standard cleaning methods may not help.

1. Check Download folder: Sometimes files from downloads (especially large APKs or archives) fall into the category "Other." Open Files → Downloads and delete the unnecessary.
2. Remove old MIUI updates: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Update → Three dots → Delete downloaded packets. There may be gigabytes of old firmware.
3. Use ADB for deep cleaning: Connect your phone to your PC, enable USB debugging, and execute the command: adb shell pm trim-caches 256M This will forcefully clear the cache of all applications, limiting it to 256MB in size.
4. Reset to factory: If nothing helps, make a full reset via Settings → Additional → Reset. Pre-save important data!

⚠️ Attention! If the Other folder continues to grow after all the manipulations, this may indicate a virus infection or a failure of the file system. In this case: Scan the phone with an antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes); Check file system integrity via Recovery Mode (Recovery File System option); Contact Xiaomi Service Center if the problem persists.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the folder “Other” on Xiaomi