Have you ever looked into the Storage section of your Xiaomi and found that the mysterious Other category is 10, 20, or even 30 GB of precious memory, and neither photos, videos, nor apps weigh that much, where does this garbage come from, why does the system not clean it automatically, and most importantly, can you delete The Other without the risk of breaking the phone?
Many users mistakenly believe that "Other" is a cache or temporary files that can be erased, but in fact it's more complicated: it hides the remains of deleted applications, system logs, widget data, update fragments. MIUI And even some messaging files that are disguised, and deleting them manually is like cleaning dust in the system unit with a soldering iron: one wrong step, and the phone turns into a brick. But the good news is that most of this garbage can be safely removed if you know where and what to touch.
In this article, we will discuss:
What’s really hidden under the “Other” category at Xiaomi (spoiler: it’s not always garbage)
- Why does this folder grow like a leap, even if you don't install anything?
- Step-by-step cleaning methods – from standard tools MIUI Up to Hidden Features for Experienced Users.
What files from the "Other" can not be deleted (and what it threatens).
If you have a Redmi, POCO Or Mi already signals memory shortage, and The Other takes the lion's share -- read on. We won't advise "just reset your phone to factory settings" (it's too easy); instead, concrete actions explaining what works and why.
What is the Other in Xiaomi’s Memory and Why Does It Take So Much Space?
To start with, the other is a collection of files that the system cannot categorize as standard (Applications, Media, Documents), and this includes everything that doesn’t fit into the other folders, including:
🔹 Cache system applications – for example, data Google Play Services, MIUI Launcher or Security App that doesn’t clean up in a standard cleaning.
🔹 Remnants of remote programs – many applications leave behind “tails” in the form of configuration files or databases (especially games and social networks sin this).
🔹 Logs and dumps are files with error reports (.log,.dmp) that are created when crashes or for debugging.
🔹 Temporary update files – Firmware fragments MIUI, Those who have not yet been slain, or have not been).
🔹 Widget and themes data – if you change the design frequently in Themes, the system saves copies of old themes “just in case».
Why does the Other grow on its own?
First of all, MIUI (Xiaomi’s shell is not optimized to automatically clean these files. Unlike iOS or “pure” Android, where the system regularly cleans up garbage, many of the temporary data remains lying around for years. Second, some apps (especially Chinese ones) actively write logs and cache to hidden folders that are not visible to the user.
A life-size example
Redmi Note 10 Pro
15GB
Genshin Impact
Call of Duty Mobile
How to Check What’s in the Other’s Place
Before you delete something, you need to figure out what's in that category, and there are a number of ways to do that, from built-in tools to third-party utilities.
Method 1: Built-in storage analyzer MIUI
1. Go to Settings → Storage.
2. Tap on the category "Other" - the system will show the distribution by file types (for example, "Cash", "Logins", "Other").
3. Pay attention to the largest sections – most likely, it is either cache or application residues.
⚠️ Note: If you see a folder in the “Other” section MIUI Or Android, which weighs a few gigabytes -- don't manually delete it. It can be critical system files.
Method 2: Third-party applications for memory analysis
For more detailed scanning, use utilities like:
Files by Google (shows hidden files and offers cleanup)
- SD Maid (deep garbage analysis, including app residues).
Storage Analyzer (visualizes which folders occupy the most space)
💡 Useful advice: B SD Maid is a "CorpseFinder" function that looks for "dead" files, the remnants of deleted programs».
Method 3: Manually Explore File Manager
If you are willing to dig deeper:
1. Open any file manager with access to root folders (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the root catalogue (/storage/emulated/0/).
3.Look for folders with suspiciously high weight:
- /Android/data/ — Here may be the remains of remote applications.
- /MIUI/ — cache of themes and widgets.
- /log/ or /bugreports/ — logistic.
Which folders in the “Other” can be deleted and which ones can’t?
How to Clean Up Xiaomi’s “Other”: Safe Techniques
Now, the key thing is, how do we make room without damaging the phone, and let's start with the safest ways, and gradually move on to the more radical ones.
Method 1: Standard cleaning through MIUI
This method does not require the installation of third-party programs and is suitable for beginners:
1. Open Settings. → Warehouse → Cleanup.
2. Click "Clean" - the system will delete the application cache and temporary files.
3. Go back to the “Other” section and tap it – if you have the option “Delete Unnecessary Files”, use it.
📌 Key conclusion: Standard cleaning removes only the tip of the iceberg – usually no more than 1-2 GB. For serious cleaning, other tools are needed.
Method 2: Cleaning the cache of system applications
Many built-in utilities MIUI (So for example, Security, Themes, Mi Video, they accumulate gigabytes of cache that they don't automatically clear:
1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. sort the list by size (slip to three dots in the upper right corner).
3. Select system applications (e.g. Google Play Services, MIUI Daemon) and click "Clear the cache».
⚠️ Warning: Do not clean data ("Data Clear") from system applications - this can break their work!
Method 3: Removing Remnants of Remote Applications
As we've said, many programs leave tails behind to find and delete:
1. Install. SD Maid (from Google Play).
2. Run the scan in the "CorpseFinder" section.
3. Remove all the residues found (usually folders in the /Android/data/ with names like com.*.uninstall).
Backup of important data|Check the free space before and after|Do not delete files with unknown extensions|Use only proven utilities-->
Method 4: Cleaning the system’s logs and dumps
Log files (.log,.dmp) can take up to 5-10 GB if left uncleaned for a long time.
1. With the help of SD Maid go to the "System" section».
2. Find the folders. /log/ or /bugreports/ and remove their contents.
3. Alternative: Use the command through ADB (for advanced users):
```bash
adb shell rm -rf /data/log/*
```
💡 A useful tip: if you don’t know what it is ADB, Don't experiment with commands. Limit yourself to cleaning through SD Maid.
Radical methods: when standard methods do not help
If, after all the manipulations, the Other still takes tens of gigabytes, it's time to move on to more serious measures, but remember, these methods are potentially dangerous and require caution.
Method 1: Resetting cache in Recovery Mode
This method cleans all temporary files of the system, including a hidden cache that is not visible to the user.
1. Turn off the phone.
2.Put the power button down. + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select "Wipe Cache Partition" (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
4. Reboot the phone.
⚠️ Note: This method does not delete personal data, but it will reset some settings (such as widget data!
Method 2: Deletion of the folder /MIUI manually
folder /MIUI/ It often grows to a few gigabytes because of the widgets and the launcher's cache:
1. Open a file manager with root permissions (e.g., Root Explorer).
2. Move to the /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/.
3. Delete the folders:
- theme/ — cash-tash.
- widget/ — widget-data.
- debug_log/ — log-debugging.
Important: If you delete the folder MIUI The phone started to glitches (for example, the theme flew off or widgets disappeared), just restart it - the system will restore the necessary files automatically.
Method 3: Complete reset to factory settings
It's a last resort, if nothing else has worked.
1. make a backup copy of all data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting.
3. Select "Erase all data."
⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the phone will be “like new” – all apps, settings and files will be deleted. Use this method only if the “Other” takes up more than 30% of the memory and other methods do not work.
Why the Other is Coming Back and How to Prevent It
Even after a thorough cleaning, the Other will grow back after a while. Here's how to slow it down:
🔹 Turn off automatic update installation MIUI — Firmware fragments often remain in "Other." For this, go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and disable auto updates.
🔹 Clean the cache of system applications regularly – especially Google Play Services, MIUI Security and Launcher.
🔹 Use the lighter versions of apps — like Facebook Lite instead of Facebook — and they create less trash.
🔹 Remove unnecessary themes and widgets – they take up space in the folder /MIUI/.
🔹 Periodically scan your phone with the help of SD Maid – this will help to find and remove the remnants of remote programs.
💡
The main reason for the return of The Other is the automatic creation of logs and cache by system applications, which you can not completely get rid of, but you can reduce the amount of garbage by 60-70% with regular cleaning.
Table: What can and cannot be removed from the Other
| Type of file | Can be removed? | Risks. | How to clean up |
|------------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| App cache (.cache) | ✅ Yes. | No risk. | Through Settings. → Warehouse or SD Maid |
| Logs of the system (.log,.dmp) | ✅ Yes. | It can make it difficult to diagnose errors. | Manually through a file manager or ADB |
| Remnants of Remote Applications | ✅ Yes. | No risk. | Through SD Maid (CorpseFinder) |
| folder /MIUI/theme/ | ✅ Yes. | They'll throw the themes. | Remove by hand or through MIUI Cleaner |
| Files in /Android/obb/ | ❌ No. | Broken Games and Apps | Don't touch it. |
| System folders (/system/, /vendor/) | ❌ No. | Phone breakdown | Never remove |
Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them
Many users, in an attempt to make room, exacerbate the problem, and here are the most common mistakes:
🔸 Delete files to blind – for example, erase all contents of the folder /Android/ It will crash the system. Always check what you delete.
🔸 Using Google Play cleaners – many of them (like Clean Master) not only do not help, but also install advertising software. SD Maid.
🔸 Cleaning up system applications' data will cause crashes. Delete only the cache, not the data ("Clean up the data» ≠ «Clear the cache»).
🔸 Ignoring backups – Before any memory manipulation, be sure to save important files to your PC or cloud.
⚠️ Attention: If after cleaning the "Other" phone began to brake, overheat or spontaneously reboot, then you deleted critical files.