Xiaomi’s ‘Other Files’: What They Are, Where They Come From, and How to Clean Them

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi memory settings and wondered why the Other Files section takes up gigabytes of space when you haven't downloaded anything? It's one of the most puzzling categories in smartphone storage analysis. Unlike photos, videos or apps, there are no obvious files here - only the abstract "other" that grows to incredible sizes over time.

In this article, we will go into detail about what exactly lies beneath the Other Files in Xiaomi phones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models), why they appear, and how to safely reduce them, which can be removed without risk to the system, and which should not be touched, and we will also talk about the hidden MIUI mechanisms that generate these files, and we will give a checklist to clean them.

Spoiler: In 80% of cases, Other Files are not garbage, but cache of system processes, application logs, and temporary data that MIUI does not classify as “obvious” to the user, but that does not mean that they cannot be optimized.

What are Xiaomi’s “Other Files” and Why Do They Take So Much Space?

The term “Other Files” is a collective name for all data that MIUI (or HyperOS in newer models) cannot categorize as standard: photos, videos, audio, documents or applications.

• 📁 Cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home or com.android.systemui)
• 📊 Error logs and debugging information (generated in crashes or for diagnostics)
• 🔄 Temporary update files (remain after installing firmware or security patches)
• 🎮 Game data (saves, cache textures that are not included in the category "Apps»)
• 📱 Backup files (created automatically when data is reset or transferred)
• 🔍 Index search files (used for quick search in the MIUI)

For example, if you play Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile, some of the texture cache may be in Other Files rather than in the Applications section. The same goes for OTA updates: once you install a new version of MIUI, the service pack (weighing 1-3 GB) often stays in the system as “different” and is not deleted automatically.

Interesting fact: Xiaomi with HyperOS (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70) has a lower share of Other Files than older versions of MIUI 12-14, which is due to the optimization of the cache cleaner in the new shell, but even there they can take up to 5-10 GB when using a smartphone.

Where do “Other Files” come from and can they be prevented?

The main sources for the appearance of “Other Files” on Xiaomi are divided into three categories:

1. System processes: MIUI actively creates logs for debugging (especially in developer mode), caches data to speed up the interface, and stores temporary files for updates.
2. Applications: Many programs (especially games and social networks) store data in non-obvious folders, which the system refers to as “other”.
3. User actions: backups, undeleted downloads, residues from remote applications.

Can we completely prevent them from happening? No, but we can reduce them by a lot.

• 🔧 Turn off automatic diagnostics in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (5 times) → For developers → Debugging by USB → Turn off “Error logs»).
• 🗑️ Clean the cache of system applications regularly (more on this in the next section).
• 📥 Remove update packages manually after installation (they are stored in the /sdcard/MIUI/ota).

But there's a caveat: some "other files" are necessary for stable operation, like when you delete the com.miui.securitycenter cache, virus protection or permission control may break down, so it's important to understand what you're cleaning.

💡

If after cleaning the "Other Files" smartphone began to slow down - restart it. MIUI will restore critical cache files automatically.

How to see what exactly takes place in the “Other Files”

By default, MIUI does not show the detailed composition of Other Files, but there are several ways to fix this:

Method 1: Through the built-in storage analyzer

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Put it on the memory usage schedule.
3. Select the category "Other".
4. The system will show a list of folders and files sorted by size.

Notice the folders:

• /data/log – system logs
• /sdcard/Android/obb – cache of games
• /MIUI/ota - updates
• /data/system/dropbox is a debugging information.

Method 2: Through a file manager (with root rights)

If you have root access, use Root Explorer or Solid Explorer to view hidden folders:

1. Open the file manager and enable the display of hidden files.
2. Go to /data and /sdcard.
3. Look for folders with a high weight (from 100 MB).

Method 3: Through ADB (for Advanced)

If you are familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can get a detailed report on the occupied space:

adb shell


du -h -d 1 /sdcard | sort -h




du -h -d 1 /data | sort -h

This command will show the size of folders in /sdcard and /data, sorted by volume.

How to Safely Clean Other Files on Xiaomi

Now, to the main thing, how to reduce the volume of Other Files without harming the system.

Step 1: Cleaning the cache of system applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort by size (slip three dots at the top → "By size").
3. Select system applications (Security, Launcher, Settings) and tap “Clear Cache”.

Step 2: Remove old updates

1. Open any file manager (e.g. Files by Google).
2. Go to /sdcard/MIUI/ota.
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension.

Step 3: Cleaning the Download folder

Often, unnecessary files (APKs, documents, archives) are accumulated in /sdcard/Download.

Step 4: Removing the game cache (OBB)

If you deleted the game, but its cache is still:

1. Go to /sdcard/Android/obb.
2. Delete folders with the names of remote games (for example, com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact).

Step 5: Resetting settings (extreme case)

If the “Other Files” take up more than 10 GB and are not cleared, you can make a soft reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Reset all settings” (not “Delete all data”!).
3. This will remove the settings, but save files and applications.

Clear the cache of system applications |Remove old updates from /MIUI/ota| Check Download |Remove the cache of remote games |Repair before reset-->

⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders in /data/app or /system It can cause data loss or a smartphone to fail, and don’t cache apps you’re actively using (like WhatsApp or Telegram) because it will cause media files to re-upload.

What to do if the “Other Files” are returned

Even after cleaning, Other Files can grow back, which is normal, but there are ways to slow their growth.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic update downloads in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Downloading.
• 🎮 Limit the cache of games: in the game settings (for example, PUBG Call of Duty: Reduce the quality of textures.
• 📱 Use the “Lite” version of the application (for example, Facebook Lite instead of the main client).
• 🔍 Regularly check your memory (every 1-2 months).

If Other Files are growing too fast (e.g., 1-2GB per week), this may indicate:

• 🐛 Failure to work MIUI (help with reflashing).
• 📦 Virus or malware (check your smartphone through Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes).
• 🎯 Active use of debugging functions (e.g. enabled) ADB debugging).

💡

Other files aren't always garbage, some of them are necessary for MIUI to work, but they can be controlled by regular cleaning and system setup.

Myths and Truths About Xiaomi’s Other Files

There are many myths on the Internet about what other files are and how to deal with them.

Myth 1: “Other files” are viruses

🔹 Truth: 99 percent of the time, it's not viruses, it's system cache, and viruses masquerade as normal apps, not "other" apps, but if you notice unknown processes in Task Manager, check your smartphone with antivirus.

Myth 2: They can be completely removed.

🔹 Truth: No, some files are required for the job. MIUI. Complete cleaning will lead to interface failures or data loss.

Myth 3: Other Files Only Appear on Xiaomi

🔹 Truth: The same category is found on all Android smartphones (on Samsung it is “Other” and on Huawei it is “Other Data”). MIUI highlights.

Myth 4: Cleaning up Other Files will speed up your smartphone

🔹 Truth: Only if they take up more than 10-15 GB. In other cases, the productivity gains will be minimal.

Myth 5: You can’t reduce them without root rights

🔹 Truth: Most of the work can be cleaned without root (cache, updates, downloads). Root is only needed to remove deep system logs.

FAQ: Frequent Questions About Xiaomi's "Other Files"