Xiaomi’s “Other” folder: What it is, how to clean it, and why it grows

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s smartphone memory and why it takes up so much space

If you've ever looked into the Storage section on your Xiaomi, you've probably noticed the mysterious "Other" category (or Other in the English version of MIUI) that can range from a few hundred megabytes to tens of gigabytes, and it doesn't give you any clues about what it is. Unlike obvious categories like Photos, Videos or Apps, the content of The Other is hidden from the user, which raises a lot of questions: can it be removed? Why does it grow on its own? Is it harmful to the phone?

In fact, the Other is a MIUI system trash can that contains temporary files, application cache, deleted program residues, log files, and other data that the system cannot uniquely categorize as standard, and in some cases, files from Xiaomi system services (such as miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.midrop) that are not visible in a regular file manager, the problem is that MIUI does not always correctly clean this partition automatically, which causes it to grow into uncontrolled sizes.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔍 What is in the Other and why it can’t be removed;
• ⚙️ How to Safely Clean This Section Without Harming Your System;
• 📈 Why the Other Grows Over Time and How to Prevent It;
• ⚠️ What files from the "Other" can not be touched categorically (the risk of "filling" the phone).

We warn you right away: in MIUI 14 and later, some files from the Other are protected by the system, and their forced removal can lead to failures in the camera, Bluetooth or even a complete restart of the phone.

The composition of the folder “Other”: what actually goes there

MIUI classifies anything that doesn't fall into the standard storage categories as "Other" and can be:

• 🗑️ Application and system services cache – remnants of data that programs did not delete after closing (for example, thumbnails from the gallery or temporary messenger files);
• 📄 Log files and dumps – records of system operation, errors and crashes (files with the extension.log,.dmp);
• 🧹 Remnants of remote applications – folders and files that are left after uninstallation of programs (often found after removing games or heavy applications like Facebook or TikTok);
• 🔄 Temporary update files – downloaded but not installed firmware or application update packages;
• 📂 Hidden folders MIUI — for example, /miad/ (promotional modules), /MIUI/ (systemic themes) or /XMSF/ (Sync files with Xiaomi Cloud).

A lot of garbage is stored in folders:

/data/data/ – cache and application data


/data/local/tmp/ – Temporary system files




/data/system/dropbox///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////




/data/media/0/MIUI/ – System Files of Themes and Designs

Fun fact: Some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) even have backup files created through Settings → Additional → Backups that can weigh several gigabytes, but are not displayed in the gallery or file manager.

Why does the Other take up so much space and grow on its own?

The main reasons for the growth of the “Other”:

1. Autocleaning doesn't work. MIUI has a built-in cache cleaner mechanism, but it often fails - especially if the phone hasn't restarted in a long time or runs on custom firmware.
2. Applications are not optimized. Some programs (especially games and social networks) do not delete temporary files after closing. For example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact can leave gigabytes of cache in the /Android/data/ folder.
3. System services like Quick Apps, Mi Share (file transfer) or Game Turbo create their own temporary files, which are not always deleted.
4. File system errors: If the phone is not properly turned off (for example, the battery has gone down), some files may freeze in the state of "remote, but not released".

For example, after the update MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system in the folder /cache/ it's a file update.zip weight ~2 GB, which the system doesn't always remove automatically. APK-Files uploaded via Google Play or Mi App Store – they can lie in the Other for months.

⚠️ Note: If the “other” is more 10 GB on a phone with 64/128 GB of memory, this could indicate a virus or a file system failure, in which case it is better to back up and reset the phone to factory settings.

How to Safely Clean “Other” on Xiaomi: Step-by-step instructions

Before cleaning, it is necessary to:

Make a backup copy of important data|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Connect to Wi-Fi (if you need to download the tools)|Close all background applications-->

Cleaning methods (from the safest to the most risky):

1. Built-in cleaning MIUI

The simplest method, but only removes part of the garbage:

1. Open the Settings. → Warehouse;
2. Slip on "The Other";
3. Click “Clear” (if the button is active).

Cons: This method only removes the application cache and temporary files, but does not touch system logs and hidden folders.

2. Cleaning through “Security App”

The Security app (the shield icon) has a deeper scanner:

1. Launch Security;
2. Select "Cleaning";
3. Slip "Deep Cleaning";
4. Check all the boxes and click “Clear”.

This method removes up to 70% of the debris from the Other, including the remnants of the deleted applications.

3. Manual cleaning through the file manager (for experienced)

If the first two methods don't work, you can manually delete the files you don't need.

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Turn on the display of hidden files in the manager settings;
3. Go to /data/local/tmp/ /data/system/dropbox/ /data/media/0/MIUI/backup/
4. Delete everything except files with.db (database) and.xml (configuration) extensions.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders /data/data/ with the names com.android. or com.xiaomi. – this can lead to loss of functionality (for example, Bluetooth will stop working or the Internet will not work). NFC).

4. Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If you are familiar with ADB, you can remove garbage by command:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster #Cleaning up MIUI cache


adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files




adb shell rm -rf /data/system/dropbox/* # Clearing error logs

After completing the commands, restart the phone.

💡

If the Other grows fast again after cleaning, check the sync settings in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account. Turn off automatic backups – it often creates duplicate files in hidden folders.

What can not be removed from the “Other” (risk of breaking the phone)

Some files in Other are critical to the system, and deleting them can lead to:

• 🔄 Cyclical reboot (bootloop);
• 📵 Network loss (mobile internet will not work);
• 🔇 Failure of camera or speakers;
• 🔒 Blocking your Mi Account (you will need to unlock through the service center).

Don't touch anything.

If you accidentally delete something from this list, restart your phone immediately, and in some cases, the system will recover critical files automatically.

💡

Before any manipulation of the Other, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup. This will save your data if something goes wrong.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To folder “Other” does not take up gigabytes of memory, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone regularly (once in a week). 2-3 This clears temporary files that are not deleted in the background;
• 🚫 Turn off automatic backup in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Backup;
• 📱 Use lighter versions of apps (like Facebook Lite instead of regular Facebook);
• 🗑️ Clear the game cache after passing (in the game settings or through Game Turbo);
• 🔍 Check the storage once a month through Settings → Warehouse.

If you install and delete applications frequently, install SD Maid or Files by Google – these programs are better at finding and removing residual files than a standard MIUI cleaner.

On phones with MIUI 13/14, you can also turn off automatic memory optimization, which sometimes creates duplicate files:

Settings → Features → Memory Optimization → Autocleaning (disable)

Frequent Questions About Xiaomi’s “Other” Folder