Xiaomi’s ‘Other’: What It Is, Why It Grows, and How to Clean Up

Have you ever looked into the Storage section of your Xiaomi and found the mysterious Other category to be 10, 20, or even 30GB of precious memory, with no photos, apps, or cache explaining this gluttony, the system stubbornly keeps silent about what is hidden under the label, and users are left wondering whether it is a bug, or hidden files that can be painlessly deleted.

In fact, “Other” is not a bug or a secret “junk box” from Xiaomi. It is a collective name for dozens of data types that do not fall into the standard categories (applications, media, documents), this includes system logs, temporary update files, remnants of remote programs, and even cache of some services that MIUI does not want to show separately, the problem is that over time this partition grows into uncontrollable sizes – especially on devices with MIUI 12-14, where storage optimization leaves much to be desired.

In this article, we will not only look at what is included in the Other, but also show you how to reduce its volume without the risk of breaking the system, you will learn which files can be manually deleted and which should not be touched, why standard cleaners are often powerless, and what to do if the Other eats up half of your Redmi or POCO memory.

What is the “Other” in Xiaomi memory: the official explanation and reality

According to Xiaomi’s documentation, the “Other” category includes:

• 📁 System files and logs (error logs, memory dumps, crash reports).
• 🔄 Temporary update files (firmware residues, packages) OTA, which did not leave after installation).
• 🗑️ Remnants of remote applications (configs, cache, data that has not been completely cleaned).
• 🔒 Protected data (e.g. files) Android/data and Android/obb, Some apps are hidden from the user).
• 📊 Cache of system services (e.g. Google Play Services or Mi Cloud).

But in practice, there is often more to the Other, such as many POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro users who find that after upgrading to MIUI 14, the partition suddenly inflates by 10-15 GB. The reason is that old firmware versions are not properly cleaned. The system keeps backups of previous builds "just in case," but forgets to delete them.

Another common case is the cache of messengers and social networks, for example, Telegram or VK can store gigabytes of media files in folders that MIUI does not classify as Multimedia. The same applies to games:.obb files (additional data for games) often end up in Other, although logically they should be Applications.

⚠️ Note: Some files in Other are critical to the system, such as deleting a folder /data/dalvik-cache It will cause all applications to crash and you have to flash it back, so never delete files manually unless you're sure they're there.

Why the Other Takes So Much Space: 5 Top Reasons

If your Xiaomi’s Other section is larger than 5-10GB, it’s likely one of these reasons is to blame:

1. Accumulation of temporary update files. OTA-update MIUI leaves behind “tails” – folders with backup copies (/cache/ota), which are not always automatically cleaned.
2. System services errors: For example, Mi Cloud or Google Drive can create duplicate files when synchronized, which are in the Other.
3. Incorrect classification of files. MIUI Sometimes it confuses data types, like downloaded data from a browser. PDF-The files may not be in the "Documents" but in the "Other».
4. Remnants of remote applications: Many programs (especially games) leave behind files in Android/data or Android/obb folders that are not deleted through the standard menu.
5. Logs and dumps: If the smartphone is frequently rebooted or lagged, the system creates debugging files (/data/anr, /data/tombstones) that can weigh hundreds of megabytes.

📊 Statistics by model (based on user feedback):

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI The “other” problem is more common than the “other” problem. MIUI China.This is because the global version contains more pre-installed Google services that actively cache data.

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

Unfortunately, MIUI doesn't provide a detailed analysis of the content of "Other," but there are several ways to see hidden files and see what can be deleted:

Method 1: Through built-in "Storage Analysis"

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Slip on “Other” – the system will show a list of folders, sorted by size.
3. Look for suspiciously large folders: Android/data, cache, log.

Method 2: Use a file manager with root rights

If you have root access, install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer and check the following folders:

• 📂 /data/app — remnants of remote applications.
• 📂 /data/dalvik-cache — Dalvik cache (you can delete it, but the system will restore it when you restart it).
• 📂 /data/log — Logs of the system (can be cleaned manually).
• 📂 /cache — Temporary files (are safely cleaned).

Method 3: Analysis by ADB

For advanced users: connect your smartphone to your PC and follow the command:

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

This command will show the largest folders in the /data section, where the main “junk” usually hides.

💡

💡

If you are not sure if you can delete the folder, rename it first (for example, add.bak at the end). If the smartphone works normally after the reboot, you can delete the folder.

How to Clean Up Xiaomi’s “Other”: Safe Ways

Before you start cleaning, back up your sensitive data. Some methods can cause failures if you delete critical files.

Method 1: Standard cleaning through settings

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Select “Clear Cache” (this will delete temporary system application files).
3. Slip on “Other” and manually select folders to clean (for example, Downloads, if there are unnecessary files).

Method 2: Removal of update residues

If the "Other" has grown since the MIUI update:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Remove the downloaded service pack.
3. Reset the device.

Method 3: Cleaning through Safe Mode

Some files in Other are blocked by working applications to be deleted:

1. Press the power button and hold the “Switch off” until the Safe Mode window appears.
2. In Safe Mode, open the file manager and delete unnecessary folders (e.g. /Android/data/com.mi.name.applications for remote programs).
3. Reboot your smartphone.

Method 4: Resetting cache through Recovery

This is a radical but effective way to:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the power button + volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select "Wipe Cache Partition" (not to be confused with Wipe Data!).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Do not use Deep Clean features in third-party applications (such as Clean Master or CCleaner) and they often delete critical files, resulting in a cyclical smartphone reboot.

Backup important data|Check the vacant space (should be available) ≥10%)|Close all applications|Disable synchronization of Mi Cloud|Connect charging (the process may take time)-->

What to do if the “Other” grows again: prevention

Even after cleaning, the Other can grow back.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic firmware updates. Install updates manually to avoid accumulating temporary files.
• 🚫 Don't use Google Play "cleaners"; most of them are useless or harmful to your health. MIUI.
• 📱 Clean the cache of system applications regularly, especially Google Play Services, Mi Cloud and Gallery.
• 🔍 Check the Downloads folder. Many files downloaded through the browser are in "Other».
• 📉 Remove unused applications completely. Use Settings → Annexes → Delete data, not just “Delete».

🔧

💡

If the Other is growing for no apparent reason, check your smartphone for viruses. Some malware masks its files as system files, and they fall into this category.

For POCO and Redmi users with MIUI 13/14, there is another life hack: disable Adaptive Cleanup in battery settings, a feature that often conflicts with memory management and leads to the accumulation of unnecessary files.

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical errors in their attempts to make room, which they then have to correct through flashing.

• 🗑️ Delete the folder /data/data. This will result in a complete reset of all applications and data loss.
• 🔧 Clean up /system or /vendor. These sections contain firmware – their damage will make the smartphone a “brick».
• 📲 Use rm commands -rf One typo, and you delete the whole system.
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings without backup. It's an extreme measure, and it doesn't always solve the problem with "Other».

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning the “Other” smartphone began to brake or overheat, most likely, you deleted important system files.

📌

Alternative solutions: if nothing helps

If the Other is 10+GB and standard methods don’t work, try these options:

Option 1: Fastboot flashing

This is an extreme measure, but it is guaranteed to clean up all unnecessary files.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from en.miui.com.
2. Unpack the archive and connect the smartphone to the PC in Fastboot mode (clip the power + volume down).
3. Run the script. flash_all.bat (Windows or flash_all.sh (Linux/Mac).

Option 2: Use of custom Recovery (TWRP)

If you have a bootloader unlocked, install TWRP and manually clean the partitions:

• 📌 Cleaning up Cache and Dalvik.
• 📌 Deletion of folders /data/local/tmp and /data/log.

Option 3: Transfer of data to SD-map

If your Xiaomi supports Adoptable Storage (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro), you can expand the memory with the memory card:

1. Put it in. SD-card (class 10 or UHS-I).
2. Go to Settings → Storage → Memory Map → Format as internal memory.
3. Move some of the applications and data to the map.

💡

💡

Before flashing, check if your model supports Fastboot firmware. Some devices (such as the POCO M3) require unlocking the bootloader, which will reset all data.

FAQ: Answers to the frequent questions about the “Other” in the memory of Xiaomi