Xiaomi’s “Other”: What it is, why it grows and how to reduce it without harming the system

You open up your Xiaomi memory settings and you see that the lion's share is taken up by the mysterious "Other" section -- 10, 20, maybe 30 GB -- while cleaning the cache, deleting apps, even resetting to factory settings doesn't help. What are these files? Why is the system hiding them? And most importantly, can they be safely deleted without breaking the smartphone?

In this article, we will explore in detail what is hidden under the category “Other” in MIUI, why this section grows over time, and what effective methods will help to make room – from standard tools to hidden features for power users, and you will learn which files are strictly forbidden to touch, so as not to disrupt the system.

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s memory and why does it take up so much space?

The Other section of MIUI is a sort of garbage bin of the operating system, where files that are not explicitly categorized as Applications, Media, or Documents are placed.

• 📁 System caches are temporary files that are created when Android and MIUI (For example, Dalvik-cache, ART-cash).
• 🔄 Remnants of remote applications are not completely erased program data, especially if they were uninstalled incorrectly.
• 📊 Logs and dumps of the system are debugging files that are created when crashes or for diagnostic purposes (for example, /data/tombstones).
• 🔐 Encrypted data – files that the system cannot classify (e.g., Mi Account backups).
• 🖼️ Miniatures and sketches – gallery cache that can weigh several gigabytes.

On new Xiaomi smartphones (such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 14), this section is often inflated due to the features of the MIUI 14/15:

• 🔄 Automatic backup – the system creates hidden copies of settings and data.
• 📱 Optimization for game mode – cache resources to speed up the launch of games.
• 🔒 Encrypting user data – some files become “invisible” to standard cleaning tools.

According to XDA Developers, on devices with MIUI 14 and higher, the Other can take up up to 40% of the total memory if not cleaned regularly, while in older versions (such as MIUI 12), this section was less noticeable.

How do you check what is in the “Other” section?

To understand which files are hidden under the Other, you can use both standard MIUI tools and third-party utilities.

Method 1: Built-in memory analyzer

1. Go to Settings → Memory.

2. Click on the memory usage graph, then select "Other".

3. the system will show the approximate composition of files (cache, logs, temporary data).

🔴 Limitation: MIUI does not give detailed folder partitioning, so this method is suitable only for superficial evaluation.

Method 2: View through the file manager (with root rights)

If you have root access, you can manually check folders that usually inflate “Other”:

/data/dalvik-cache – Dalvik/ART Cash (can weigh 1-3 GB)


/data/log – System and application logs




/data/tombstones – Error Dumps (up to 500MB)




/data/media/0/DCIM/.thumbnails - Miniatures Gallery




/data/media/0/Android/obb – Cache of games and applications

⚠️ Attention: Deleting files from these folders without understanding their purpose can lead to system crash or data loss. /data/dalvik-cache will cause recompilation of all applications at the next run, which will take 10-30 minute.

Method 3: Third-party applications (without root)

Applications like Files by Google or SD Maid can show more detailed file structure, but they won't give you full access to system partitions, for example, SD Maid finds:

• 🗑️ Remains of the remote APK (.apk-leftovers).
• 📂 Empty folders and duplicates.
• 🔍 Application cache that is not cleaned by standard means.

💡

If you are using SD Maid, enable the “Show Hidden Files” option in the settings to help you detect additional junk folders.

Top.-5 Why the Other is Growing on Xiaomi

The Other section rarely takes up a lot of space on a new smartphone, but over time, it can grow exponentially.

🔹 Feature MIUI 14+: The system actively uses data compression (memory extension function), which is why some files are duplicated in compressed and uncompressed form, increasing the volume of the "Other».

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

Before you start cleaning, make sure to back up your sensitive data, and even safe methods can cause you to lose your files if something goes wrong.

Method 1: Standard cleaning through MIUI

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.

2. Click on Deep Clean and select all available categories (cache, unnecessary files, duplicates).

3. Go back to the Memory section and click Optimize (this will delete temporary system files).

🔹 Efficiency: Frees 1-3 GB, but does not affect deep system files.

Method 2: Cleaning the application cache manually

Some apps (especially games and social media) accumulate gigabytes of cache that is not automatically deleted.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by size (click on the three dots in the upper right corner).
3. Select applications with large cache (e.g. Facebook, TikTok, Genshin Impact).
4. Click Clear Cache (do not delete data unless you want to lose your accounts!).

Method 3: Removing unnecessary updates and firmware

MIUI stores older firmware versions that can be removed:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update.

2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Delete downloaded packets."

3. Also check the folder. /sdcard/Downloaded_rom — There may be old firmware in there.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder /cache manually – this can lead to a cyclical smartphone reboot.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a PC connection:

Adb shell pm trim-caches 256m – Clears the cache of all applications


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




adb shell rm -rf /data/log/* - Clears logs (requires root)

🔹 Important: Teams with rm -rf They can permanently delete critical files if entered incorrectly. Use only if you understand the risks.

💡

The safest way is to combine standard cleaning through MIUI and manual removal of the application cache, and methods with ADB and root are suitable only for advanced users.

What happens if you remove the “Other” completely?

Many users are wondering: can you completely erase the "Other" section? The answer is no, and here's why:

• 🚨 System Crash: Deleting Files from the /data/dalvik-cache or /system This will cause the loss of Android functionality.
• 🔄 Cyclical Reboot: Without temporary files, the system will not be able to run applications correctly.
• 📱 Loss of functionality: Settings will disappear MIUI, Topics, Xiaomi account data.

🔹 Exception: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS), you can safely clean some partitions through TWRP, But it requires a lot of knowledge.

📌 Bottom Line: Instead of trying to remove the Other completely, focus on cleaning your cache regularly and monitoring installed apps.

How can we prevent the “Other” from growing in the future?

To prevent the “Other” section from taking up gigabytes of memory, follow these tips:

• 📵 Turn off automatic backup in Mi Cloud (if not used).
• 🎮 Limit the cache of games through settings (for example, in Genshin Impact you can set a cache limit).
• 📁 Use cloud services to store photos/video (e.g. Google Photos with automatic deletion of local copies).
• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) through Settings → Memory.
• 🚫 Do not install apps from unknown sources – they often leave junk files behind.

🔹 For MIUI 14/15: Turn off Memory Extension (if enabled) as it creates additional temporary files. → Additionally. → Memory. → Expansion of memory.

💡

If you install/remove games frequently, use the App Cloner app to create a sandbox – this will prevent the main memory from clogging.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s “Other” section