Xiaomi’s ‘Other’: What are these files, why do they take up space, and how to delete them

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi storage settings and found that the mysterious “Other” category is 10, 20, or even 30 GB of precious memory, and neither photos, nor apps, nor cache show such appetite, where do these files come from, why does the system not classify them — and most importantly, can they be safely deleted without breaking the phone?

This article will not simply explain what is behind the term “Other” in the MIUI (We will analyze the 5 main sources of such files, show how to identify them with built-in and third-party tools, and provide step-by-step cleaning instructions – from basic actions to advanced methods for power users. And you will learn which files from the category “Other” in any case can not be touched, so as not to turn the smartphone into a “brick».

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s Memory and Why Does It Take So Much Space?

In the operating system MIUI (Like pure Android, the Other category is a kind of garbage bin for files that the system can’t uniquely categorize as standard: Apps, Images, Videos or Audio:

• 📁 System log files (.log,.dump) - error logs, crash reports, debugging data, especially those generated by Redmi Note and the Redmi Note. POCO custom-made.
• 🔄 Temporary application files – residues from installation APK, failed updates, messenger cache (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) that is not automatically cleared.
• 🗃️ Database files (.db,.sqlite) are local storages of data from games, social networks, or even system services like Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Remnant Remnants of Remote Applications – folders with settings, saves, or a cache of programs you have long uninstalled.
• 🔍 Hidden user files – downloads from browsers, archives, files with non-standard extensions (for example,.torrent or.iso).

Why is The Other growing to an incredible size? Three things are to blame:

1. Architecture MIUI: The system is not optimized for automatic cleaning of temporary files, especially on budget models (Redmi). 9A, POCO M3).
2. Pig apps: Some programs (such as TikTok, Facebook, cached games) create dozens of small files that don’t fall into the standard categories.
3. File system errors: When abrupt-turn off the phone (for example, when the battery goes down), files can be “lost” and appear in “Other”.

How to check what exactly ranks in the category “Other”

Before you delete something, you have to understand what we're dealing with. MIUI There are built-in analysis tools, but they only show the big picture.

Method 1: Built-in Storage Analyzer

Open the Settings. → The phone. → Memory (or Settings) → Memory in newer versions. Here you'll see a diagram of the memory distribution. Click on the "Other" section, and the system will show the main folders that occupy space. Alas, the detail is minimal: usually it's Android, Download or MIUI.

Method 2: File Manager (Advanced Analysis)

Use Mi File Manager (preinstalled) or Solid Explorer (from Google Play). Enable the display of hidden files (Settings) → Show hidden files and check them out:

• 📂 folder /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — This is where application data is stored, including cache.
• 📂 folder /storage/emulated/0/Download — often overloaded with old downloads.
• 📂 folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI — system log files and updates.

Method 3: Specialized Utilities

For in-depth analysis, install Storage Analyzer or DiskUsage from Google Play, which scans memory and shows:

• 📊 The largest files (even hidden ones).
• 🗑️ «Dead Data – Files that are not tied to any application.
• 🔍 Duplicates and temporary files with extensions.tmp,.bak.

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If in a folder Android/data you saw a folder with the name of the remote application (for example, com.tencent.ig for the PUBG Mobile, it can be safely removed - these are the remains of the cache.

Which files from the “Other” can be deleted and which can’t.

Here's the rule: don't delete anything randomly. Some files in the Other category are critical to the system's operation. Below is a table that shows you what you can touch and what you can't touch.

⚠️ Warning: Never delete files with.odex,.vdex, or.oat extensions, which are optimized components of applications, and if they are damaged, they will crash the system the next time you run them.

Step-by-step: how to clean the “Other” in Xiaomi memory

Now, let's get to the practice. Below are 4 cleanup methods, from the simplest to the most advanced. Start with the first and move on to the next one if the space doesn't vacate.

Method 1: Clear cache and temporary files through settings

This is the safest way to do that, and does not require root rights:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select apps with large cache (e.g. Google Play Services, Mi Video) and click Clear Cache.
4. For mass cleaning, go to Settings → Memory. → Clean and choose Deep Cleaning.

Method 2: Manually Delete Unnecessary Files

Use the Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer:

Folders with the name of remote applications in /Android/data

Files with.tmp,.log extension (over 30 days)

Old ones. APK-file /Download

Empty folders or duplicate images-->

Method 3: Reset partition cache (without data loss)

This method deletes all temporary files of the system, but does not affect personal data:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will erase all your data, including photos and apps.

Method 4: Advanced cleaning with the help of ADB (skilled)

If previous methods didn’t work, try removing system debris via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This requires connecting the phone to the PC:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on the phone to debug by USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional settings → For developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Clean up the standard rm cleaner -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary rm files -rf /cache/* # Clearing the system's cache

This method removes deeply hidden files, but only use it if you are confident in your actions.

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The most effective way is to manually clean the app cache and reset the partition cache through Recovery, which frees up to 30-50% of the space in the Other category without risk to the system.

What to do if the “Other” takes up its place again

Cleaning is a one-off solution. To keep the problem from coming back, set your phone right:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic caching in heavy apps (like Google Maps or Netflix).
• 📥 Change the download path by default to SD-card (if any).
• 🗑️ Set up automatic cleaning in Settings → Memory. → Auto-cleaning.
• 🔍 Check the Download folder regularly – it is often clogged with unnecessary files.

If the Other grows too fast (for example, by 1-2 GB per week), it may indicate:

• 🐛 Virus or malware – scan the Malwarebytes phone.
• 📱 File system failure – perform a check with adb shell fsck.
• 🔄 Mistake in work MIUI — Try resetting to factory settings (but do a backup first!).

Top.-5 Applications for Automatic Cleaning of the Other»

If you don't want to go through files manually, use specialized programs. We tested dozens of utilities and selected the most effective ones for Xiaomi:

For maximum effect, use a combination SD Maid (for deep cleaning) + Files by Google (for regular maintenance of order).

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes in their efforts to make room, leading to data loss or system failures, and here are 3 of the most dangerous actions and how to avoid them:

1. Delete the entire Android folder This folder contains all the app data, and deleting it is equivalent to resetting your phone (/Android/data/<package>/cache).
2. Use of rm commands -rf /data rm -rf /system These commands destroy all user data or system, and even with root rights, they can be used to build up the phone.
3. Cleaning through the “Master of Optimization” from unknown developers Many “cleaners” from Google Play actually show false scan results or contain malicious code.-5.

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning the phone started to brake or overheat, you probably deleted critical files. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).

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