Every Xiaomi smartphone owner is confronted with a frightening space-shortage notification, and when trying to figure out where precious gigabytes are going, a mysterious category called “Other” or “System Data” is discovered, which can be as large as 5 to 50 GB, making it impossible to install new apps or shoot high-resolution videos.
Unlike the plain folders of photos or music, the contents of this section are hidden from the eyes of the average user. Android and the MIUI or HyperOS shell accumulate temporary files, cache of remote applications and remnants of system updates. Understanding the nature of this data is the first step to successfully optimize a device without risking damage to the operating system.
In this article, we will take a closer look at what this hidden section consists of, why it grows to a giant size, and what proven methods exist for cleaning it safely, and what tools to use and what actions to avoid so as not to turn your phone into a brick.
The Anatomy of the Other: What’s Hiding There
The Other section is not a single file, but a collection of different types of data that the system cannot classify as standard media or apps, primarily cached data from messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, which when you view videos or send photos, copies of them are saved for quick access, but eventually turn into digital garbage.
Also, a significant part is occupied by residual files after deleting programs. Even after uninstallation of the game or utility, logs, settings and temporary databases can remain in memory, and also the cache of streaming services, such as YouTube or Spotify, which stores buffered parts of videos and tracks, gets here.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to manually delete files from system folders through root-righted file managers without knowing exactly what they are intended. Deleting critical system libraries can cause a cyclical device reboot.
Another source of partition growth is debugging logs and error reports. If the system crashes, Android starts writing information about them into special text files, and with frequent errors, these logs can grow to several gigabytes, taking up useful space.
Use of the built-in cleaning tool
The safest and first method Xiaomi owners should use is the regular Security app, which is designed specifically for the MIUI file system, and knows which files can be deleted without consequences. To start the process, you need to find the application with the shield icon and start the scan.
Once the analysis is complete, the system will suggest removing junk files, but standard cleaning is often superficial. To get to the deeper level, click on the "Clean" button in the "Junk" section, and then look closely at categories such as "Big Files" or "Apps," which often hides forgotten.apk installation packages.
☑️ Safe cleaning plan
To do this, you need to find the "Cache Clearing" section inside the Security app or in your phone settings and select specific programs, which allows you to free up space without removing important correspondence or settings.
Manual cleaning of app cache and messengers
The largest share in the “Other” section is usually occupied by messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber are prone to accumulating a huge number of media files. In Telegram, for example, cache can take up tens of gigabytes if you do not configure automatic cleaning. To fix this, you need to go to the settings of the application itself, select “Data and memory” and click “Clear Cache”.
For other applications, the path will be different: go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the program that consumes the most resources (often browsers or social networks), and select Memory. There is a button available to clear cache. Don't confuse it with the "Clear All" button, as it will reset the application to the state immediately after installation, removing your logins and settings.
- 📱 Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Use of memory → Clear the cache.
- 💬 WhatsApp: Settings → Data and storage → Storage management → Select chats to delete.
- 🌐 Chrome: Settings → Confidentiality and security → Clear History (select Images and Other Files»).
- 🎵 YouTube/Spotify: In the application settings, find the “Storage” section and clear the download cache.
Regularly checking these settings will help keep the Other section under control, especially for users who are actively using the phone to work and communicate in group chats, where new images and videos are constantly circulating.
💡
In Telegram settings, enable Autodelete Media by setting a 3 day or 1 week deadline to prevent old files from accumulating in your phone’s memory.
Storage analysis via computer and ADB
If the built-in tools don't work, you can connect the phone to your computer. However, standard file transfer mode (MTP) won't show system folders. Advanced users use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) toolkit for deep analysis, which allows you to access the file system at a deeper level.
To get started, turn on Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in advanced settings, activate Debugging by USB. Once you connect to your PC and install the drivers, you can use commands for analysis.
adb shell dumpsys diskstatsThis command will output disk usage statistics to help you understand which processes or packages take up the most space, and you can also use third-party PC utilities that connect through ADB and visualize the file system, showing hidden /data and /cache folders that are not normally available.
⚠️ Attention: Working through ADB It's a very careful process. /data Manually using the command line can cause the phone to fail completely. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions.
An alternative to complex commands is to use analysis applications like DiskUsage or Storage Analyzer, which build a diagram-like memory card, which lets you visually see which file or folder has inflated the Other section and delete it point by point.
Specifics of working with MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells have their own “Other” partitioning features. In recent versions of HyperOS, the algorithm for compressing data and working with virtual memory has been changed, the system can reserve space for future updates or use free space to speed up applications, which is displayed as busy memory.
Often, the partition grows after a major system update. During the installation process, old firmware files are not deleted immediately, but remain in a backup in case of rollback. If the phone is stable for several days after the update, these files can be considered safe to delete, but the system itself rarely does it quickly.
| Type of data | Wherever | Is it safe to remove | Recommended method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Application settings | Yes. | Through the app menu |
| Logs of debugging | System folders | Yes. | Reboot or ADB |
| Remains of updates | Section System | Yes (after update) | Discharge or cleaning |
| Gallery basket | The album "Deleteds" | Yes. | Cleaning the basket |
| System Logs | MIUI/log folder | Yes. | File manager |
Users MIUI You should also pay attention to the folder. MIUI/debug_log. If you are not a developer and do not send error reports to Xiaomi, it is better to turn off this feature in a special menu to prevent further growth of logs.
Radical methods: Resetting and flashing
When software methods fail and the Other continues to take up the lion's share of memory, the last viable way is a full factory reset, guaranteed to remove all the accumulated debris, but it will take time to back up and configure the phone again.
Before you reset, make sure to back up your important data in the Xiaomi Cloud or on your computer. After that, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The phone will return to the “out of the box” state and the “Other” section will be minimal.
What if, even after the reset, the “Other” takes up a lot of space?
In some cases, cleaning through Recovery mode helps. Turn off your phone and press the button combination (usually Volume Up + Power). From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. This action is deeper than resetting through settings, and often helps remove file system artifacts.
Prevention of memory overflow
To keep the problem from returning in a month, it is important to develop a habit of monitoring memory status. Don’t let the storage be filled up. Android and MIUI need free space (at least 10-15% of the total) for caching and performance mechanisms to work properly.
Use cloud services to store photos and videos. Set up automatic sync with Google Photos or Xiaomi cloud will allow you to store originals on the Internet, leaving only thumbnails on your phone, which will significantly reduce the load on the internal drive.
💡
Regularly restarting your phone (at least once a week) helps the system automatically clean temporary files and reset the hanging processes, preventing the Other partition from sprawling.
Also, check the list of installed apps periodically, and removing programs you haven't used in more than a month is a great way to keep things in order, and remember that even inactive apps can update and generate background debris.