What is the “Other” in the memory of Xiaomi Redmi 8 and how to clean it: the complete guide

You opened your storage settings on your Xiaomi Redmi 8 to make room, and you saw a strange "Other" section that takes several gigabytes? It's not a system bug or a virus -- that's how MIUI groups files that don't fall into the standard categories ("Apps," "Images," "Video"). In this article, we'll look at what exactly is hidden under "Other," why this partition grows over time, and how to reduce it without harming the phone.

The Redmi 8 (and other Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones) feature is that it actively caches data to speed up work, and backs up settings and log files, some of which becomes unnecessary over time, but is not automatically deleted, resulting in a “Other” section that can take anywhere from 1-2 GB to 10+ GB — especially if the phone has been in use for a long time without resetting to factory settings.

It's important to understand that not everything in The Other can be safely removed, like Dalvik-cache or /data/app-lib files, which are critical for the stable operation of applications, but there are also junk data that are easily cleaned — temporary update files, remnants of deleted programs, duplicate media files.

What is in the category “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi 8

The Other section of MIUI is a collection of files that the system cannot uniquely categorize as standard.

• 📁 System and application cache: temporary files that are created to speed up work (for example, image thumbnails, web page data in the browser).
• 🔄 Remnants of Remote Applications: Folders and files of programs you uninstalled, but their tails are left in memory.
• 📄 Log files and dumps: error logs, crash reports (e.g, /data/anr or /data/tombstones).
• 🔗 Symbolic references and duplicates: MIUI sometimes creates copies of files for backup (e.g., in the /MIUI/Backup).
• 🔄 Update files: Updated but not installed service packs MIUI or.
• 🎮 Game data: saves, cache textures and other files that games store outside of standard folders.

On Redmi 8 with MIUI 10-12 (depending on the firmware version), the structure of the Other may differ. For example, in newer versions of MIUI, part of the cache is moved to the System Data section, but the essence remains the same. To understand exactly what takes up space, you will need to analyze the memory using third-party tools (we will discuss them below).

Note: if the Other takes up more than 5 GB, this is an occasion to check the phone for viruses or MIUI malfunctions. The normal volume for this section is 1-3 GB (depending on the intensity of use).

Why the Other is growing with time

The main reason for the growth of the Other section is the features of MIUI and Android, and here are the key factors:

1. Automatic caching: Android and MIUI are constantly creating temporary files to speed up work, for example, when watching videos in a browser or social networks, cache files are formed, which are not always deleted.
2. Incomplete uninstallation of applications: many programs leave behind folders with settings or cache (for example, in /data/data/name packet).
3. System Updates: When you download MIUI updates, temporary files are created that can remain in memory even after installation.
4. Backup MIUI: The system automatically saves copies of settings, SMS and other data to /MIUI/Backup.
5. File system errors: Sometimes files are “lost” and end up in “Other” due to write failures.

With the Redmi 8, with its modest 32-64GB of storage (depending on the modification), the sprawling Other can be a serious problem. For example, if this partition takes 4-5GB, you lose up to 15% of the total storage capacity, which is critical for a budget smartphone.

Another thing is that MIUI doesn't always correctly count the volume of the Other. Sometimes, after cleaning the cache or deleting the files, the partition still shows a large size, because the system updates the memory data with a delay. To see the real volume, restart the phone after cleaning.

⚠️ Note: If the Other takes more than 8-10 GB, this may indicate file system damage or malware action. In this case, it is recommended to perform a factory reset or check the phone with an antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).

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

Standard MIUI tools don't allow you to analyze the contents of the "Other" section in detail, and you'll need third-party apps to figure out which files are taking up space.

To start, we recommend using Files by Google, which is an official application from Google that does not require root rights and is safe for the system.

1. Open the app and go to the “Cleanup” tab.
2. Click “Free space” – the program scans the phone for unnecessary files.
3. In the “Other Files” section, you will see a list of large folders and files that can be deleted.

If you need more detailed information, use SD Maid (requires root for full analysis) or DiskUsage for visualization.

• /data/log – system logs
• /data/local/tmp – Temporary files
• /MIUI/Backup – backups of MIUI
• /Android/data – application cache
• /Android/obb - Additional game files.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders /system, /vendor or /boot — This can cause your phone to fail, and avoid deleting files with.odex,.apk or.so extensions in system directories.

How to Clean the “Other” in Redmi 8 Memory: Step-by-step instructions

Now, let's get to the practice, and here are the safe cleanups that don't require root rights or damage the system, and start with the simplest methods and move on to the more complex ones if the results aren't good.

1. Cleaning the cache of applications and systems

The easiest and safest way to do this is to delete the cache, which won't affect your personal data, but it will free up a few gigabytes.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Sort by size."
3. Open each major app (e.g. Facebook, YouTube, Chrome) and click Clear Cache.
4. To clean the system cache, go to Settings → Storage → Cache data and confirm the deletion.

This method allows you to release from 500 MB to 2 GB, depending on the number of applications installed. Repeat the procedure every 1-2 months.

2. Delete unnecessary files through the "Files"

The Files by Google application will help you find and delete large, unnecessary files:

Please note the following types of files that can be safely deleted:

• 📦 APK-Files: Application installation packages that you have already installed (are in the /Download or /APK).
• 📝 Log files: files with.log,.txt extensions in folders /log or /data/log.
• 🎮 Game cash: folders in /Android/obb from long-distant games.
• 🔄 Remains of updates: files of the form update.zip root-folder.

3.Dalvik section cache reset

Dalvik-cache is an Android virtual machine cache that grows over time, and cleaning it requires rebooting the phone, but it doesn't delete personal data.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select the option "Wipe & Reset» → «Wipe Cache».
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

This method helps if the Other takes up a lot of space due to caching errors. Once cleaned, the Dalvik phone can boot longer than usual - that's normal.

4.Delete MIUI backups

MIUI automatically backs up settings, SMS and other data, which can take up to 1-2 GB:

1. Open the Files app and go to /MIUI/Backup.
2. Remove old backups (date folders).
3. If you want to disable automatic backup, go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset and turn off the option.

5.Use of ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If previous methods have failed, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove system debris, which requires connecting your phone to your computer:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB).
3. Connect your phone to your computer and execute commands: adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Clean up the MIUI Optimizer rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files rm -rf /data/log/* # Delete logs (requires root)

Be careful with rm commands – misuse can lead to data loss.

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The safest methods to clean up the Other are cleaning up the app cache, deleting old backups and using Files by Google.Those with ADB or Recovery Mode require caution.

What to do if the “Other” is not reduced

If after all the manipulations, the Other section still takes up a lot of space, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔍 Hidden system files: some files MIUI Not displayed in standard file managers.
• 🛠️ File system damage: Data write errors can cause file "loss.
• 🦠 Viruses: Some malware masks its files as system.
• 📱 Mistake. MIUI: Sometimes the system miscalculates the occupied space.

In such cases, it will help:

1. Virus Check: Use Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile.
2. File System Check: In Recovery Mode, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe eMMC (this won’t delete personal data, but will correct errors).
3. Factory reset: last resort, but guaranteed to clean up all unnecessary. Don't forget to back up!

If the problem persists even after reset, it may indicate a hardware malfunction (for example, wear of flash memory), in which case we recommend contacting the service center.

⚠️ Note: On a Redmi 8 with worn memory (for example, after 2-3 years of heavy use), the Other can grow due to bad blocks, damaged sectors that the system marks as occupied.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To the “Other” section does not take up gigabytes of memory, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly: Do it every 1-2 months through Settings → Warehouse.
• 🚫 Turn off automatic reservations MIUI, If you do not use this function.
• 📱 Remove unused apps completely, not just “clean up data».
• 🔍 Scan your memory periodically using Files by Google or SD Maid.
• 📲 Update. MIUI: In newer versions of firmware, errors with memory management are often corrected.

Also, limit the number of applications installed simultaneously. On Redmi 8 with 32 GB of memory, the optimal number is 30-40 programs. If more is installed, cache and temporary files will take up too much space.

If you install and delete games frequently, use a memory card to store their data.

1. Insert microSD into your phone.
2. Go to Settings → Storage → Memory Map.
3. Click on “Format as internal memory” (Warning: After that, the card will not be used on other devices!).
4. In application settings (such as games), select a memory card as a data storage location.

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If you frequently reinstall MIUI via Fastboot or Recovery, format the Data section before firmware, which will remove any remnants of old versions of the system that may accumulate in Other.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Other” in Redmi’s memory 8