“Other” in the memory of Xiaomi Redmi: hidden files, cache and garbage – how to make room

Why does Xiaomi Redmi have a mysterious “Other” section?

You open up the Xiaomi Redmi or POCO settings to check the space, and you see that the memory is almost full, but most of it is marked as "Other." No photos, no apps, no downloads — just a gray section that eats gigabytes. What is the "other" and why is Android not showing its content?

In fact, the Other is a common container for system files, cache, temporary data, and debris that the operating system does not classify as standard categories (applications, media, documents).

• 📁 Application and system cache (including cache) MIUI and Google Services)
• 🔄 Temporary files from updates, installers APK backups
• 🗑️ Remnants of Remote Applications (incomplete uninstallation leaves “tails»)
• 🔒 Encrypted data (e.g. files) Android/data and Android/obb)
• 🤖 System Logs and Dumps (Debugging Information for Developers)

On Xiaomi smartphones, this section is often growing because of the features of MIUI: the shell actively caches data to speed up work, but does not always delete it correctly. For example, after updating the firmware, old files can remain in memory for months, taking up to 5-15 GB on devices with 64/128 GB of storage, while standard cleaning tools (such as Settings → Memory) do not see them.

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

Before you clean the Other, you have to understand the structure of the Other, and there are two ways to do that: built-in MIUI tools and third-party utilities, starting with standard methods.

Xiaomi Redmi and POCO have a hidden memory analysis section:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version line to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find Memory Analysis (or Storage Analysis in global firmware).

Here, the system will show you how to categorize files, including System Data and Cache, but some files may be hidden, requiring root access or ADB to be fully analyzed.

More detailed information comes from third-party apps like Files by Google, SD Maid, or DiskUsage, which visualize occupied space and help you find heavy folders. For example, in DiskUsage, you'll see that most of the Other may be:

• 📂 folder /data/log — System and application logs (up to) 1–2 GB).
• 📂 folder /data/dalvik-cache — cache of the Android virtual machine (up to the 500 MB–1 GB).
• 📂 folder /data/app-lib — Remnants of Remote Program Libraries.

How to Clean the Other Without Root Rights

If you don't have root access, you can free up some of the memory using standard methods, starting with the safest one, the built-in MIUI cleaning utility.

Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup (or Security → Cleaner in global firmware).

1. Click Deep Clean – the utility scans the application cache and temporary files.
2. Select Clear Unnecessary Files (removes cache, thumbnails, empty folders).
3. Tap Delete large files – there may be old APKs, backups or logs.

But the built-in cleaning doesn't remove everything.

• 🧹 Clear the Google Play Services cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Google Play Services → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🗑️ Delete the Downloads app data: unnecessary files often accumulate here.
• 🔄 Restart the phone – after restarting, the system automatically cleans some temporary files.

Clear the cache in Settings → Memory

Remove the Google Play Services cache

Check the folder Downloads to unnecessary files

Reboot the phone

Remove the old ones APK from the Download folder-->

If the Other section still takes up a lot of space after these actions, the problem may be in system logs or update residues, and you will need ADB to delete them (see next section).

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Once the cache is cleared, some applications (such as maps or social media) may be slower when they first run, which is normal.

Cleaning the Other with ADB (no root)

For power users, the most effective way is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that allows you to remove system debris that is not available through standard settings.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Initiated debugging mode USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 taps → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Connect your phone to your PC and execute it in the command line (cmd or terminal):

adb shell


pm trim-caches 1000G # Clears the cache of all applications




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Deletes temporary files




rm -rf /data/log/* # Clears logs (requires superuser rights on some firmware)




exit

If commands are not executed due to lack of rights, try an alternative method:

adb shell


su # (if there is root)




find /data -name "*.log" -delete




find /data -name "*.tmp" -delete




exit

⚠️ Note: Delete files through ADB If you don't understand the consequences, you can crash the system. /data/app, /data/data.odex files are critical system data.

What if the other one comes back after cleaning?

If the “Other” section grows back quickly, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Automatic updates (the system downloads firmware in the background).
• 📱 Aggressive caching applications (e.g. Facebook, TikTok, Google Maps).
• 🛠️ Failures in work MIUI (For example, incorrect partitioning /data).

Decisions:

1. Turn off automatic update download: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-downloading updates → Off.
2. Limit cache for individual applications: In Settings → Apps → [Select App] → Memory Press Limit cache.
3. Reset the cache of the partition (does not delete personal data, but clears the system cache): Settings → Additional → Recovery and reset → Reset the partition cache.

If the problem persists, it may be the firmware that is to blame, and some versions of MIUI (especially 12-14) have a bug that causes the system to miscalculate the space it occupies, which will help:

• 🔄 Fast-forward to a stable version via Mi Flash Tool.
• 📱 Reset to factory settings (pre-save data!).

Dangerous cleaning methods: what not to do

In an effort to free up memory, users often resort to risky ways that could permanently disable the phone, which is strongly discouraged:

⚠️ Note: Delete or modify files in folders /system, /vendor or /boot Without root rights and knowing the consequences, it will lead to a "brick" (turning the phone into a "brick"), and you can only restore it after that through the use of a "brick" ("brick"). EDL-service-centre.

List of hazardous activities:

• 🚫 Formatting of the section /data manually (e.g. through TWRP backup).
• 🚫 Deleting files with the.odex or.art extension is an optimized application code.
• 🚫 Using cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner – they often delete the right files and show false optimizations».
• 🚫 Disabling system applications through ADB (For example, pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics – this can disrupt the work MIUI.

If you want to clean the system, use the official tools:

• 🔧 Mi PC Suite (a program from Xiaomi to manage a phone with a PC).
• 📱 Settings → Memory. → Cleanup → Deep Cleaning (Safe Method from Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings (last option, if other methods did not help).

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No single cleaner can clean up memory better than the built-in MIUI+ADB tools. Most third-party utilities only create the illusion of freeing up space by deleting minor files.

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

To the section “Other” does not occupy gigabytes, follow the simple rules:

1. Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks through Settings → Memory).
2. Monitor updates: Turn off automatic firmware download. Delete old update files in the folder /cache or /data/ota_package.

Use cloud services

Google Photo

Mi Cloud

Remove unused applications

Reload your phone periodically

For advanced users:

• 📊 Monitor memory with Termux: pkg install termux-tools df -h # Shows occupied space by section

If you’re often running into memory shortages, consider buying a phone with a large drive or using a memory card (on supported Redmi models). For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ can install a microSD of up to 1TB, which will fix the problem once and for all.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Other” section of Xiaomi Redmi