Xiaomi Redmi’s Other Files folder: What it is, why it takes up space and how to clean it

Have you ever looked into the storage of your Xiaomi Redmi and wondered why the Other Files partition takes up gigabytes of memory when you didn't save anything there? This mysterious category is a real data black hole: it collects everything that doesn't get into the standard DCIM, Downloads or Music folders. But what exactly is behind that name? Application cache, temporary system files, remnants of deleted programs or something else?

In this article, we’ll look at what’s in the Other Files** on Redmi, why it’s growing to an incredible size, and most importantly, how to clean it safely without breaking your smartphone, which files can be deleted without risk, and which ones should not be touched, even if they take up a lot of space, and we’ll talk about hidden folders that 90% of users don’t know about, and we’ll give you a checklist for deep memory cleaning.

Spoiler: Sometimes, the garbage hides important data that the system uses to work, such as update files or MIUI backups. Delete them and the smartphone may start to slow down or stop updating altogether. So cleaning Other Files requires caution and knowledge of nuances.

What are Xiaomi Redmi’s “Other Files” and Why Do They Take So Much Space?

The Other Files section (or "Other" in the English version of MIUI) is a shopping cart for anything that doesn't fall into the standard categories: photos, videos, audio, documents or applications.

• 📁 Application cache – temporary data that programs save to speed up work (for example, thumbnails from a gallery or downloaded maps in Google Maps).

The main problem is that MIUI doesn't always sort files correctly, like the documents downloaded from Telegram might not be in Downloads, but in here, or the TikTok cache will grow to 2 GB, but will be displayed as "unknown data," and "Other Files" will often get:

• 🎮 Save games (e.g. from Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).
• 📊 Application databases (e.g. WhatsApp chat history before backup).
• 📱 Files. APK manually installed programs (unless you downloaded them from the Play Market).

Why is this section growing?

1. Automatic cache saving – many applications (especially social networks and instant messengers) do not limit the amount of temporary files.
2. Incomplete cleaning – when you delete the program, its data can remain in the system.
3. Mistakes. MIUI — Sometimes files get into Others due to file manager failures.

Hidden folders in Other Files: What can be deleted and what can’t be deleted

If you go to the Xiaomi file manager (Files → Categories → Others), you will see the chaos of folders with obscure names like com.android.providers.downloads or miui.

And you'll find folders with names like com.xiaomi... or com.android. These are the data from system applications.

• com.xiaomi.micloud – sync files with Mi Cloud.
• com.android.vending is the cache of Google Play Market.
• com.miui.gallery – data from the standard gallery.

Critical folders that can not be touched:

• 🚫 MIUI — shell-file.
• 🚫 Android/obb — Additional game data (deleting the game will lead to its collapse).
• 🚫 system - kernel MIUI (Changes to the smartphone can block).

How to Safely Clean Other Files on Xiaomi Redmi: Step-by-step

Before cleaning, it is necessary to:

1. Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Check the space available on your smartphone (if less than 10%, cleaning can take hours).
3. Connect the charging – the process can drain the battery.

Now, let's get to cleaning. There are 3 safe ways to do this.

Method 1: Integrated MIUI tools

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Click on "Other Files» → «Clean up».
3. Confirm the deletion of the cache and temporary files.

⚠️ Attention: This method only removes surface debris. Android/data will remain intact.

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager

Use the standard Files app:

1. Go to the Inner Memory → Others.
2. Sort files by size (click on three dots → “Sort”).
3. Delete:

• 🗑️ Folders thumbnails, lost.dir, OTA (if the update is installed).
• 🗑️ Files with extension.tmp,.log,.bak.
• 🗑️ Cache of messengers (com.whatsapp, org.telegram).

Check the space available (needs at least 1 GB)

Backup important data

Close all applications

Do not delete folders called "system" or "MIUI"

After cleaning, restart the smartphone-->

Method 3: Deep cleaning applications

If manually scary, use the utilities:

⚠️ Warning: Don’t use “cleaners” with aggressive algorithms (like Clean Master) that often delete important data, disguised as “optimization».

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If the smartphone slows down after cleaning, restart it. MIUI can temporarily hang over when files are re-indexed after a large amount of data is deleted.

Top.-5 Apps that clog “Other Files” on Xiaomi

Some programs are real memory eaters, and these are the main culprits behind the expansion of the Other Files section on Redmi:

1. TikTok Stores video cache in the folder com.zhiliaoapp.musically.Can take up to 5-7 GB when used actively.Cleaned only manually!

How do you reduce their appetite?

• 🔧 In the application settings, turn off “Autoload Media” (for example, in WhatsApp or Telegram).
• 🔧 Use cloud-based saves for games (for example, through Google Play Games).

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The most voracious apps are social networks, instant messengers, and games, and their cache can account for up to 70% of the total volume of Other Files.

What to do if “Other Files” take 10+GB and don’t clear

If, after all the manipulations, the Other Files section still takes up tens of gigabytes, the problem lies deeper.

• 🔍 Hidden update files — MIUI It can be downloaded in the background (/.ota).

Solutions for each case:

1. Hidden MIUI Updates

Check the /.ota folder (it is hidden – turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings). If there is an update.zip file weighing 2-3 GB, it can be deleted, but only if:

• ✅ Update already installed.
• ✅ You are not planning to update anytime soon.

2. Damaged file system

Check with Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Select "Wipe & Reset» → «Wipe Cache».
4. Reset the device.

3. Viruses

Check your smartphone with an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).

• /data/local/tmp
• /sdcard/.trash
• /sdcard/.nomedia (if there are.apk or.exe executables).

4. Display error

Sometimes MIUI shows the wrong size of "Other Files" to reset the display cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Files → Memory → Clear the cache.
2. Reboot your smartphone.

How to Prevent Other Files from Spreading in the Future

To avoid the problem again, follow these rules:

1.Tune in automatic cleaning

MIUI has a built-in tool:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Settings (cog).
2. Turn on "Car Cleaner."
3. Set a schedule (for example, once a week).

2. Limit cache for applications

For the most voracious programs (such as TikTok or Instagram):

1. Open Settings → Applications → [Name] → Memory.
2. Click on “Limit Cache” and set a limit (e.g. 500MB).

3. Move the files to SD-map

If your Redmi supports memory cards:

• 📁 Transfer media files to Settings → Memory. → Data portability.
• 📁 Install applications on SD (if maintained).

4.Use cloud storage

Set up automatic upload of photos and videos to:

• 🌥️ Google Photos (free up to 15 GB).
• 🌥️ Mi Cloud (5GB for Xiaomi accounts).

5. Regularly check your memory

Once a month:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Other files.
• 🔍 Delete unnecessary files (especially with.tmp,.log extensions).
• 🔍 Clean the cache of messengers and social networks.

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Prevention is more important than cure! Regularly cleaning the cache and transferring files to the cloud will help avoid memory problems in the future.

FAQ: Frequent questions about “Other Files” on Xiaomi Redmi