Xiaomi’s “Other”: What it is, how to clean it and why it takes gigabytes

Have you ever gone into your Xiaomi memory settings and seen that the Others partition is 5GB, 10GB, or even 20GB — and you haven’t downloaded anything? MIUI, It's a question that raises questions from users of all models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Unlike the understandable sections of "Applications" or "Media", there is no explicit list of files, and cleaning through standard means often does not give a result.

In this article, we will go into detail about what exactly is hidden under the term "Other", why this section grows over time and how to safely reduce it without risk to the system. MIUI And you also get step-by-step instructions based on the specifics of the firmware. MIUI 14 and HyperOS, which are now installed on new Xiaomi devices.

What is “Other” in Xiaomi memory: official explanation and reality

According to Xiaomi’s documentation, the “Other” section includes:

• 📁 System caches are temporary files that create applications and the application itself MIUI speed up.
• 📜 Logs and dumps – records of system operation, errors and failures (used for diagnostics).
• 🔄 Residual files – “junk” left over after deleting apps or updates.
• 🔒 Reserved space is a memory that MIUI Blocks for stable operation (e.g. for updates).

However, in practice, other data often fall into the “Other”:

• 🎮 Cache of games (especially after updates via Google Play Games or Mi Game Center).
• 📱 Virtual memory files (if enabled) RAM Expansion in new models).
• 🔍 Search indexes – databases that create MIUI for quick search by device.
• 📦 Update Archives – Downloaded but not installed firmware packages.

It's important to understand that Others is not just garbage, but some of the files are necessary for the system to work, for example, if you delete all the logs, the next time you crash. MIUI It's not going to be able to send a report to developers, which makes it harder to diagnose problems, but when this partition takes up more than 10 percent of the total memory, it's time to consider cleaning up.

Why the Other is Growing Over Time: 5 Reasons

Even if you don't install new apps, the "Other" section can increase. Here are the main reasons:

1. Automatic updates MIUI Each update leaves behind temporary files that are not always deleted automatically, such as when you update through Settings. → The phone. → Update system downloads the full firmware package (up to 3 GB), which then should be removed — but sometimes remains in the "Other».
2. Social media cache and instant messengers: Apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, or TikTok actively cache media files even if you don't save them, and some of the cache may not appear in the standard file manager.
3. Mistakes in work MIUI. Sometimes the system misclassifies files, for example, screenshots or downloads from the browser may be in Other instead of Images».
4. Virtual memory (Swap) – Xiaomi’s new models (starting with the Redmi Note 11) use RAM extension technology to boost internal memory, and these paging files also end up in Others.

Especially strong "other" grows on devices with MIUI 12.5-14, where storage optimization leaves much to be desired. MIUI 2026: Partially solved, but still requires manual control.

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If you notice that Other has grown dramatically (for example, from 3 GB to 8 GB in a week), check if the software or applications were updated at that time.

How to See What the Other Is Doing: Hidden Tools MIUI

By default. MIUI It doesn't show the detailed composition of the "Other" section, but there are a few ways to get more information:

Method 1: Built-in memory analysis

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Slip on the "Other" schedule.
3. The system will show an approximate composition: "Cash", "Logi", "Other".

The downside of this method is that there are no exact paths to files, and you'll see only generic categories.

Method 2: File Manager with root rights (for advanced)

If you have an unlocked bootloader and root rights, you can use Root Explorer or FX File Manager to view system folders:

• 📂 /data/log/ — logistic.
• 📂 /data/dalvik-cache/ — Android virtual machine cache.
• 📂 /data/system/package_cache/ — cache.

Method 3: ADB-analysis

If you don’t want to root, you’re ready to use it. ADB, Connect your phone to your PC and do it:

adb shell du -sh /data/* | sort -rh | head -n 20

This team will show TOP-20 file /data, And most of the time, the garbage is in the middle of the scale:

• 🗑️ /data/log/ — log (can be cleared).
• 🗑️ /data/local/tmp/ — time-file.
• 🗑️ /data/media/0/Android/obb/ — cache of games (sometimes files remain here after uninstallation).

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Without rooting or ADB You won’t be able to see the full list of files in Others, but even standard memory analysis in the MIUI It will help you understand what takes up the most space: cache or logs.

How to Safely Clean “Other” on Xiaomi: Step-by-step instructions

Before cleaning, it is necessary to:

Make a backup of important data (photos, contacts)|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Close all applications|Disable automatic software update-->

Now we're going to clean up, and the methods are going from the safest to the riskiest.

Method 1: Standard cleaning through settings

1. Open Settings → Memory → Cleaning.
2. Click “Clean” (the system will remove the app cache and some temporary files).
3. Go to Deep Cleanup and select unnecessary files (such as Downloads or Cache Mini Programs).

This method removes up to 1-2 GB of garbage, but does not affect system logs and backup space.

Method 2: Clearing the cache of specific applications

Some apps (especially games and social media) accumulate gigabytes of cache to clear it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an application (such as TikTok or PUBG Mobile).
3. Press "Memory» → «Clear the cache».

For mass cleaning, use applications like SD Maid (requires root for full functionality).

Method 3: Delete logs through the engineering menu

This method is suitable for MIUI 12–14:

1. Enter the dialer code ##4636##.
2. Go to Battery Information (yes, that’s weird, but the menu is universal).
3. Slip on “Memory Use” and find the option “Clear Logs”.

⚠️ Attention: This method may not work or cause malfunctions on some firmware. If the phone starts to brake after cleaning, restart it.

Method 4: Resetting cache via Recovery

If standard methods don’t help, try resetting the cache through recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

This will delete all temporary system files, including the update cache and Dalvik-cache. user data (photos, messages) is not affected.

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After cleaning the cache through Recovery, the first launch of the phone can take up to 5 minutes – this is normal, as the system recovers the necessary files.

Method 5: Manual removal through ADB (skilled)

If you know me, ADB, You can manually delete unnecessary files. Connect your phone to your PC and do it:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/log/*




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*




rm -rf /data/system/package_cache/*




exit




exit

⚠️ Warning: Misuse of these commands may result in data loss or system instability. Do not delete files from folders that are not in the instructions!

What to do if the “other” does not decrease: radical measures

If the “Other” section still takes up a lot of space after all the manipulations, the reasons may be more serious:

Reason 1: A damaged file system

Sometimes due to failures when writing files (for example, when the power is cut off), the file system F2FS or EXT4 It starts to misrepresent the space it's occupied, and it helps:

• 🔧 Checking through Recovery: Some custom Recovery (for example, TWRP) They have the option of Fix Permissions.
• 🔧 Flashing without data loss: install the same version MIUI on top of existing via Fastboot.

Reason 2: Viruses or malware

Some viruses disguise their files as system files, and they get into "Other." Check the phone with:

• 🛡️ Malwarebytes (scans deeper than standard Google Play Protect).
• 🛡️ Dr.Web Light (well-placed Trojans masquerading as cache).

Reason 3: Mistakes in work MIUI

On some firmware (especially beta versions) MIUI 14) there is a bug when the system does not correctly calculate the occupied space:

1. Update the firmware to the latest stable version.
2. If the problem remains, reset to factory settings (but do a backup first!).

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If the Other takes up more than 15% of the total memory and does not decrease after all the manipulations, the most likely problem is the firmware itself, in which case only the firmware or reset will help.

How to prevent the growth of “other”: prevention

To prevent the “Other” section from clogging your memory, follow these recommendations:

• 📵 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play and Mi App Store. manually update to monitor downloaded files.
• 🗑️ Regularly clean the cache of social networks and instant messengers (once every 1-2 weeks).
• 🔄 Use cloud backup services (such as Mi Cloud or Google Drive) to avoid storing local backups.
• 📱 Turn off virtual memory if you have enough RAM: Settings → Special facilities → Expansion of memory.
• 🔍 Check your memory once a month through Settings → Memory and delete unnecessary files.

Also avoid:

• ❌ Install applications from unverified sources (they can create hidden files).
• ❌ Interrupt system updates (this leaves undeleted packets).
• ❌ Using cleaners like Clean Master – they often delete useful files and create garbage themselves.

Comparison of cleaning methods: what works best

To make it easier for you to choose a method, we have collected data on the effectiveness of each method:

As you can see from the table, the safest methods (standard cleaning and resetting the application cache) have minimal effect. Deep cleaning will require more radical measures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Other” section in Xiaomi