Xiaomi’s “Other” folder: what are these files, how to delete them and free up space

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi vault and wondered why the Other partition takes up a few gigabytes, even though you didn't save anything there? 30-50% The internal memory, but it's the most incomprehensible to users, and unlike photos, videos or apps, the files in The Other don't have a clear structure and are often hidden from view.

In this article, we will analyze in detail what exactly is stored in the folder “Other” on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO, Why it grows over time and how to clean it safely, you'll learn which files can be deleted without risk to the system and which should not be touched, and we'll give you step-by-step manual and automatic cleaning instructions to recover precious gigabytes of memory.

Spoiler: often not only cache and temporary files are to blame, but also hidden system logs MIUI, If your phone is already in use for several years, the chance to find 5-year-old junk here is not automatic.+ GB is very high.

What is the “Other” folder in Xiaomi and why it takes up so much space

The “Other” section in the storage menu MIUI — It's a kind of basket for files that the system can't categorize as standard -- photos, videos, audio, documents, applications -- and anything that doesn't lend itself to classification:

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems are temporary files that should be deleted automatically, but often remain “hang” due to crashes.
• 📝 Logs and memory dumps are error reports that MIUI Creates when applications or systems fail.
• 🔄 Remnants of remote applications – files that remain after uninstallation of programs (settings, databases).
• 📁 Hidden Android folders – system directories like /data/local or /cache, rootless.
• 🖼️ Miniatures and previews are reduced copies of images that the gallery creates for quick viewing.
• 🔗 Symbolic links – “shortcuts” to files that take up space but don’t appear in the Explorer.

The main problem is that MIUI It doesn't provide tools to analyze the contents of the Other in detail, it only sees the total volume, but it doesn't know what it takes up, and it's not possible to delete some files here by standard means, because they require special utilities or root access.

For example, on Xiaomi. 12 After a year of using the folder “Other” can weigh 8-12 GB, even if you clean your cache regularly, because of the accumulated logs of the system (files with the extension.log or.dump), which are used to make the system more efficient. MIUI It creates every time you crash or update.

⚠️ Note: If the volume of the "Other" is greater than 15-20 GB on a phone with 128 GB of memory, this may indicate file system damage or viral activity, in which case it is recommended to back up and reset the phone to factory settings.

What files in the “Other” can be deleted and which can not

Not all files in the Other section are equally secure to delete. Některé These are critically important for the work MIUI, Some of them are cleanable, and here's a table that looks at file types and recommendations:

Particular care should be taken with files that have in the title:

• 🚫 com.android – system components of Android;
• 🚫 miui or xiaomi, the core of the shell;
• 🚫 boot, recovery, system - critical sections.

If you are not sure what you are doing, it is better to use specialized utilities like SD Maid or Files by Google that can analyze “Other” and offer safe cleaning options.

How to see what exactly lies in the “Other”: step-by-step instructions

By default. MIUI It doesn't show the contents of "Other" in the explorer. To see which files are taking up space, you'll need additional tools. Here are 3 working ways:

Method 1: Through built-in "Storage Analysis"

This method won’t show all the files, but it will help you to identify the most “heavy” categories:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Slip on the "Other" section.
3. The system will show the distribution by type (cache, logs, etc.).
4. Click on “Clean” to remove the unnecessary.

Method 2: Use File Manager with root access

If you have root rights, you can manually view hidden folders:

1. Install Root Explorer or Solid Explorer.
2. Go to the root directory (/).
3. Open the folders: /data/log — logistic; /data/local/tmp — time-file; /data/data — cache and application data.

Delete unnecessary files (see table above).

Method 3: Through ADB (without root)

For advanced users, there is a way to view files through Android Debug Bridge:

adb shell


su




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

This team will show 20 the largest folders in the section /data, Where the main “garbage” usually hides».

Backup of important data

Check the vacant space (should be ≥10%)

Close all applications

Disable synchronization with Mi Cloud-->

How to Clean Up “Other” on Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Now, let's get to the practice. Here are 5 cleanup methods, from the simplest to the most radical. Start with the first and move on to the next one if the space doesn't vacate.

1. Standard cleaning through settings

The safest, but also the least effective way to:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Select “Unnecessary Files” and “App Cache”.
3. Press "Clear."

This method only removes the surface cache and does not affect deep system files.

2. Cleaning through Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If your phone is slowing down due to background software, try:

1. Press the power button and hold “Switch off” until “Safe Mode” appears.
2. Only system applications are operating in this mode.
3. Repeat cleaning through Settings → Warehouse.
4. Reboot the phone.

This helps remove the cache of third-party apps that may block the cleanup in normal mode.

3.Use of Files by Google

Files by Google can find and remove hidden debris.

1. Install Files by Google from the Play Market.
2. Open the "Cleanup" tab.
3. Select "Unnecessary Files" and "Dublicates".
4. Confirm removal.

The utility will find it. 1-3 GB of unnecessary data that MIUI doesn't.

4 Manual cleaning through ADB (advanced)

If you are familiar with the command line, do:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cleaning the built-in cleaner


adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files




adb shell rm -rf /data/log/* # Delete logs (caution!)

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause data loss or system failure. If you're not sure, skip this step.

5. Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If "The Other" takes >15GB and not cleaned, only hard reset remains:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select "Delete everything."

After the reset, the “other” will weigh no more. 1-2 GB (laptop will return to a “clean” state).

💡

The most effective way to clean up is a combination of Files by Google + file-checking /data/log and /data/local/tmp through ADB. This allows you to remove before 70% junk.

Why does the “Other” reappear after cleaning?

Many users find that a week or two after cleaning, the Other grows back to a few gigabytes.

• 🔄 Automatic creation of logs — MIUI Keeps records of errors, even if they don’t exist.
• 📱 Background processes – some applications (such as Mi Cloud or Security) create temporary files.
• 🔄 System updates - after the update MIUI Leaves the old versions of the files in /cache.
• 🖼️ Gallery and media scanner – constantly recreate thumbnails and cache.

To slow the growth of the Other, follow these tips:

• 🔧 Turn off Auto Update MIUI» In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🚫 Stop background activity of unnecessary apps in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.
• 📊 Clean your cache regularly (once a month) via Files by Google.
• 🔄 Use Greenify to Freeze Resource-Hungry Applications.

If the Other is growing too fast (for example, 1 GB per week), it may indicate:

• 🛠️ Virus or malware (check through Malwarebytes);
• 🔧 Failure of the file system (fsck is required by TWRP);
• 📱 Internal memory failure (check through the AIDA64).

💡

To reduce the number of logs, disable debugging by USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB. This will reduce the amount of system data recorded.

What to do if the Other takes up too much space (20)+ GB)

If the volume of The Other is more than 20 GB, it's not just garbage, it's a systemic problem.

1. Virus testing

Some malware masquerades as system files and inflates "Other."

• Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.
• Run a deep scan.
• Delete the threats you found.

2. Diagnostics of the file system

If the file system is corrupted, it may "duplicate" files or miscalculate their size.

1. Install TWRP Recovery.
2. Launch the command: fsck -f /dev/block/mmcblk0pX (where X is the data partition number).
3. If there are any errors, follow the fsck. -y autocorrect.

Transfer of data to SD-card (if supported)

On some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) you can transfer part of the “Other” to an external drive:

1. Put it in. SD-map A1 or A2).
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → Data portability.
3. Select files to transfer (if the option is available).

⚠️ Note: Not all files from "Other" can be moved (/data) remain in internal memory.

4. Contact the service center

If nothing helps, there may be a hardware failure of the memory controller, which is typical for phones that:

• Falling or being struck;
• overheating (for example, during games);
• They're old. >3 years.

In this case, only the replacement of the internal drive will help, which will cost you in the future. 3-5 thousand rubles (na) 2026 year).

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To “Other” does not take up gigabytes of memory, follow these rules:

• 📅 Cleaning regularly – once a month, run Files by Google or a built-in cleaner MIUI.
• 🚫 Control installed applications – remove unnecessary programs, especially “heavy” ones (games, video editors).
• 🔄 Disabling Automatic Updates – in Settings → The phone. → Update system select "Only by Wi-Fi" or "Manually».
• 📁 Using cloud storage – transfer photos and videos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud to reduce the load on internal memory.
• 🛠️ Monitoring Logs – If you are a developer, clean up regularly /data/log through ADB.

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system processes:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics # Disables MIUI statistics collection


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop # Disables Mi Drop (if not used)

These teams will reduce background activity MIUI Reduce the number of temporary files created.

FAQ: Frequent Questions About Xiaomi’s “Other” Folder