Xiaomi’s ‘Other Data’: What It Is, Why It Takes Place, and How to Clean It

Introduction: The Secret of the “Other” in Your Xiaomi Storage

Have you ever looked into the Warehouse section of your Xiaomi smartphone and froze in disbelief at the fact that Other Data is 10, 20, or even 30 GB? This mysterious item defies logic: it can’t be opened, it can’t be deleted immediately, and it’s not clear where it comes from. Meanwhile, “other data” is often the main reason for memory shortages on Redmi, POCO or Mi devices — even if you regularly clean the cache and delete unnecessary files.

In this article, we will not only explain what “other data” is in Xiaomi, but also show how to safely reduce it without risking losing important information. You will learn what applications and processes form this “garbage”, why the MIUI system hides it from the user, and what tools will help to return precious gigabytes.

What is “Other Data” in Xiaomi: A Technical Explanation

From the perspective of the MIUI operating system (Xiaomi’s Android shell), the Other Data category is a container for files that don’t fall into the standard categories (Apps, Images, Videos, etc.) that includes:

• 📁 Cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui or com.miui.home) that is not cleaned by standard means.
• 🔄 Temporary update files (including failed firmware installation attempts via Updater).
• 📊 Logs and dumps of errors that the system creates for diagnosis (for example, after a sudden reboot).
• 🔐 Encrypted data of some applications (messengers, banking programs) that MIUI cannot be classified.
• 🎮 Residual files of remote games (such as Genshin Impact cache or Call of Duty Mobile that hasn’t been erased completely).

It's important to understand that "Other data" is not a virus or a bug. It's a normal part of Android, but in MIUI, it often grows because of optimization features. For example, after a firmware update, the system may not delete old kernel files, leaving them in this "just in case" section, or Telegram messenger stores media files in encrypted form, and MIUI can not classify them as "Images".

Why “Other Data” Takes So Much Space: 5 Top Reasons

If the volume of “other data” is greater than 5-10 GB, this is cause for concern.

1. MIUI Updates: Each new firmware version leaves behind tails — old kernel files, backups of settings and installation logs. For example, upgrades from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14 may leave up to 2-4 GB of unnecessary data in the Others section.
2. Social media and instant messengers: Apps like Facebook, VK, WhatsApp cache media files in the background even if you haven't opened them, and some of them are stored encrypted and put in "Others."
3. Games with heavy graphics: Once a game (such as PUBG Mobile or Honor of Kings) is deleted, its cache and saves may remain in the system as "unclassified" files.
4. File system errors: If the phone suddenly turns off while recording data (for example, while shooting a video), some files may be lost and end up in the Others section.
5. Backups and syncs: Mi Cloud or Google Drive features sometimes create temporary files that are not automatically deleted.

Interesting fact: on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO F3), “other data” can take up to 15-20 GB due to a bug in MIUI, when the system duplicates error logs.

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Before clearing "other data," check if you have Automatic Optimization enabled in Settings → Battery and Performance. Sometimes it blocks manual cleaning.

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

Unfortunately, MIUI does not provide a detailed analysis of the contents of the Others section, but there are workarounds:

Method 1: Using the built-in MIUI tools

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Slip on “Other Data” (if the item is active).
3. The system can show a list of apps that contribate the most in this section (e.g. Chrome or Mi Video).

Method 2: Using a File Manager

Install a third-party file manager (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) and enable the display of hidden files.

• 📂 /data/data/ — Application data is stored here (root rights are required).
• 📂 /sdcard/Android/obb/ — game-file.
• 📂 /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log/ — log-in.
• 📂 /sdcard/Download/.temp/ — download-file.

Method 3: Through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have experience with ADB, follow the command:

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

This will show the largest folders in the /data section that may relate to “other data.”

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

Warning: Not all files in the Others section can be deleted. Some are critical to the system. Follow the instructions carefully!

Make a backup copy of important data|Close all applications|Connect your phone to charge.|Check the vacant space (should be) ≥1GB)-->

Step 1: Cleaning the cache of system applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show Systems."
3. Find applications like System Interface (com.android.systemui), Launcher (com.miui.home), or Updater (com.android.updater).
4. For each, click on “Storage” → “Clear Cache”.

Step 2: Delete temporary update files

If the “other data” has grown since the MIUI update:

1. Open the Updater app (Update).
2. Slip on the three-point icon → “Delete the service pack.”
3. Reboot the phone.

Step 3: Using In-Based Optimization

MIUI has a hidden deep cleaning function:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Slip on “Deep Cleaning” (may be called “Recommendations”).
3. Select items related to “other data” (usually marked as “Unnecessary files” or “Residual data”).

Step 4: Third-party utilities (without root)

Apps like SD Maid or Files by Google can find and delete some of the other data.

• 🧹 SD Maid: Use the CorpseFinder module to search for residual files.
• 🗑️ Files by Google: “Cleaning” section» → «Unnecessary files».

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Never use the garbage cleanup features in antiviruses (such as Avast or 360 Security) and they often delete critical files, causing MIUI to crash.

Step 5: Extreme measures (if nothing has worked)

If the “other data” is >20 GB and does not decrease:

⚠️ Attention: The following actions may result in data loss. First, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

• 🔄 Cache reset (does not delete personal data): turn off the phone, pinch Volume up + Select the Wipe Cache Partition.
• 🛠️ Restore factory settings (removes everything): Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.

Table: What can and cannot be removed from “other data”

Myths and misconceptions about “other data” in Xiaomi

There's a lot of rumors going around this topic, and we're going to look at the most popular ones.

Myth 1: “Other data” is a virus

🚫 Reality: Viruses can indeed masquerade as system files, but they rarely fall into the Others section. To check your phone, use Malwarebytes or the built-in scanner in Settings. → Security.

Myth 2: They can only be removed by resetting settings

🚫 Reality: As you can see from the instructions above, there are plenty of ways to clean up “other data” without drastic measures.

Myth 3: This data doesn’t affect productivity

🚫 Reality: When "other data" takes up >15GB, this could lead to:

• 🐢 Slowing down the phone (MIUI Begins to actively use swap file).
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption (the system spends resources on managing fragmented data).
• 📱 Failures when updating the firmware (lacking space to unpack files).

Myth 4: “Other data” only appears on old phones

🚫 Reality: Even on flagships like Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 This section may grow due to the features MIUI. For example, after updating to MIUI 14 Many users complained about the appearance of 5-10 GB of “other data».

How to Prevent the Spread of “Other Data” in the Future

To avoid this problem regularly, follow the following simple rules:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI In newer versions, firmware often fixes bugs associated with cleaning the cache.
• 🚫 Don’t use Google Play’s “optimizers”: Apps like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete files they want, masquerading as “cleaning up».
• 📱 Check the storage periodically. Make a habit of checking Settings once a month. → Storage and clear the cache of heavy applications (social networks, games, browsers).
• ☁️ Turn off automatic download of media in instant messengers. WhatsApp and Telegram can do this in the chat settings.
• 🔧 Use lighter alternatives to standard apps, like installing Bromite or Firefox Focus instead of Mi Browser, which is less litter.

Tip for gamers: If you install and remove heavy games frequently (such as Genshin Impact or Diablo Immortal), use the Cleanup feature after deleting Games in Google Play.

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Regularly cleaning up “other data” can extend your Xiaomi life by 1-2 years, especially if the device has little internal memory (32-64 GB).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s “other data”