Xiaomi’s “Other Files”: What’s Behind This Category and How to Clean It

You opened up your Xiaomi memory settings and found that the mysterious Other Files category is the lion's share, and this partition can eat up 5 to 30 GB -- and it doesn't tell you exactly what it's going to do. Unlike photos, videos or apps, you can't just click Delete and make room. So what are these files, why are they accumulating and how do you deal with them?

In this article, we will go into detail about what the Other Files category is made of on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, why it grows over time, and what cleaning methods really work, what files can be deleted without risk to the system, and what you should not touch - even if they take gigabytes, and we will analyze why standard cleaning tools (such as the built-in Optimizer) often fail to cope with the task, and what to do in such cases.

Important: Not all other files are garbage, some of them are critical to MIUI, and deleting them can cause failures, we'll show you how to distinguish unnecessary data from system data, and we'll share proven ways to free up memory -- from manual cleaning to using hidden firmware functions.

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

The MIUI’s Other Files category is a basket for all data that the system cannot categorize as standard sections like Applications, Media or Documents.

• 📁 Application cache and systems are temporary files that are created to speed up programs, but often are not automatically deleted.
• 🔄 Residual data from remote applications – fragments of programs that remain after uninstallation (for example, settings or databases).
• 📄 Logs and dumps of the system are error report files that MIUI collects for diagnosis (can weigh hundreds of megabytes).
• 🔗 Symbolic links and metadata are file system service information that is sometimes duplicated.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, downloadable resources (textures, levels) and game engine cache (e.g. Unity or Unreal Engine).
• 📱 Update files – firmware packages that have downloaded but not installed (especially relevant after crashes) OTA).

The problem is that MIUI doesn't sort these files by importance, and as a result, there's critical system data and total garbage in one pile, like the cache of Google Play Services can take 1-2 GB, and the logs of the system after a crash can take another 500 MB, and the user doesn't see the detail and can't choose what to delete.

Why does the section grow with time?

• 🔄 Apps don’t clear cache – many programs (especially social networks and instant messengers) accumulate gigabytes of temporary files.
• 📱 Update failures – if the firmware is installed incorrectly, its files may remain in memory as “garbage».
• 🎮 Games and heavy-duty applications such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile downloads gigabytes of resources that are not always deleted.
• 🔧 File system errors – sometimes MIUI loses the file binding to applications, and they fall into “Others».

How to see what exactly takes place in the “Other Files”

By default, MIUI does not show the details of the Other Files category, but there are a few ways to get more information:

Method 1: Built-in memory analyzer

Open Settings → Memory → Other files. In some versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12.5), a "Details" or "Analysis" button appears here. Click on it and the system will show the distribution by type:

• 📁 Cash app.
• 📄 Logs and dumps
• 🔄 Residual data

If there is no button, try updating the firmware – in new versions the functionality is expanded.

Method 2: File Manager with root rights

For advanced users: install Root Explorer or FX File Manager, provide root access and navigate to:

/data/data/


/sdcard/Android/data/




/sdcard/Android/obb/

It's often a gigabyte of unnecessary data, and you know, without root, many folders will be inaccessible.

adb shell ls -la /data/data/ | grep -i "cache"

This will show the folders with the cache of all applications.-->

Method 3: Third-party analyzers (without root)

Applications like Files by Google, SD Maid, or Storage Analyzer can partially scan memory and show large files, but they won't see system data, only user data.

💡

Without root, you'll see only the tip of the iceberg, and most of the other files are hidden in system folders that are not accessible without special permissions.

What “Other Files” Can Be Deleted and Which Can’t

Before you clean, you need to understand what is safe and what is not. Below is a table with a breakdown of file types:

Critical information: files with extensions.odex,.apk in /system/ or.dat in /data/system/ cannot be deleted - this will lead to a firmware breakdown.

⚠️ Note: If you see the folder /data/dalvik-cache/, Don't manually clean it! This is the cache of the Android virtual machine, and deleting it will cause massive app crashes. TWRP.

What to do with unknown files?

If you find a large file but don’t know what it is:

1. Check its name on Google – it’s often possible to determine which app it belongs to by name.
2. Look at the date of creation – if the file is older than a year, it is likely not needed.
3. Move the file to your PC before you delete it so you can restore it if something goes wrong.

Step-by-step: how to clean “Other Files” on Xiaomi

Now, let's get to the practice. Below are proven ways to make room, from the safest to the most advanced.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of all applications

This is the safest way to do that, and it doesn’t require root:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Sort by size."
3. Turn around to open the apps that take up the most space and click “Clear Cache”.
4. To speed up the process, use the button “Clear the cache of all applications”

Social media apps (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)|Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty)|Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser)|Maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps)-->

Method 2: Removal of residual data via ADB

If you have a PC, this method will help you remove garbage without rooting:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then return to “More”).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm list packages -u This will show a list of applications with residual data.
3. Remove unnecessary residues by command: adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.example.app (replace com.example.app in the packet name).

Method 3: Manual cleaning through TWRP (for advanced)

If you have a customized Recovery:

1. Reboot to TWRP (clip Power + Volume up).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders of system applications (for example, com.android.settings or com.miui.home.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If the “other files” take up tens of gigabytes and are not cleared, the last option is hard reset:

1. Make a backup copy of important data.
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data”.

This will delete everything, including system debris, but all your files too. Use only if other methods have failed.

How to Prevent the Accumulation of Other Files in the Future

To avoid having to clean your memory regularly, follow these tips:

• 📱 Use the “Lite” versions of apps (such as Facebook Lite or Messenger Lite) – they take up less space.

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system processes that generate logs:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Error Logs and turn them off.
2. In Settings → About Phone → Debugging, turn off “Collecting Error Reports”.

💡

If you install and remove games/apps frequently, use the app cloning feature in MIUI, which isolates clone data and makes it easier to delete without residue.

Frequent Errors When Cleaning “Other Files” and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes when trying to make room.

• ❌ Use cleaners like Clean Master – they often delete files and show false warnings.

Also common is deleting the Android/obb/ folder. This is where game data (such as extra layers or textures) is stored. Deleting it will make you lose progress in games!

1. Open the settings → Memory → Games.
2. Select the game and click on Clear Data (but not Delete).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to slow down after cleaning the other files, restart it. It may be that the system restores the cache of the apps — this is normal and will take 5-10 minutes.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About “Other Files” in Xiaomi