You opened the storage settings on your Xiaomi Redmi to make room, and you saw the mysterious "Other" section, which takes several gigabytes, that folder that's not deleted by standard means, that doesn't have explicit content in the file manager, but it eats away precious space. What's the catch?
In fact, the “Other” is not a bug or a virus, but the system “garbage box” of Android, where the remnants of deleted applications, service caches, temporary update files and data that the system cannot uniquely attribute to other categories (photos, videos, documents) are dumped, and in Xiaomi smartphones this section is often inflated due to the features of the MIUI shell: it aggressively caches data to speed up work, but does not always clean it correctly.
In this article, we will not only explain what is stored in the “Other”, but also show cleaning methods that work even on the stuffed Redmi Note. 10/11/12 and POCO-No root, no risk of breaking the system, only proven methods.
What exactly is hidden under the “Other” in the storage of Xiaomi
The Other section is a collection of files that Android and MIUI can't classify, and here are the main culprits behind its sprawl:
- 📁 Remnants of remote applications: folders with settings, caches and databases that have not been deleted with the program, for example, after uninstalling Facebook or TikTok, gigabytes of garbage can remain in the Other.
- 🔄 Temporary update files: MIUI It downloads updates in the background, but it doesn't always clean up after itself. MIUI 12/13/14.
- 🗑️ Cache of system services: data from Google Play Services, MIUI Optimization and other background processes, such as geolocation cache or push notifications.
- 📱 Dalvik cache files: optimized versions of apps for quick launch. After Android updates, these files become useless, but remain in memory.
- 🔍 System logs and dumps: error reports (.dmp,.log) that are created when crashes accumulate for years if not cleaned.
Fun fact: Redmi with MIUI 14+ can hide up to 30% of the total memory in the Other, if you have never done a deep clean. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ with 128 GB, users often see 10-15 GB of “unknown” files.
Why The Other Takes So Much Space on Redmi
There are three key reasons why this section is growing like a leap:
- Aggressive MIUI caching: Xiaomi’s shell is optimized for performance, so it keeps cache even for apps you haven’t used in a long time, for example, after watching a YouTube video, its cache can stay in the Other for months.
- Incomplete removal of applications. When you uninstall a program through Settings → Applications, MIUI doesn’t always remove all associated files, especially for games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) and social networks.
- Hidden system updates. MIUI downloads updates in the background and stores them in compressed form (.zip), even if you postponed the installation. These files can weigh 1-3 GB.
On the POCO X3 Pro and other MIUI devices for POCO, the problem is exacerbated by cache duplication: the system creates separate copies for “normal” and “game” modes.
⚠️ Note: If the Other takes up more than 20 GB on a device with 64-128 GB of memory, this may indicate a malfunction. MIUI Storage Analyzer. In this case, only resetting to factory settings will help (see section below).
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Before cleaning the Other, check the actual space you have occupied through third-party apps like Files by Google or SD Maid. Sometimes MIUI shows incorrect data due to scanning errors.
How to see what is in the “Other”
The standard MIUI file manager does not show the contents of this section, and you will need third-party tools to figure out what exactly occupies space:
| Method | What will he tell? | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | Large files, duplicates, garbage | ⭐ |
| SD Maid (requires root) | System caches, application residues, logs | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| ADB-df -h | Partitioning memory by partition (/data, /cache) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Storage Analyzer (F-Droid) | Memory Occupation Schedule by File Type | ⭐⭐ |
Example of Files by Google:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Open the Cleanup section → Large files.
- Sort by size and check files with extensions.tmp,.log,.bak.
For advanced users: connect your smartphone to your PC and use the command:
adb shell du -sh /data/* | sort -rh | head -n 20She'll show her top.-20 The folders that occupy the most space in the section /data (where the "other" is stored»).
Ways to clean the “Other” without root rights
If you don’t have root access, try these methods (from the safest to the more radical):
Delete all applications cache | Clear MIUI Optimization | Delete downloads and temporary files |Reboot device-->
- 🧹 Cleaning the cache of all applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Tap three dots in the top right corner. → Clear the cache of all applications. Confirm the action. This can release 1 to 5 GB.
- 🔧 Reset «MIUI Optimization": This system service often accumulates garbage.To clean it up: Open Settings → About the phone, tap 7 times on the version. MIUI, To activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers. MIUI Optimization and turn it off. Reboot your phone and turn the service back on.
- 🗑️ Delete temporary files via Safe Mode: Some files in "Other" are only deleted in Safe Mode: Turn off your phone. Press the power button and hold the Volume Down until the Safe Mode logo appears. In this mode, delete the Download folders, DCIM/.thumbnails, Android/data (play-off).
If the Other has shrunk by less than 30% after these actions, then the problem is deeper – system logs or corrupted MIUI files are most likely to be to blame.
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Cleaning the cache through Settings → Storage → Cleaning removes only surface debris. Deep cleaning requires third-party tools or ADB.
Radical methods: dumping and root
If the Other takes up a critical amount of space (e.g., 20+GB on the 128GB Redmi Note 10 Pro) and the usual methods don’t help, there are two options left:
- Reset to factory settings (without data loss if used) MIUI Backup): ⚠️ Note: Before resetting, be sure to check that in Settings → Google → Backup enabled saving contacts, photos and apps. Recovery after reset can take several hours. Instructions: Create backup via Settings → The phone. → Backup. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery and Reset. Select Resetting. → Delete all data. Restore the data from the backup after the reboot. This method removes all system logs and caches, returning the Other to its original size (usually 1-3 GB).
- Root Clearing (power users only): With root rights, you can manually delete: /data/log folder. /data/dalvik-cache folder..apk and.odex files in /data/app-lib (application residues) Any root conductor, such as Root Explorer or FX File Manager, will do.
What happens if you delete system files without root?
How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future
To prevent the section from clogging again, follow these rules:
- 🔄 Regular cache cleaning: Use Files by Google or Xiaomi’s built-in Security App (Cleanup section).Optimum frequency is once every 2 weeks.
- 🚫 Disabling Automatic Updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → three-point → Settings → Turn off Autoboot, so you don't download any unnecessary updates.
- 📱 Removal of applications through ADB: Some programs (e.g., preinstalled Mi Video or Mi Music) are not removed in the standard way, but leave debris. --user 0 com.xiaomi.videoplayer List of uninstallation packages can be found on the forums 4PDA or XDA-Developers.
- 🔍 Monitoring large files: Install DiskUsage from Google Play – the application visualizes occupied space and helps you quickly find “fat” folders.
On Redmi with MIUI 14+, it is also useful to disable MIUI Optimization in developer mode, which will reduce the number of cache files you create.
Frequent mistakes in cleaning the “Other”
Many users compound the problem by following questionable advice from the Internet.
- 🚫 Delete the Android folder manually: This will cause the installed applications to crash, and it stores game and program data (for example, save Genshin Impact or Telegram cache) inside it).
- 🚫 Use cleaners like Clean Master: These apps often delete the files they want and show false optimizations». MIUI It already has built-in cleaning tools.
- 🚫 Disable system applications via pm disable without knowing the consequences: For example, disabling com.miui.analytics may disrupt the work MIUI.
If the “Other” has grown again quickly after cleaning, check the phone for viruses with Malwarebytes – some Trojans masquerade as system files and accumulate data in hidden folders.