Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where internal storage suddenly becomes crowded, especially the fact that the lion’s share of space can fall on a mysterious category called “The Other,” which can take up tens of gigabytes, creating a critical shortage of space for new apps and photos.
In this article, we will explain in detail the nature of this partition, what files are hiding there and why the system can not classify them differently, learn about safe cleaning methods that will not cause MIUI or HyperOS to malfunction, and get answers to questions about the specifics of the Android file system.
Understanding the structure of memory is key to the long life of your device. Many users mistakenly believe that the Other is system debris that can be thoughtlessly removed, but the reality is much more complicated. Incorrect cleaning can lead to the loss of important data or disrupt the messengers.
The nature of the partition Other in the Android system
The Other category (sometimes labeled System or Other in different firmware versions) is a collection of files that the operating system cannot uniquely classify as standard data types. Android algorithms scan the storage and sort content: photos are sent to the gallery, music to the player, and documents to the file manager. However, there is a huge data layer that does not fall into any of these clear categories.
Most often, this section includes cached application data, remnants of deleted programs, temporary update files and system logs. Messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp are among the main culprits of this growth category, and they store media files, voice messages and databases in their own directories, which the system perceives as an unknown format, rather than as photos or videos.
Another reason for the appearance of bulk files in the “Other” section is indexing errors: After a major firmware update or data transfer from an old device, the file system may temporarily lose the “strands” leading to certain blocks of information, in which case Xiaomi simply sums up the volumes of all unidentified objects and displays them to the user as a single mass of data.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to delete files from system folders through third-party root file managers unless you are sure of their purpose.This can result in a cyclical smartphone reboot.
Why does the “Other” section change dramatically?
The main types of files hidden in the storage
To effectively combat space scarcity, you need to understand what is taking up space, and the most common data types in the Other section are:
- 📦 Application cache: Temporary files that speed up programs but grow to giant sizes (especially in browsers and social networks).
- 🗑️ Residual files: Folders and configs from long-deleted games and utilities that the uninstaller did not remove clean.
- 📲 Databases of messengers: history of correspondence and media files Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp, stored in closed formats.
- 🔄 Update files: Downloaded system or application update packs that were not automatically deleted after installation.
The.thumbnail and other thumbnails deserve special attention. The Xiaomi Gallery creates previews for each photo and video to speed up their display in the tape. Over time, a thumbnail folder can weigh several gigabytes, and the system often places it in the category of “Other” because it is service data.
Also included are files downloaded from the Internet, but do not have an explicit extension or have non-standard formats, for example, files with the extension.obb (additional data for games) or.xapk may not be recognized by the standard conductor as installation packages, but as unknown data.
💡
The “Other” section is not a virus or an error, but a regular Android mechanism for storing service and unclassified information.
Diagnosis: How to know what exactly takes place
Before you start radical measures, you need to conduct a diagnosis. Standard tools MIUI provide basic information, but for deep analysis, it is better to use specialized utilities or built-in analyzer.
The first step is to use the built-in Security app, go to Cleanup and wait until the analysis is complete, the system will show an approximate memory allocation, and if the Other partition is more than 10-15 GB, it is a signal for a deeper check.
For a detailed analysis, I recommend using Files by Google or DiskUsage, which visualizes the file system by showing the size of each folder as blocks, and you can see which folder (like Android/data/org.telegram.messenger) has swelled to incredible sizes.
The table below compares memory analysis methods on Xiaomi smartphones:
| Method of analysis | Scan depth | Security | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in cleaning | Surface. | Tall. | Weekly |
| Storage settings | Medium | Tall. | In short of space |
| Third-party analyzers | Deep. | Medium (requires attention) | Once a month |
| ADB-team | Complete. | Low (for beginners) | Only when you're in trouble. |
Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to get the most accurate picture by displaying a list of all files, sorted by size. However, this method requires a connection to a computer and knowledge of basic commands, so it is suitable for advanced users.
Safe methods of cleaning the partition Other
The cleaning of the Other section should be done in stages, starting with the safest methods that do not require superuser rights and do not carry the risk of loss of personal data.
The first and most effective step is to clear the app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the heavy apps (YouTube, TikTok, Telegram, Browsers). Within each app, select Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Everything, it will delete your logins and settings.
The second method is to use a built-in cleaning tool. The Security app has a Cleanup feature. Click on it and the system will suggest that you delete temporary files, bag residues and other debris. Xiaomi is quite aggressive about this issue, but usually only deletes really secure files.
The third way is to manually clean the Download and Bluetooth folder, and users often forget about downloaded APK installers or Bluetooth-derived documents that have been in memory for years and classified as "Other."
☑️ Checklist for safe cleaning
⚠️ Before clearing the data of messengers, be sure to back up the correspondence to the cloud (Google Drive or iCloud), otherwise the message history will be lost irretrievably.
Radical measures: resetting and reflashing
If standard methods didn’t help and the Other section continues to take up absurd volume (e.g. 30-40GB on a 64GB phone), there may have been a serious file system error, in which case only a full reset helps.
Resetting to factory settings (Wipe All Data) completely erases the user partition memory, including all hidden errors and “broken” links. Before you save all important photos and contacts. Once reset, the phone will be as new, and the category “Other” will take up the minimum amount allocated for the system.
For advanced users, partition re-marking or firmware reinstallation via Fastboot is possible, and this is guaranteed to eliminate any software errors in the partition table, but this procedure requires unlocking the bootloader, which can be difficult for an untrained user.
Sometimes the problem is solved by updating the system to the latest available version. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix memory bugs. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check for updates.
💡
If the problem came back after the reset, right after you installed one particular application, it means that it has a code error that leaks memory. Delete it.
Memory overflow prevention on Xiaomi
To avoid the problem of a crowded section of the “Other” in the future, you should adhere to a few simple rules of operation of the smartphone: regular maintenance is more important than emergency cleaning.
Set up automatic cache cleanup. You can set up a cleanup schedule in the Security app. You can set up a media file auto-delete in the messaging settings (especially Telegram), for example, you can set a rule: "Security video in 3 days," which will save you a lot of space.
Use cloud storage. Google Photos or Mi Cloud allows you to store original photos and videos in the cloud, leaving only optimized copies on your device, which reduces the load on local storage and reduces the number of files that fall into the category of unidentified.
Regularly remove unused applications. Even if you don't use the program, it can continue to collect data and create temporary files in the background. Cleaning the list of installed applications is the best prevention.