Many Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 T owners face the mysterious situation of having internal storage overflowing, but standard apps only take up a small fraction of the space. The system analyzer features a huge category called “Other” that can eat up tens of gigabytes, slowing down the device. The MIUI system on which the smartphone is based often aggregates heterogeneous data into this section that doesn’t fall into standard categories like “Photo” or “Apps.”
Understanding the nature of these files is critical to the normal operation of the gadget. Filling memory to the limit leads to performance drops, interface freezes and inability to install updates. In this article, we will discuss in detail what this volume is made of, why it grows so quickly and how to safely free up valuable resources of your Redmi Note 8 T without using third-party software.
⚠️ Warning: Before performing any deep cleaning operations on system folders, it is strongly recommended to create a complete backup of important data in the cloud or on your computer.
Anatomy of the Other Section in MIUI
The Other section in the standard file manager is not a specific folder, but a collection of disparate data that the operating system cannot automatically classify. In the case of the Android-powered Redmi Note 8 T, temporary files, remnants of deleted applications, error logs and messenger cache fall into this category. MIUI sorting algorithms are often mistaken, even some APK installation packages or update files are listed as “Other.”
Special attention should be paid to the work of background processes. Applications that you rarely use can continue to generate crash reports or save media files to hidden directories. System debris accumulates not only from using the browser, but also from the work of system services of Google and Xiaomi. For example, offline maps or downloaded themes can take up gigabytes, remaining invisible in the gallery.
It is important to understand that the sharp increase in the volume of this partition often indicates a malfunction of a particular application. If you notice that after installing a new program, the place began to disappear at an alarming rate, the problem almost certainly lies in its cache. The data imbalance requires immediate intervention, since overflowing the system partition can lead to a cyclical reboot of the device.
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Use the built-in Security app for the initial scan, but don’t rely on it entirely – it often ignores the system’s deeply hidden logs.
The influence of messengers and social networks
The main source of growth of the category “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 T are popular messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Viber. These apps store the received media files in their own secure directories, which the standard conductor doesn't always correctly display as "Images" or "Video." Telegram's cache, for example, can grow to a large number of folders. 10-15 GB, if the settings do not set a media storage limit.
Social media also contributes by storing storis, avatars and temporary page files that are viewed. When you use Instagram or VK, the device accumulates a huge amount of temporary data. These files are formally needed to quickly load previously viewed content, but in practice they only take up space. Clearing the cache of these applications through Android settings is often safer than deleting the programs themselves.
- 📱 Telegram: Check the settings "Data and memory» → «Using Memory to Clean Cache.
- 💬 WhatsApp: Go to “Settings» → «Data and storage» → «Storage management».
- 🎵 TikTok: In the application settings, find the “Free space” option to delete temporary files.
- 📸 Instagram: Requires cache cleaning through Android system settings as there is no internal cleaning feature.
⚠️ Note: Clearing messenger data (not to be confused with cleaning the cache) will delete all correspondence and media files within the application».
System Logs and Error Reports
The Android operating system and the MIUI shell constantly record events in the background, called logs. These records normally take up minimal space and automatically overwrite. However, if the system crashes or the application crashes with an error, the system can start to store detailed reports of each incident, quickly filling in the "Other" section.
Redmi Note 8 T often has a problem with debugging logs or Google Play Services crash reports. These files may have extensions.log,.txt or no extension at all, hiding in system folders. Manual cleaning of such files requires access to the root file system or use special commands through ADB, which is suitable for more experienced users. For the average user, the way to safest is to reset settings or use cleaning modes.
Sometimes logs are accumulated due to the Mi Account’s “Send Error Reports” feature. If this option is activated, the phone can store detailed data about the operation of each component. Disabling telemetry will not only free up space, but also increase the privacy of your data. Regular monitoring of the folder size in the file manager will help identify the source of the problem.
adb shell pm trim-caches 99999999999This command, executed via a computer with ADB installed, can help remove excess system cache if standard methods don't work.
Residual files and remote applications
When you delete an app in the standard way, the phone often has its tails in its memory, which can be temporary databases or downloaded resources. 8 T with its memory capacity in 64 or 128 GB residues can take up a substantial amount of time. Android/data or in root directories with remote program names.
Games with large resources and graphics packages leave a lot of garbage especially. Once a game is deleted, the cache folder (often called OBB) can remain intact. Manually checking the file manager allows you to find and delete these orphan files. However, you need to do this carefully so that you do not delete the data of the current application if the folder names match.
To combat this phenomenon, it is useful to periodically use the "Delete Applications" function in the settings, which shows the amount of space occupied. Deep cleaning requires careful study of the contents of folders. If you are not sure what the file is responsible for, it is better to leave it or pre-copy it to your computer.
☑️ Verification of residual files
Analysis of occupied space in tables
To understand the structure of files on the Redmi Note 8 T, it is convenient to use summary data. Below is a table showing the typical distribution of hidden data that falls into the category “Other”, these figures can vary depending on the intensity of smartphone use.
| Type of data | Typical size | Location. | Security of removal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash messengers | 1 GB - 10 GB | Android/data/com.telegram... | Safe (the media will be lost) |
| System Logs | 100MB - 2GB | /data/log or similar | Safe. |
| Game remnants (OBB) | 500MB - 4GB | Android/obb/ | Safe (if the game is deleted) |
| Temporary files (.tmp) | 100MB - 500MB | Different folders | Safe. |
As you can see from the table, the lion's share of the invisible volume is in user-generated content in secure application folders. Regular audit of these sections helps keep the system on track. Don't wait until the memory is full, it's better to prevent once a month.
Cleaning and optimization methods
There are several ways to combat the inflated “Other” section on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 T. The easiest and safest is to use built-in cleaning tools. However, if they do not help, you will have to resort to more radical measures. Resetting is the most effective method to return the phone to a factory state, but it requires a full backup.
If you don't want to reset your phone, try clearing the cache through the Recovery menu. To do this, reboot the device in a special mode, holding the combination of volume and power buttons. Recovery mode allows you to execute a Wipe Cache Partition command that deletes temporary system files without affecting the user's personal data. This often solves the problem with the "blown" section "Other".
- 🔄 Reboot: Banal phone restart could trigger autoclean scripts MIUI.
- 🗑️ Remove updates: Delete old update files MIUI file Downloaded_rom.
- 📂 File Manager: Manually delete the folder.thumbnails in the gallery if it has grown.
What is a folder.thumbnails?
⚠️ Attention: When cleaning the folder Android/data manually make sure you do not delete the application files you are currently using.
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The most effective way to combat overflow of the “Other” section is to regularly clean the cache of heavy applications and periodically reset settings every 1-2 years.
Prevention of memory overflow
To keep the Other partition problem on the Redmi Note 8 T from returning, it's important to maintain digital hygiene. Don't store files on your device that you don't need right now. Cloud services like Google Photos or Mi Cloud allow you to store media in original quality, freeing up local space. Auto sync settings will save you from having to manually manage files.
It's also recommended that you limit the background activity of applications, you can prevent programs from running in the background if they're not in use, and permission control also helps: if a note-taking app doesn't need access to the file system to save a huge number of temporary files, you better set that restriction, and following these simple rules will prolong your smartphone's life.