Previous articleThe other in memory Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: decryption of the secret partition and 5 ways to clean it

You opened your storage settings on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, and there, among the usual categories like "Apps" or "Photos," flaunts a mysterious section "Other" that takes up gigabytes of memory? Don't panic - it's not a virus or a system bug. But you can't ignore it: on Redmi Note 8 models (codenamed ginkgo), this section often grows to 10-15 GB, eating precious space.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what exactly is hidden under the label “Other” in your smartphone, why MIUI It's so uncomfortable displaying busy memory, and most importantly, which files can be deleted without risk to the system, and which ones can not be touched categorically. You will learn about hidden caches, update logs and junk data that are not available. MIUI It does not classify as normal user files.

Spoiler: 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved without root rights and factory resets, but there are pitfalls — for example, deleting some folders can cause camera or messenger malfunctions, and we've compiled a safe checklist and warned of critical errors that users make when they clean.

What is the “Other” in Xiaomi memory: the official explanation and reality

According to Xiaomi’s documentation, the “Other” section includes:

• 📁 System caches (including Dalvik-cache and Dalvik-cache) ART-cache that speeds up the launch of applications).
• 📜 Logs and dumps (debugging files created by the MIUI and Google Services).
• 🔄 Temporary update files (including failed firmware installation attempts).
• 🗑️ Residual data of remote applications (folders lib, cache in) /data/data).
• 🔒 Secure files DRM (For example, for Widevine L1, Responsible for Netflix playback HD).

In practice, however, Redmi Note 8 often hides the following under the “Other”:

• 🎵 Cache of music streaming services (Spotify, Yandex Music), which MIUI It is not classified as "Audio».
• 📱 Backups from Mi Cloud or Google Drive that are not deleted after recovery.
• 🤖 Virtual machine files (if you used apps like Parallel Space or Island).
• 📡 Offline maps (Google Maps, Yandex Maps) that the system does not classify as "App Data».

The key problem — MIUI For example, after deleting a large file, the Other section may still show the old volume until the system recalculates the memory (this happens when you reboot or after 12-24 hours).

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 8 firmware MIUI 12.5 In the “Other” section, you can hide before 5–7 GB of garbage from older versions MIUI, It's not cleaned by standard means, and it's because of a bug in the storage mechanism of the dens. /data/log.

How to Check What’s in the Other: 3 Working Methods

Before you delete something, you need to know which files inflated the partition. Here are three ways to diagnose it:

1. Built-in analyzer MIUI (narrow-mindedness)

Go to Settings. → The phone. → Memory. → Other. MIUI Distribution by subcategory:

• 📂 System data (caches and logs).
• 🔄 Updates (packages) OTA).
• 🗑️ Other files (junk).

Cons: There are no hidden folders and root files.

2. Files by Google app (recommended)

Download Files by Google from Play Market. Under Cleanup, select Memory Analysis, and the utility will show:

• 📁 Folders with temporary files (.temp,.tmp).
• 🎬 Duplicate videos and photos (often left after editing in Gallery).
• 📱 Telegram, WhatsApp store media in the /storage/emulated/0/Android/media).

3. ADB-Teams for Advanced Users

If you have a PC, connect your phone to USB with debugging enabled (Settings) → For developers → Debugging by USB) and execute on the command line:

adb shell


du -h -d 1 /data | sort -h

This team will show the largest folders in the system section /data, Look for the lines from the:

• /data/log — Logs of the system (can be cleared).
• /data/dalvik-cache — Dalvik cache (cleaned only through recovery).
• /data/app-lib — Remnant libraries of remote applications.

TOP-5 Why the Other is growing on the Redmi Note 8

On the Redmi Note 8, this issue is particularly relevant due to the eMMC 5.1 memory architecture and features. MIUI. Here are the main culprits:

1. Logs of updates MIUI Every one. OTA-The update leaves behind packets in /data/ota_package logs in /data/log/ota. When they are in the process, they can borrow up to 3–4 GB.
2. Google Play Services caches Google Play Services cache /data/data/com.google.android.gms, which MIUI It is not classified as "Application Data" and is only cleared through Settings. → Annexes → Google Play Services → Memory. → Clear the cache.
3. Residual data after reset Even after factory reset in folder /data/data Files from older applications may remain (e.g. com.tencent.mm for WeChat or com.whatsapp).
4. Virtual file system files (FUSE) MIUI use FUSE partition /sdcard. When mounting errors, temporary files are created in /data/media/0, which are not automatically removed.
5. Camera and Galleries Cache Camera app saves thumbnails and metadata in /data/data/com.android.gallery3d, a Gallery, in /data/data/com.miui.gallery. These files are not visible through standard conductor.

💡

If the “Other” section has not decreased after cleaning, restart the phone — MIUI Updates memory data only after rebooting.

How to Safely Clean the “Other” on Redmi Note 8: Step-by-step

Before starting, it is mandatory:

Create a backup copy of important data|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Disable two-factor authentication in messengers (to avoid blocking)|Remember passwords from accounts (after cleaning, you may need to re-enter them)-->

Now we're going to clean up. The methods are going from the safest to the most risky.

Method 1: Cleaning the cache of system applications (without root)

Go to Settings. → Annexes → Manage applications and select:

• 📱 Google Play Services → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 📷 Camera and Gallery → Clear the cache + Clear the data (Warning: Application settings will be removed!).
• 🔄 Updating the system → Clear data (delete downloaded but not installed packets) OTA).

Method 2: Delete temporary files via Files by Google

Open the application, go to “Cleanup” and select:

• 🗑️ «Unnecessary files” (temporary files and cache).
• 📁 «Duplicate files (especially relevant for photos and videos).
• 📱 «Large files (look for files with.log,.tmp extension).

Method 3: Manual deletion of logs through ADB (advanced)

Connect your phone to your PC and do:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/log/*




rm -rf /data/ota_package/*




rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*

⚠️ Warning: Deletion of files in /data/dalvik-cache It can cause the first application launch to slow down after a reboot (the cache will be restored again).

Method 4: Resetting the cache in recovery (if the phone brakes)

Turn off the phone, then press the power. + Volume up to enter recovery. select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache, it'll delete:

• 🔄 Kesh. Dalvik/ART.
• 📁 Temporary update files.
• 🗑️ Logs of the system.

User data (photos, messages) are not affected.

Method 5: Complete reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If the “Other” takes more than 10 GB and is not cleared by other means, reset via Settings. → The phone. → Setting reset. Warning: this will delete all data, including:

• 📱 Installed annexes.
• 📷 Photos and videos (if not saved on the SD-map).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords and accounts.

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 8 firmware MIUI 11 And below the reset to factory settings may not clear the folder /data/media/0 In this case, after the reset, immediately check the "Other" section and if necessary, repeat the cleaning through the ADB.

💡

Never manually delete folders in /data/data/ — It's going to crash applications. Use only system tools or root managers to clean them.

What NOT to delete from “Other”: Critical Files

Some files in the Other section are required for the stable operation of the Redmi Note 8.

• 🚨 Bootloope (cyclical reset).
• 📵 Poose. IMEI (if touched /data/radio).
• 🔒 Blocking of Mi Account (when deleting) /data/system/miui).

Forbidden folders and files to be deleted:

If you accidentally delete one of these files, don't restart your phone. Try recovering data via DiskDigger or Recuva (by connecting memory as an external drive through a card reader).

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To the “Other” section does not take up gigabytes of memory, follow these recommendations:

1. Turn off automatic download of updates Go to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings and disable "Automatic boot over Wi-Fi." This will prevent accumulation OTA-packet /data/ota_package.
2. Limit cache for Google Play Services in Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Memory set the cache limit at 500 MB.
3. Use lightweight alternatives to standard apps, such as replacing Mi Gallery with Simple Gallery and Mi Music with Simple Gallery. VLC. These applications do not create hidden caches in the system partition.
4. Clean the cache regularly through ADB Once a month, do the command: adb shell pm trim-caches 1G This will force the cache of all applications except system ones.
5. Keep the media files on SD-Redmi Note 8 supports microSD up to 512 GB. Transfer photos, videos and music to the map via Settings → Memory. → By default, keep on SD-map.

It's also useful to install MacroDroid and create a rule to automatically clean your cache once a week.

• 📅 Trigger: "Time" (every Saturday at 3:00 a.m).
• 🤖 Action: “Executing the command» → pm trim-caches 500M.

Frequent Questions About the “Other” Section on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8