What is the “Other” in the memory of the Xiaomi Redmi phone and how to deal with it

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi Redmi memory settings and found the lion’s share of the mysterious “Other” section? 10, 20, or even 30 GB – and it’s unclear what these files are, can they be deleted, and why the system stubbornly hides their contents. This problem is familiar to owners of almost all Redmi models – from the budget Redmi 10A to the flagship Redmi K60 Pro. Unlike the obvious categories like “Photo” or “Apps”, the “Other” section does not have a “Clean” button and behaves like a black box.

In fact, “Other” is not a bug, but a feature of firmware. MIUI, It's a system that tags dozens of types of system and user data, and it can hide both critical files (update caches, error logs) and debris (remnants of remote applications, instant messenger data). The challenge is figuring out what exactly takes up space without damaging the smartphone, and in this article, we'll not only explain what's behind the term "Other," but we'll also show you proven ways to reduce it, from safe to radical, with specifics in mind. MIUI 14 and newer.

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

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

• 📁 System caches are temporary files to speed up the OS and applications (e.g., Dalvik-cache for Android).
• 🔄 Logs and dumps — crash records, errors, and diagnostic data (files with the.log,.dmp extension).
• 🗑️ Residual data is the tails of remote programs (folders in /data/data/ or /sdcard/Android/obb/).
• 🔒 Encrypted files are application data protected by the Android Keystore protocol (e.g., passwords in managers).
• 📱 MIUI Files are themes, wallpapers, fonts and other customization elements downloaded through Xiaomi Themes.

In reality, however, the Other is often disguised as:

• 🎮 Game caches (especially Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) that can weigh 5–10 GB.
• 📸 Photo miniatures and metadata (.thumbnails folder at the root of memory).
• 📥 Undeleted files from messaging apps (Telegram, WhatsApp) that remain even after the chats are cleaned.
• 🔄 Update files MIUI that have been downloaded but not installed (folder downloaded_rom).

Why doesn't Xiaomi show the contents of "The Other"? The reason is MIUI architecture: many files here have strict root rights, and displaying them would be confusing to the average user. And some of the data is related to system processes that would cause the OS to crash. For example, the /data/system folder contains settings for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and accounts, which is equivalent to a phone reset.

How to Check What’s in the Other’s Place

Before you delete something, you have to understand what we're dealing with. MIUI has built-in analysis tools, but they only show the tip of the iceberg.

Method 1: Built-in memory analyzer

Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Analysis. You'll see the categorization here, but the Other will be generalized. Click on it and it will show subcategories like System Data or Application Cache. Notice the size of the Download folder: often, unnecessary APK- files or archives are accumulated there.

Method 2: File Manager with root rights

If you have root access, use Root Explorer or FX File Explorer to view hidden folders:

• 📂 /data/data/ is the residual data of applications.
• 📂 /data/system/ — System settings (cannot be removed!)
• 📂 /sdcard/Android/obb/ — caches of games and heavy applications.
• 📂 /sdcard/MIUI/ — themes, wallpaper, backups.

Warning: Without root, you won’t see a complete list of folders, and accidentally deleting files from /data/ could cause your phone to lose its performance.

Method 3: ADB- Advanced Commands

Connect your phone to your PC and use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to analyze:

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

This command will show the size of folders in /data, sorted by volume. Look for suspiciously large directories like /data/app-lib or /data/dalvik-cache.

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If you are unsure of your actions with ADB, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

Top-5 Reasons Why The Other Is Growing to Giant Size

In practice, the “Other” section rarely takes less than 5-10 GB, and on some devices its volume reaches 30-50 GB.

1. For example, TikTok can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of cache per month, and Facebook can accumulate up to 500 MB. Games like Call of Duty Mobile store in /sdcard/Android/obb/ files weighing 3-7 GB.
2. Failed updates MIUI. If the firmware downloaded but did not install (for example, due to a discharged battery), its files remain in the /cache or /downloaded_rom.
3. Logs and dumps are debugging. Apps like Xiaomi Community or Mi Fit are actively writing logs that can weigh hundreds of megabytes.
4. Residual data after reset. Even after factory reset, files from old accounts or applications may remain in /data.
5. System backups. MIUI automatically creates backups of settings and data (/MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder), which are rarely deleted on their own.

Fun fact: on devices with MIUI 13/14, the “Other” section is often inflated due to the Memory Extension feature, which creates a swap file that can take up to 3-6 GB and appear as “Other”.

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If the Other is more than 15GB, it's likely that games, bad updates, or system logs are to blame. Start cleaning up the heaviest categories.

Safe Ways to Clean the Other Without Root and Risks

If you’re not willing to risk the stability of the phone, start with these methods.They don’t require superuser rights and are suitable for any Redmi model (from the Redmi Note 8 to the Redmi Note 12 Pro+).

1. Cleaning the app cache

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Sort the list by size and clear the cache from the most voracious programs.

• 🎮 Free Fire (Honor of Kings)
• 📺 Social networks (TikTok, Instagram).
• 🗺️ Maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator).

Important: Do not clear the application data (the Delete Data button) unless you want to lose your settings and account logins.

2. Disposal of loads and debris

Open the File Manager and check:

• 📁 Download folder (downloaded APK, PDF, archives).
• 📁 Folder DCIM/.thumbnails (photo and video miniatures).
• 📁 Folder Android/obb (game caches).

Remove anything you don't need. For games like Genshin Impact, you can transfer the cache to the SD- card (if supported).

3.Resetting the recovery section cache

This is a safe way to clean up temporary update files and system debris:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

This method does not affect user data, but removes the update cache and temporary files.

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the size of the download folder|Clean up the cache of games and social networks|Remove old backup copies MIUI|Drop the cache in Recovery-->

Radical Methods: What to Do If the Other Is Not Decreased

If the safe ways haven't worked, and the "Other" partition is still 20+GB, you'll have to take more serious measures, and we warn you, these methods require caution and can lead to data loss.

1 Delete the downloaded_rom folder

This folder contains downloaded but uninstalled MIUI updates to remove:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to activate the developer mode).
2. Use an ADB or file manager with root rights (such as Mixplorer).
3. Go to /sdcard/downloaded_rom and delete all files.

After this operation, it is recommended to restart the phone to avoid crashes the next update.

2.Dalvik-cache cleaning by hand

The /data/dalvik-cache folder contains optimized versions of applications to speed up their work, which can be cleaned, but this will lead to the initial download of all programs the next time you turn on.

su


rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*




reboot

3. Reset to factory settings

If nothing works, the last option is a complete reset, and the important thing is that it will delete all the data, including photos, contacts and apps.

• 🔄 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
• 📱 Move photos and videos to your PC or cloud.
• 📋 Save a list of installed apps (can be accessed via Google Play → Library).

After the reset, the Other will decrease to 1-3 GB, but eventually it will begin to grow again.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

To avoid facing the problem again, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Clean the cache of games and social networks regularly (every 1-2 weeks).
• 📥 Set up automatic cleaning in Xiaomi Security (Settings → Security → Cleanup).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic update downloads if you don't have enough space: Settings → About Phone → System Update → ⚙️ → Auto download.
• 📁 Transfer heavy games to the SD- card (if supported).
• 🔍 Use lightweight alternatives to voracious apps (e.g. Telegram X instead of regular Telegram).

You should also disable unnecessary system services:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → All applications.
2. Find MiuiDaemon, Analytics, MSA (Xiaomi Statistical Collection Services).
3. Turn them off or limit background activity.

For Redmi owners with MIUI 14+, newer versions of the firmware include Memory Fusion, which dynamically distributes memory. To make it work better, leave at least 10% of the available space on the device.

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The best prevention is to control the installed applications, remove unused programs and clear the cache once a month.

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users, in an attempt to vacate space, are making things worse, and these are the most common mistakes:

⚠️ Warning: Never delete folders /data/system, /data/misc or /data/property manually, which will result in IMEI being lost or unable to boot your phone, and will require firmware through Fastboot or a service center to recover them.

Error 1: Delete files from /sdcard/Android/obb/ without backup.

Many games (like Asphalt 9 or Call of Duty) store critical data in this folder, and if you delete it, the game will stop running and you will have to download the cache again (which can take hours), Solution: transfer the folder to your PC before deleting it.

Error 2: Using cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner.

These apps often delete useful files or leave debris behind, and they consume resources themselves and can slow down your phone. Solution: use Xiaomi's built-in security utility.

Error 3: Reset the cache in Recovery without rebooting.

If you don't restart your phone after cleaning the cache in Recovery, the system can recover some files, and the effect will be minimal.Solution: always choose Reboot system now after cleaning.

Error 4: Delete.nomedia files.

Files with the.nomedia extension hide folders from the media scanner (such as folders with wallpaper or downloads), and deleting them will cause the gallery to display thousands of unwanted files. Solution: don't touch files with this extension.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about the “Other” in the memory of Xiaomi Redmi