«Other files in Xiaomi memory: full analysis + clean-up

Have you ever looked into the Storage section of your Xiaomi and were surprised to find that the lion’s share of memory is occupied by the mysterious category “Other files”? 10, 20, or even 30 GB – and it is not clear what it is, can it be deleted, and why the system does not show their content explicitly, a problem familiar to owners of almost all models – from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In this article, we will not only explain what other files are in Xiaomi’s memory, but also show you how to analyze them, which ones can be safely deleted and which ones should not be touched. You will learn about hidden app caches, update remnants, system logs and other “invisible” data that eventually turn into digital garbage.

Spoiler: 80 percent of the time, Other Files are 60 to 70 percent unnecessary temporary data that can be deleted without affecting your smartphone, but there are exceptions, and we'll talk about that.

What is “Other Files” in Xiaomi Memory: Official Explanation and Reality

According to the documentation MIUI, The category "Other Files"** includes:

• 📁 Application cache and systems are temporary data that is created to speed up the operation of programs (for example, image thumbnails, saved web pages).
• 📄 Logs and dumps are error reporting files that the system generates when crashes (for example, logcat or tombstones).
• 🔄 Update remnants are undeleted firmware packages that have downloaded but not installed.
• 🗑️ Deleted files are data that you have erased but have not yet been overwritten by new information (especially for internal eMMC memory).
• 🔒 Secure application files – data that cannot be accessed without root rights (for example, messenger databases).

However, in practice, other types of data often fall under this category:

• 🎮 Cache games – for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile can leave gigabytes of unnecessary files.
• 📷 Miniatures and previews – even after deleting photos/videos, smaller copies of them can remain in the.thumbnails folder.
• 📥 Browser downloads – files downloaded via Chrome or Mi Browser that you forgot to delete.
• 🤖 Virtual machine files – if you used Xiaomi HyperOS to run Windows on the Internet ARM.

The main problem is that MIUI It doesn't provide a detailed breakdown of this category. Unlike Android 12.+, And where Google introduced a more transparent storage system, Xiaomi still hides some of the data under a common name. F2FS, which the company uses on most devices.

Why Other Files Take So Much Space: 5 Top Reasons

If you notice that the volume of Other Files has grown from 5 GB to 20 GB in a couple of months, the reason may be:

1. Automatic app updates. Google Play and Mi App Store download updates in the background, but don't always remove older versions APK-For example, a Facebook update can weigh 150MB and its remaining 50MB.
2. Telegram, WhatsApp and WeChat store media files in hidden folders, even if you cleared the chat, thumbnails and previews can stay.
3. File system errors: Sudden power outage or failure F2FS It can fragment data, which can take up more space than it should.
4. Developer Logs: If you have ever enabled Developer Mode (e.g., for the USB-Debugging, the system begins to record advanced logs that can weigh gigabytes.
5. Viruses and malware: Some Trojans disguise themselves as system files and create duplicates of data in hidden directories.

Fun fact: on devices with HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) «Other files can take up 10-15% more space than other files. MIUI 13, because of the new cache management system.This is because HyperOS is heavily using real-time data compression, but sometimes "forgets" to clear temporary buffers.

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To check how much space the system logs take, go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI and press 5 times on the line with the build number. → Additionally. → Logs (appears after activation of developer mode).

How to see what exactly takes place: 3 working methods

Since MIUI It doesn't show the contents of Other Files directly, so you'll have to use workarounds:

1. Through the built-in "Storage Analysis"

The safest, but least informative way to do this is:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Put it on "Other Files."
3. The system will show the distribution by categories: “Cash”, “Downloads”, “Logins”, etc.

Xiaomi hides some of the data under the general name “Other”**, so you will not get the full picture.

2. With the help of a file manager (with root rights)

If you have root access, use Root Explorer or FX File Manager:

• 🔍 Go to the root directory (/).
• 📂 Open the folders: /data/log — logistic; /data/dalvik-cache — cache of the Android virtual machine; /data/app-lib — library; /cache — temporary update files.

⚠️ Note: Deleting files from these folders without knowing the case can lead to system crash or data loss. /data/dalvik-cache It will cause a cache reassembly at the next run, which will take 10–15 minute.

3. via ADB (no root)

For advanced users, the adb shell command is suitable:

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

This command will show the folder size in /data, Sorted by volume, the heaviest directories:

• /data/app — fixed-appendice;
• /data/data — Application data (cache, databases);
• /data/media/0 — User files (photos, videos).

How to Safely Clean Other Files on Xiaomi: Step-by-step instructions

Before you start cleaning, remember the golden rule:

⚠️ Warning: Never delete files manually from folders /system, /vendor or /boot. This will lead to a device blink (complete inoperability) and require flashing through the Fastboot.

Now we turn to safe methods:

1. Cleaning up the app cache

The easiest and most effective way:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook or TikTok).
3. Tap the "Storage» → «Clear the cache»**.

For mass cleaning, use Settings → Storage → Clean (basket icon in the upper right corner).

2. Removing old updates

MIUI often leaves firmware packets in the folder /cache:

• Open Files (standard manager from Xiaomi)
• Go to Categories → System files → Update folder.
• Delete files with.zip extension or names like miui_*.zip.

Cleaning the system logs

If you are not a developer, you do not need logs:

adb shell su -c "rm -rf /data/log/*"


adb shell su -c "rm -rf /data/tombstones/*"

These commands will delete all error logs. Once you've done this, restart the device.

4. Use of third-party utilities

Apps like SD Maid or Files by Google can find and uninstall:

• 🗑️ Empty folders;
• 📁 Duplicate files;
• 🔍 Remnants of Remote Applications.

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Turn off automatic application updates|Close all working programs-->

What if the “Other Files” are returned?

If the volume of Other Files grew again after cleaning it up a week later, the problem goes deeper. Here are the possible causes and solutions:

If nothing helps, try resetting the cache via Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select the Wipe Cache Partition.
4. Reset the device.

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Regularly cleaning the cache and disabling auto updates reduces the volume of “Other files” by 40-60% in a month.

Xiaomi models most prone to ‘Other Files’ problem

Not all Xiaomi devices are equally affected by memory filling with “invisible” files, according to service centers, most often faced with this problem owners:

• Redmi Note 10/11/12 — because of the budget eMMC memory 5.1, It works slowly with a lot of small files;
• Poco X3/X4 — corrosive MIUI play-off;
• Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite – a bug with logging in MIUI 12.5;
• Black Shark 4/5 — Game profiles create duplicate data;
• Xiaomi 12T — trouble F2FS Early versions of HyperOS.

For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with 128 GB of memory, “Other Files” can take up to 25 GB after 6 months of use, whereas on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with a high-end memory. UFS 3.1 This figure rarely exceeds 8-10 GB.

If you have one of these models, we recommend:

• 🔄 Update to the latest version MIUI/HyperOS;
• 🛠️ Use it. SD Maid for regular cleaning;
• 📱 Switch to a memory card (if supported).

Frequent Errors When Cleaning Other Files and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes in trying to make room, and here are the most common ones:

⚠️ Attention: Deletion of folder /data/dalvik-cache Without rebooting, the system will try to recover the cache, but it will not be able to complete the process.

Mistake. 1: Deletion of files from /system

folder /system It contains critical Android files, even if you see large files there (e.g., the Android file, app/webview/webview.apk), You can not delete them - this will lead to loss of functionality of the browser and some applications.

Mistake 2: Using “cleaners” with aggressive algorithms

Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete not only the cache, but also important application data (such as saving games or setting messengers). SD Maid or embedded tools MIUI.

Error 3: Clearing the Google Play Services cache

This service is responsible for the operation of Google services, and once the cache is cleared, the phone can:

• 🚫 Stop synchronizing contacts;
• 📍 Not to be identified;
• 🔔 Not to receive push notifications.

If you need to free up space, it is better to delete the cache of the Google Play Store or YouTube.

Mistake 4: Ignoring backups

Before mass cleaning, be sure to make a backup through:

• Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset;
• Or using Xiaomi Cloud (if you have a Mi Account).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi’s Other Files