The problem of overflowing internal memory on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is familiar to many users, especially when the system shows that the storage is clogged, but on detailed check it turns out that the lion’s share is occupied by so-called “Other files”, this mysterious category can inflate to tens of gigabytes, occupying the space necessary for installing applications or shooting videos.
Fortunately, this problem doesn’t require root rights or device flashing, and the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS have powerful file system controls that can safely dispose of digital debris, and the key is to understand what’s underneath the Other label and the right paths to that data.
In this article, we will discuss in detail secure cleaning methods that will not lead to the loss of important contacts or photos. You will learn to distinguish the system cache from user data and effectively manage the space of your smartphone. The largest volume in the category “Other” is usually occupied by cached data messengers and remnants of remote applications.
What is hidden in the category "Other files"
Before we start cleaning, we need to understand the nature of this data. Android classifies files quite strictly: pictures go to the gallery, music to the player, and documents to the file manager. But there is a huge amount of information that does not fall into any of the standard categories.
Most often, the volume is inflated by cached app data. Social networks like Telegram or VK save the images and videos they viewed locally to open them more quickly when they are re-watched. Over time, this “fast access” turns into gigabytes of forgotten content.
Also included are:
- 📦 Residual files of remote games and programs that were not registered as system.
- 📂 Temporary update files for the operating system and applications from Google Play.
- 🎵 Streaming service files (music, video) saved for offline viewing but not recognized as media.
- 📄 Error logs and system reports that accumulate for months.
It's important to understand that the Other category is not a virus or a bug, but a feature of the file system. Secure deletion is possible only if you know exactly where the folder is growing. Blind cleaning of system directories can lead to unstable interfaces.
Use of the built-in cleaning tool
The easiest and safest way to start the fight for space is to use a regular application from Xiaomi, which is deeply integrated into the shell and has access to areas closed to third-party programs, you can find it in the Tools folder or through settings.
When you first run the app, you'll run a quick scan. Don't press the clean button right away. Click the trash bin icon or go to the Cleanup section to see the details. The system will suggest you delete temporary files, advertising junk and large files.
☑️ Standard cleaning algorithm
The big files section is worth paying special attention to, and users often forget about downloaded movies or archives that are dead weight, and removing such objects is the fastest way to free up gigabytes.
⚠️ Warning: When cleaning through a standard application, carefully check the check boxes. Sometimes the system mistakenly marks important documents or rare photos as "unknown files." Always check the preview before deleting.
If the standard scanner didn't help much, move on to deeper methods. Built-in tools are good for surface cleaning, but don't always reach the deep caches of applications.
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
Memory consumption leaders are traditionally messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber and Discord store all media files in internal memory. Even if you delete the chat, the files can remain in the cache.
Telegram has a built-in and very user-friendly memory management tool. Go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use. Here you can see the exact size of the cache and set automatic deletion of files, for example, 3 days or a week after viewing.
For other applications, the algorithm of actions is similar:
- 🗑️ Open the settings of a particular application inside the phone menu.
- 📂 Go to the "Storage" or "Memory" section».
- 🧹 Click the “Clear Cache” button (not to be confused with “Clear Data»!).
What is the difference between “Clean Cache” and “Clean Data”?
The Clear Data button is a radical measure, and only use it if you want to reinstall the app completely or if it doesn't work properly, otherwise you'll lose all settings and authorization.
Manual cleaning through the file manager
For more advanced users, manual file system analysis is fine, and standard MIUI Explorer or Files by Google allows you to look into hidden memory corners, and we're going to need access to the Android root folder.
Newer versions of Android (11 and above) have limited access to the Android/data folder, but file managers from Xiaomi usually request special permission when you first sign in.
The main directions for searching for garbage:
- Download folder – installers often accumulate here APK, PDF-Documents and pictures from browsers.
- DCIM/.thumbnails folder, which is where you store thumbnails of your gallery. The.thumbnails file can weigh a few gigabytes. It can be safely deleted, and the system will create a new, smaller file.
- Specific application folders in Android/data. Look for folders with the names of social networks or games that you have already deleted.
| folder | What does it contain? | Can be removed |
|---|---|---|
| Download | Downloads from the browser | Yeah (selectively) |
| DCIM/.thumbnails | Cash miniature photo | Yeah (safe) |
| MIUI/debug_log | Logs of system debugging | Yes. |
| Android/obb | Cash hard games. | Only if the game is deleted. |
When manually cleaning, be extremely careful, only delete the one you are 100% sure of, if the file is called strange or is in the system folder, it is better to leave it alone.
Analysis of storage by third-party utilities
If the built-in tools don't give you the full picture, specialized analytics apps will come to the rescue, visualizing memory as diagrams, allowing you to instantly find the "eaters" of space, and one of the best is Storage Analyzer or Files by Google.
These apps scan memory and group files by type and size, and you'll see that, for example, a folder with a card cache takes 5GB, even though the card itself is not on the phone, so you can spot the unnecessary.
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Use Memory Map mode in analyzers. Visual display of large blocks helps you quickly find forgotten video archives or backups that are not visible in the regular file list.
This is necessary for their work, but download such programs only from the official Google Play store to avoid malware.
After analysis, you can make an informed decision about deletion, often finding that “other files” are just one large WhatsApp backup file that the user has forgotten about.
Resetting application settings and_factory_Reset
If the Other category continues to grow despite all efforts, there may be a critical amount of errors or corrupted files in the system, in which case more radical but effective measures can be tried.
The first step can be to reset specific “heavy” apps, which won’t delete your accounts, but will return the program to factory settings by clearing up all the garbage that has accumulated, which often helps if the application is “glitchy” or takes up an abnormally large amount of space.
⚠️ WARNING: Full data cleanup via the recovery menu will remove ALL files from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps. Be sure to back up to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer before this action.
The last line of defense is a complete reset of the phone, which is guaranteed to remove all “other files” as the memory is fully formatted. After resetting and clean installation of applications, the “Other” category usually takes up a minimum volume (2-4 GB), which is the norm for the system to work.
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A complete factory reset is the only way to remove system debris that cannot be found manually, but it requires a full backup of the data.
Prevention of memory overflow
To keep the problem of "other files" from coming back too often, it's worth introducing a few good habits: Regular digital space hygiene takes a couple of minutes a week, but saves hours of nerves in the future.
Set up automatic cleaning in messengers. Telegram and WhatsApp can set a limit on the shelf life of media files, and also turn off auto-save photos from chat rooms to the gallery if you do not need it.
Basic rules of prevention:
- 🔄 Check the download folder once a month and delete the unnecessary ones.
- 📸 Use cloud storage (Google Photos, Yandex.Disk) with the function “free up space».
- 🚫 Do not install “accelerators” and “cleaners” from unknown sources – they often create garbage themselves.
Following these simple rules will allow your Xiaomi to work quickly and consistently for years to come. Memory is a valuable resource and must be managed intelligently without waiting for critical filling.