What is “Other” in Xiaomi memory and how to clean it MIUI

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi storage settings and were surprised to find that the lion’s share of memory is occupied by the mysterious “Other” section? MIUI This one can eat 5 to 20 GB of it, and it stubbornly doesn't show what's stored there. Unlike photos, videos or apps, The Other doesn't have a clear source, making cleaning it a non-trivial task.

In this article, we will understand what lies beneath the “Other” item in Xiaomi’s memory, why it grows over time and, most importantly, how to safely reduce it without risking damage to the system. MIUI And we'll show you some other invisible files that accumulate in the background, and we'll show you what tools you can use, including: ADB And third-party utilities will help to return precious gigabytes.

Spoiler: 90% of the time, the Other consists of a cache of system applications, temporary update files MIUI And the garbage from remote programs -- and it can be reduced without root rights. But there are exceptions that you need to know about in advance.

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s Memory and Why Does It Take So Much Space?

Section “Other” in MIUI — It's a kind of garbage box of the operating system, where you get files that don't belong to the standard categories (photos, videos, audio, documents, applications:

• 🗃️ System and user application cache – temporary data that programs create to speed up work, but often not deleted after use.
• 📝 Logs and dumps MIUI — Error Reporting files that the system generates when crashes (e.g, /data/anr/ or /data/tombstones/).
• 🔄 Remnants of Remote Applications – Folders and Program Settings that were not completely erased when uninstalled.
• 📦 Temporary update files – firmware packs that are downloaded but not always deleted after installation.
• 🧹 Garbage from messengers and social networks – cache of Telegram, WhatsApp, TikTok and other applications that actively use storage.

For example, after a major update MIUI 14 → MIUI 15 in the “Other” section, up to 3-5 GB of unnecessary files can remain. And if you often install and delete games (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), then the remnants of their data will accumulate here.

Fun fact: on some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ or POCO F5) The “Other” section can be artificially inflated due to the features of the file system F2FS, Which Xiaomi uses instead of the standard ext4. This is not a bug, but a feature of optimization, but it leads to the fact that the “garbage” takes up more space than it really weighs.

How to check what exactly ranks in the “Other” section

Before you start cleaning, it is worthwhile to understand what files are accumulating in the Other. There are several ways to do this, from built-in tools. MIUI side-to-side.

Method 1: Built-in storage analyzer

The easiest way is to use a standard tool:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Put it on the memory usage schedule.
3. Select the item "Other" - the system will show an approximate composition (cache, logs, etc.).

The disadvantage of this method: MIUI It doesn't give you a detailed breakdown, it just gives you general categories, like, you'll see that 60 percent of the Other is cache, but you don't know which app it is.

Method 2: File Manager with root rights (for advanced)

If you have root access, you can look into the hidden folders:

• /data/data/ — This store all applications data, including cache.
• /data/log/ — Logs of system and applications.
• /data/dalvik-cache/ — Android virtual machine cache.
• /cache/ — Temporary update and recovery files.

⚠️ Note: Deleting files from these folders without understanding their purpose can cause malfunctions MIUI. For example, cleaning /data/dalvik-cache/ will cause recompilation of all applications at the next launch, which will slow down the smartphone on the Internet. 10–15 minute.

Method 3: Third-party utilities (without root)

Apps like Files by Google, SD Maid or Storage Analyzer can show a more detailed structure of the Other, for example, Storage Analyzer visualizes which folders take up the most space, even without root rights.

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If you use SD Maid, enable the option “Show system files” in the settings – so the utility scans and hidden folders that are usually not visible.

Safe Ways to Clean the Other Without Root Rights

If you don’t have root access (and most Xiaomi does), don’t despair.There are a few safe methods to help reduce the Other section without risking the system.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of all applications

The easiest and most effective way:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select "Sort by size."
3. Open every major app (especially messengers and social networks) and click Clear cache.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse Clear Cache with Clear Data! The second action will delete all settings and application files (such as WhatsApp correspondence or saved passwords in the browser).

Method 2: Delete temporary update files

MIUI Frequently downloads update packages (.zip files) to the folder /cache/ or /data/ota_package/, But it doesn't always remove them:

1. Open any file manager (e.g., the standard Mi File Manager).
2. Go to the Internal Storage folder → MIUI → cache.
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension or names like update.zip.

Method 3: Use of the Memory Cleanup mode in MIUI

V MIUI 12-15 has a hidden deep cleaning function:

1. Press the “Memory” button in the storage settings.
2. Select “Deep Clean” (may be called “Optimization”).
3. Confirm the action – the system will delete unnecessary logs and temporary files.

Method 4: Resetting cache via Recovery

If the smartphone began to slow down, and the “Other” takes more than 10 GB, the cache reset in recovery mode will help:

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

This method does not delete user data, but clears the system cache, which can free up 1-3 GB.

Cleaning the Other with the help of ADB (for advanced users)

If the standard methods do not help, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — A debugging tool that allows you to delete system files without root permissions, which is suitable for users who are willing to work with the command line.

Step 1: Install ADB on your computer

Download Platform Tools from Google's official website and unpack the archive.

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB.
2. Turn on "Debugging by" USB» In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times to unlock the developer menu, then find the option in Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
3. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, you can proceed to clean.

Step 2: Commands to Clean the Other

Here are some safe commands that will delete unnecessary files:

• 🧹 Cleaning the cache of all applications: adb shell pm trim-caches -f 1000 This command forcibly clears the cache of all user and system applications.
• 🗑️ Delete temporary files: adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* adb shell rm -rf /cache/* Clears folders with temporary data.
• 📦 Removing old logs: adb shell rm -rf /data/anr/* adb shell rm -rf /data/tombstones/* Remove Error Report Files (Secure as they are automatically recreated if needed).

⚠️ Note: Do not use commands like adb shell rm -rf /data/* — It will completely erase all user data, including photos, contacts and apps. ADB Always check the paths to the folders.

Hidden folders that inflate "Other": where to look for garbage

Even if you cleared the cache and deleted the temporary files, Xiaomi still has hidden folders that keep taking up space.

To find these folders, use a file manager that supports hidden files (such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).Be sure to check before deleting if the files are currently in use (for example, if you recently updated the application, do not touch its cache).

💡 Useful advice: Folder /data/data/com.xiaomi.midrop/ It stores Mi Drop files, and if you don't use it, you can clean it completely, and it'll free up the data. 500 MB.

What NOT to remove from the Other (risks and consequences)

Not all files in the Other section are safe to delete, but here is a list of things you shouldn't touch unless you're an expert:

• 🚫 /data/dalvik-cache/ — cache of the Android virtual machine. its cleaning will cause recompilation of all applications at the next run (slowdown on the next run). 10–20 minute).
• 🚫 /data/system/ — System settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, accounts) will cause disruptions MIUI.
• 🚫 /data/misc/ — System configuration files, which can cause a bootloop to cause a cyclic reboot).
• 🚫 /data/app/ — This is where the installed applications are stored. Deleting the folders will cause the programs to disappear.
• 🚫 Files with the.odex or.vdex extension are optimized application libraries, and deleting them will break the program.

If you accidentally deleted one of these folders, your smartphone might:

• Stop turning on (hang on the logo) MIUI).
• Start rebooting constantly.
• Lose network connection (will not catch mobile Internet or Wi-Fi).
• Errors when running applications (e.g., “App has stopped”)

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning the “Other” smartphone began to work unstable, immediately reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings. This will return the system to working condition, but delete all user data.

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Before any manipulation of system folders, back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) via Mi Cloud or locally on your PC.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

Cleaning the Other is good, but it's even better to keep it from filling. Here are some preventive measures:

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) through Settings → Memory.
• 🚫 Don’t use Google Play’s “memory optimizers” – they often delete useful files and slow down your system.
• 📱 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play if you have little memory. /cache/ and may not be removed.
• 📁 Transferring heavy files to SD-For example, a cache of games like Genshin Impact can weigh up to 10 GB.
• 🔍 Periodically check the folders of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) – they often store duplicate media files.

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system applications. MIUI, who actively use cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find apps like Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser (if you don't use it).
3. Click on “Disable” (not “Delete” as these are system programs).

This will not only save space, but also speed up the smartphone, as background processes will not load the processor.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s “Other” section