Xiaomi’s Other folder: Where it’s hiding and how to clean it

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi storage and wondered why the Other partition takes up gigabytes of memory when you didn't save anything? It's one of the most mysterious folders in MIUI that can eat up to 30 percent of your internal drive. Unlike photos, videos or apps, the content of The Other doesn't show up explicitly -- you have to search it manually.

In this article, we will not only show where these files are physically stored in Xiaomi memory, but also explain what they are: cache system processes, remnants of remote applications, log files or temporary data Google Play Services. You'll learn how to safely scan memory, which files can be deleted without risk to the system, and which should not be touched. ADB, which works even on locked devices.

Important: some of the files in Other can be critical to MIUI or installed applications, and we'll detail how to distinguish garbage from system data so you don't turn your smartphone into a brick. If you've tried to clean up memory through standard settings and it doesn't work, you'll find alternative ways here.

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

The Other section of MIUI is a collection of files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photo, video, audio, applications).

• 📁 Cache of system applications (com.android.systemui, com.miui.home)
• 🗑️ Temporary files from Google Play Services and MIUI Optimization
• 🔄 Remnants of remote applications (folders lib, cache in) /data/data)
• 📜 Log files (.log,.tmp,.bak)
• 🔒 Encrypted data (e.g. from Mi Cloud or Mi Pay)

On devices with MIUI 12-14, the Other can be as high as 10-30GB, especially if you’re actively using instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), games, or frequently updating apps. For example, after updating MIUI via OTA, the system backs up old firmware in the /cache folder, which then goes to the Other and is not deleted automatically.

Another reason this partition is growing is memory fragmentation, where when you delete files, the system doesn't always free the clusters completely, but instead labels them as "free to rewrite," and over time, there are so many of these holes that they show up as occupied space in "Other," which is especially noticeable on eMMC memory devices (unlike UFS), where fragmentation is faster.

Where to look for the “Other” folder in the Xiaomi file system

Unlike standard folders (DCIM, Download), The Other does not have a single location, but its content is scattered across several hidden directories.

To see these folders, you’ll need a root file manager (like Root Explorer or Solid Explorer) or ADB-Without root rights, you can only view a part of the paths, for example:

adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/

Note that in MIUI, some system folders (/data, /system) may be hidden even to root users due to Xiaomi's security policy.

adb shell su -c "ls -la /data"

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If you do not have root rights, but you need to clear the cache of system applications, use the command adb shell pm clear com.miui.home – this will safely reset the launcher cache without deleting important data.

How to scan “Other” without root-rights: step-by-step instructions

If you don’t want root access, but want to understand what’s in the Other, use this method:

Install the DiskUsage app (or similar)|Connect your phone to your PC through USB (file transfer)|Open the command line on the PC|Download ADB Tools (if not already installed)-->

Step 1 Installation of DiskUsage

Download the DiskUsage app (or Storage Analyzer) from Google Play, which visualizes occupied space as a diagram, where large blocks are potential "Other" garbage.

• 📂 /Android/data — game-cache
• 📂 /Android/obb — Additional game files (can be deleted if games are deleted)
• 📂 /MIUI — log files and system dumps

Step 2: Analysis through ADB

Connect Xiaomi to your PC and execute the command to output the list of the largest folders:

adb shell du -h -d 1 /storage/emulated/0 | sort -rh | head -n 10

This command will show the TOP-10 folders that occupy the most space, and if there are unknown directories (for example,.estrongs or.nomedia), they can be deleted.

Step 3: Checking the Google Play Services cache

One of the main memory eaters in The Other is the Google Play Services cache, to clear it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Play Services and click on Storage.
3. Select “Clear Cache” (not data!).

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Do not clear the data of Google Play Services – this will cause a failure of synchronization of the Google account and errors in the work of applications.

Cleaning the Other with root rights: risks and opportunities

If you're willing to take a risk and get root access, you can remove up to 80 percent of the trash from The Other.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/dalvik-cache or /system without backup can lead to bootloop ( looped download).Always do backup through TWRP before cleaning.

What can be safely removed:

• 🧹 folder /cache (recovery)
• 🧹 Contents /data/local/tmp
• 🧹 Files with the extension.log,.tmp in /data
• 🧹 Application cache in /data/data/*/cache (system-wide)

How to clean:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer.
2. Go to /data and sort the files by size.
3. Remove anything that is over 30 days and is >100MB in size (except app, app-private folders).
4. Reset the device.

To automate the process, you can use a script in Termux:

su


find /data -type f -name "*.log" -delete




find /data -type f -name "*.tmp" -delete




find /cache -type f -mtime +7 -delete

Hidden Rootless Cleaning Methods: ADB and MIUI Optimization

If root rights are not available, but “Other” takes up a critically large amount of space, try these methods:

Method 1. Cleaning through ADB

Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands:

adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media


adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms

This will reset the cache of the media provider and Google Play Services, which often frees up 1-3 GB.

Method 2: Resetting MIUI Optimization

MIUI has a hidden optimization reset function that clears temporary system files:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 5 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the "Reset" MIUI Optimization and confirm the action.

Method 3: Removal OTA-update

After updating MIUI, the system saves the old firmware to /cache.

adb shell rm -rf /cache/ota*

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If the memory is still not freed after cleaning, check the /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb folder – sometimes games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) leave gigabytes of files there even after uninstallation.

How to Prevent the Spread of the Other in the Future

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

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Warehouse → Clean (do it once a month).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic download of media in instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp).
• 📱 Use lightweight versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).
• 🔄 Update. MIUI on time – in new versions, work with cache is optimized.
• 🛑 Do not use memory cleaners (such as Clean Master) – they often delete the desired files.

Another effective way is to transfer applications to SD-card (if your model supports Adoptable Storage:

1. Put it in. SD-class UHS-I (Minimum Class 10).
2. Format it as internal memory in Settings → Storage.
3. Move there heavy applications (games, social networks).

⚠️ Note: If you use Adoptable Storage, do not remove SD-map without first unmounting in the settings. This can lead to data loss.

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many Xiaomi users make critical mistakes when trying to make room.

• 🚫 Delete the folder /data/app — This will remove all installed applications.
• 🚫 Clean com.android.settings data – all system settings will be reset.
• 🚫 Format /system — phone will stop loading.
• 🚫 Use rm commands -rf / — This will remove everything from the device without the possibility of recovery.

If you accidentally delete important files, try to restore them by:

• 🔄 TWRP Backup (if backup was made).
• 🔄 Recovery Programs (DiskDigger, Recuva) – connect your phone to your PC).

If the Other grows quickly again after cleaning, check the device for viruses using Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light. Some Trojans create hidden files in /data that masquerade as system.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi’s “Other”