Where in the Xiaomi phone is stored folder “Other” and how to clean it

Have you ever looked into the memory settings of your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO And you've seen the lion's share of the mysterious "Other" category -- 20, 30, maybe 50 GB -- and it's unclear what files are, where they are, if they can be deleted, the manufacturer doesn't give you direct access to that folder, and standard cleaners are often powerless. In this article, we will not only tell you where the Other is physically stored in Xiaomi’s memory, but also show you how to safely reduce its volume without risk to the system.

Let's just warn you, the other is not a virus or an error, but it's the backend files, the app cache, the temporary data, and the remnants of the deleted programs that you have. MIUI (Xiaomi's firmware doesn't classify it as multimedia, documents, or apps. The problem is that over time, that junk accumulates by eating precious gigabytes. And while it's still something you can do with iTunes on iPhones, it's getting harder on Android (and especially Xiaomi.

We analyzed the memory structure on models from Redmi Note 10 Pro to Xiaomi 13 Ultra, studied hidden folders through the use of the device. ADB file managers with root rights, and also interviewed users on forums 4PDA And Mi Community, and it's a step-by-step guide that helps you:

• 🔍 Find the physical location of the “Other” files in your phone’s memory.
• 🗑️ Securely clear unnecessary data without harming the system.
• 🛡️ Preventing the re-accumulation of “garbage».
• 📊 Find out which files are in place (cache, logs, APK-leftovers.).

Important: some methods require unlocking the bootloader or the rights of the superuser (root).If you are not ready for such manipulations, we will also show legal ways through standard settings. MIUI.

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

Category “Other” in MIUI — It's a dump for files that the system can't classify as standard (photos, video, audio, documents, applications:

• 📁 Application cache – temporary files that programs create to speed up work (for example, thumbnails in the gallery, data messengers).
• 🗃️ Remnants of Remote Applications – Lib, Odex and Folders APK-files that remain after uninstallation of programs.
• 📜 System and application logs are error reporting files (.log,.txt) that are created when crashes occur.
• 🔄 Temporary update files – remnants of firmware that have downloaded but not installed.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, cache textures and other files that games do not mark as “documents».

For example, when you delete a Genshin Impact game, you can have up to 10 to 15 GB of cache of textures and saves that the system doesn’t recognize as multimedia, and the same thing happens with TikTok, Instagram, and other apps that actively use cache.

Why doesn't Xiaomi clean it up automatically? It's all about architecture. MIUI: The firmware is optimized for speed, not space saving. The system prefers to leave the cache "just in case" instead of deleting it after the application is closed. In addition, many files in the Other are blocked for the user - they can not be deleted without special permissions.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to manually delete files from folders /data/data/ or /system/ This can lead to app crashes or even bootlooping of the phone).

Where is the Other physically stored in Xiaomi memory: folder structure

The Other files are distributed across several hidden folders of internal memory, and their location depends on the version. MIUI It's a phone model, but the overall structure looks like this:

To see these folders, you’ll need a file manager with superuser rights (like Root Explorer or a file manager with superuser rights). FX File Explorer or phone connection via ADB. Without root, you can only view a portion of the files in the /data/media/0/ (It's the same file as the /storage/emulated/0/, which you see in a standard conductor).

The most “heavy” folders are usually found here:

• 📂 /data/data/com.android.providers.media/ — cache of media files (miniatures, metadata).
• 📂 /data/data/com.miui.gallery/ — Xiaomi gallery cache.
• 📂 /data/app-lib/ — remote application library.
• 📂 /data/local/ — temporary update files MIUI.

For example, on Xiaomi. 12T Pro after a year of use in a folder /data/local/tmp/ may accumulate 3–5 GB of garbage from unsuccessful updates, and in /data/data/com.tencent.mm/ (WeChat folder - before 1–2 GB sticker and media cache.

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If you don't want to dig into the system folders, start by clearing the gallery cache. → Annexes → gallery → Memory. → Clear the cache. This often frees up 1 to 3 GB of space.

How to see what exactly occupies a place in the “Other”: step-by-step instructions

Before you delete something, you need to know which files are taking up space. There are several ways to do this, from standard tools. MIUI side-to-side.

Method 1: Built-in memory analyzer (without root)

The easiest method is to use a built-in tool. MIUI:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Put it on the memory usage schedule.
3. Select the category “Other” (may be called “Other” or “System Data”).
4. The system will show a list of apps that occupy the most space in this category.

The disadvantage of this method: MIUI It only shows apps, not specific files, so you'll see that Telegram is 2GB, but you won't know what it is, cache, media or databases.

Method 2: File Manager with root rights

If you have root rights, use Root Explorer or Solid Explorer:

1. Open the file manager and give it root access.
2. Move to the /data/data/ And sort the folders by size.
3. Look for folders with a high weight (e.g. com.tencent.mm for WeChat or com.whatsapp for WhatsApp).
4. Inside each folder, check the cache, files, and databases subfolders.

Without root, you can only view folders in /storage/emulated/0/ (The visible part of memory:

• 📁.thumbnails – photo and video miniatures (can weigh up to 1-2 GB).
• 📁.estrongs – the cache of the file manager ES Explorer.
• 📁 Android/obb/ — Additional game data (e.g. graphics packages for the PUBG Mobile).

Method 3: ADB-memory-analyzing

If you don’t want to root, you’re ready to use it. ADB, Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell du -h -d 1 /data/data/ | sort -rh | head -n 20

This team will show 20 major /data/data/, So for example, the output might look like this:

1.2G    /data/data/com.tencent.mm


800M    /data/data/com.whatsapp




500M    /data/data/com.android.chrome




...

Make sure your important data is synced to the cloud

Make a backup copy of photos and contacts

Remember passwords from accounts (if you clear the browser cache)

Check if your phone is being used as an access point (to avoid interrupting the internet on other devices)-->

How to Clean Up Xiaomi’s “Other” Memory: Safe Ways

Now that you know where to look, it's time to make room, and we've gathered ways from the safest to the most radical -- choose according to your willingness to take risks.

Method 1: Cleaning the application cache (without root)

This is the safest way that does not require special knowledge:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the apps by size (slip to three dots in the upper right corner).
3. Choose an app that takes up a lot of space (e.g. Facebook, TikTok, Gallery).
4. Press "Memory» → «Clear the cache».

⚠️ Warning: Do not click Clear Data - this will delete all settings and files of the app (such as chats on WhatsApp or save in games.

Method 2: Removal of unnecessary APK and OBB-file

If you have installed apps not from Google Play (for example, through Google Play). APK-files, their remnants may have been left in memory:

1. Open any file manager (e.g. Files by Google).
2. Go to the device memory → Android → data.
3. Delete folders with names of remote applications (for example, com.game.old).
4. Then check the folder. Android/obb/ — There may be heavy game files (e.g. com.pubg.krmobile).

For example, after deleting Call of Duty: Mobile, an obb folder may have a file weighing 1.5–2 GB that the system does not automatically delete.

Method 3: Cleaning with Recovery Mode (advanced)

If the phone is severely braking, and the “Other” takes tens of gigabytes, you can try cleaning through the recovery mode:

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

This method deletes all temporary system files, including update cache and logs, and is secure, but it won’t help if the Other consists of app data (like Instagram cache).

Method 4: Full reset (last chance)

If nothing works, and The Other takes more than 20 to 30 GB, you may have to do a hard reset, which will delete all data, including photos and apps, so:

• 🔄 First, make a backup through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 📱 Then go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 🗑️ Select "Delete all data».

Once reset, the Other will drop to 1-3 GB (which is normal for service files), and the downside is that you have to reconfigure the phone.

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Cleaning the app cache is the safest way, but it's temporary. To prevent the Other from accumulating again, repeat the procedure regularly (every 1-2 months) or use automatic cleaners like the one you use. SD Maid (requires root).

How to Prevent the Accumulation of the Other in the Future

Cleaning up the memory is good, but it's even better to keep it from clogging, and here are some tips to keep The Other in check:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play. updates often leave trash in the back of your app. /data/local/tmp/.
• 📱 Use the Light versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite) that take up less space and cache less data.
• 🗑️ Set up automatic cleaning in Settings → Memory. → Clean. Turn on the option "Autocleaning».
• 🎮 Transfer heavy games to a memory card (if the phone supports Adoptable Storage).
• 📁 Check the Download folder regularly – unnecessary files often accumulate there.

It is also worth disabling unnecessary system applications that actively use cache, for example, Xiaomi has installed by default:

• 🎵 Mi Music (caches album covers).
• 📺 Mi Video (Saves Video Miniatures).
• 📰 Mi Browser (caches web pages).

To turn them off:

1. Go to Settings → Apps.
2. Find an unneeded app (such as Mi Music).
3. Click "Disable" (not "Delete" as it is system software).

This will not remove the app completely, but will stop it from working and prevent cache accumulation.

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning the Other and How to Avoid Them

Many users, in an attempt to make room, commit dangerous actions that then cause disruptions.

1. Deletion of the folder /data/dalvik-cache/ — This is the cache of the Android virtual machine, its deletion will lead to the collapse of the system the next time the applications are launched.
2. Cleaning up Google Play Services data will disrupt Google services and the phone will stop syncing email, contacts and notifications.

If you delete something important and your phone starts to glitches, try:

• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes the system recovers critical files on its own.
• 📥 Update the firmware through Settings → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Reset to factory settings (if errors are critical).

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning the "Other" phone began to warm up or discharge quickly, then you have deleted files important for the optimization of the system.

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