How to Clean the Other section in Xiaomi memory: The Complete 2026 Guide

The Other section of Xiaomi smartphones is a real black hole for gigabytes of data, it takes up 30-50% of internal storage, but it does not show which files are stored there. Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 11 users often face a situation where the memory is filled with no one knows what, and the system persistently says: “Not enough space.” In this article, we will examine what is hidden under the category “Other”, how to safely clean it and prevent re-clogging.

It's important to understand that the other is not garbage, but system files, app cache, backups and temporary data that Android and MIUI create while they're working. Deleting them at random is dangerous: you can break applications or even the entire system. So we've collected 7 proven methods, from the most secure (MIUI embedded tools) to advanced (ADB manual cleaning). All methods are tested on current MIUI 14/15 firmware and work without superuser rights.

If your smartphone already shows a memory deficit warning, start with the first section, and if you want to get a deeper look at the problem, go to analyzing the structure of the Other partition or exploring hidden folders.

What is the “Other” section in Xiaomi memory and why it grows

In MIUI, the Other section is a collective name for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (Applications, Photos, Videos, etc.).

• 📁 App cache and systems are temporary files that are created to speed up programs, such as YouTube storing video thumbnails here, and Google Maps storing offline viewing maps.
• 🔄 Logs – files with reports on the work of Android and MIUI. They are needed to diagnose failures, but can take up to 1-2 GB.
• 🔒 Encrypted data – password-protected application files (for example, banking programs or messengers with secret chats).
• 🗃️ Backups – Automatic backups of settings, SMS and the calls that he makes. MIUI.
• 🧹 Remnants of Remote Apps – Folders and files of programs that you have long since uninstalled, but they have not been completely cleaned.

The main reason for the growth of the partition is the malfunction of the automatic cleaning mechanism. Ideally, Android should remove the unwanted cache itself, but on Xiaomi this process often fails due to:

• 🛠️ Custom firmware (e.g., stomatomy firmware, MIUI Global vs MIUI China)
• 📱 Frequent updates (remain old versions of files)
• 🚫 Prohibition on cleaning the cache in the battery settings (energy saving mode blocks background processes)

⚠️ Note: If the size of the "Other" is greater than 10 GB on a smartphone 64/128 GB of memory, that's not normal. It's probably one of the apps that creates temporary files uncontrollably (frequent culprits: TikTok, Telegram, WhatsApp with media files).

To determine exactly what takes up space, you can use third-party memory analyzers (more on this in the next section), but first try the built-in MIUI tools, which solve the problem 70% of the time.

Method 1: Built-in memory cleanup in MIUI

The safest method is to use Xiaomi’s standard Cleanup tool, which removes cache, temporary files and debris without risk to the system.

1. Open the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to Clean Up (or Optimize in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Press Deep Cleaning → Scan.
4. After analysis, select the category Garbage Files and click Clean.

Pay attention to the points:

• 🗑️ Application cache – can be deleted without consequences.
• 📄 Large files – manually check before deleting (there may be important documents here).
• 🔍 Cleaning recommendations — MIUI It will tell you which applications can be optimized.

If the Other section hasn't shrunk after cleaning, move on to the next way, and the built-in tool only removes surface debris, but doesn't affect system files and hidden folders.

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After cleaning, restart the smartphone - this will help the system correctly recalculate the occupied space in memory.

Method 2: Manually cleansing the application cache

Some apps (especially social media and instant messengers) create a giant cache that is not always removed through a standard cleanup to manually remove it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by size (click on the three dots in the top right corner → Sort by size).
3. Select an app with a large cache (for example, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Top.-5 Applications that most often clog memory:

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Clear cache and Clear data! The second action will delete all application settings (including logins and passwords) and you will have to reconfigure it.

For convenience, you can use automatic cache cleaning:

1. In the same app settings, click on three points → Autoclean the cache.
2. Enable the option and set a limit (e.g. 500MB).

Close all applications|Make a backup copy of important data|Check the vacant space after cleaning|Reboot your smartphone-->

Method 3: Delete unnecessary system files through Storage

There's a hidden section in MIUI where you can manually manage some of the system files, and you can get there.

1. Open the Settings. → Memory (or Warehouse).
2. Scroll down to the Other block and click on it.
3. The system will show subcategories: Downloads, Cache updates, Journals, etc.

Let’s see what can be safely removed:

• 📥 Downloads — Download folder with files you downloaded through your browser. Check it manually, as there may be important documents.
• 🔄 Update cache -- temporary firmware files. If you don't update right now, you can delete them.
• 📜 Logs are system logs, only delete if your smartphone is stable (they are needed to diagnose malfunctions).
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin - files deleted through Xiaomi Explorer, cleared automatically after 30 days, but you can do it manually.

If you have MIUI Backups on the list, be careful: they store backups of your SMS, calls and settings, only if you are sure they are not needed.

Method 4: Memory analysis through third-party applications

If the built-in MIUI tools didn't help, use third-party memory analyzers. They show hidden folders and files that the system doesn't display.

• 🔍 Files by Google – Google’s official app with garbage cleanup and analysis.
• 📊 SD Maid (requires root for full access) – finds remnants of deleted applications and duplicates.
• 🗂️ DiskUsage – visualizes the occupied place in the form of a diagram.

Instructions for Files by Google:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and allow access to the memory.
3. Go to the Cleanup section. → Make room.
4. The app will show file categories including Large Files, Duplicates and Unused Applications.

Notice the folders:

• /storage/emulated/0/Android/data — this is where the application data is stored. You can only delete folders of remote programs.
• /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails – photo and video thumbnails (can be cleaned).
• /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup is a backup of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders called com.android., com.xiaomi. or com.google.* – these are system data, without which the smartphone can stop working.

If the analyzer found a lot of files in the Android/obb folder, you should know that it stores additional game data (such as graphics packages for Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), which can be deleted, but you will have to download the games again.

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The side analyzers show files that MIUI is hiding, but you can only delete data that you're sure of!

Method 5: Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods have failed and the Other section still takes tens of gigabytes, try cleaning through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer but doesn’t need root rights.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools by Google.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and unpack the platform-tools on your computer.
2. On your smartphone, turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

File transfer

platform-tools

adb devices

The serial number of your device should appear.

adb shell pm trim-caches 256m

(where 256m is the cache limit in megabytes; you can specify more, for example, 512m).

/cache

adb shell su -c 'rm -rf /cache/*'

(If you have permission denied, you don’t have root rights, skip this step.)

After completing the commands, restart the smartphone and check the occupied place. ADB-Cleaning removes deep cache that standard tools don’t touch.

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If the adb device command does not work, install drivers for your Xiaomi model from the official website.

Method 6: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed, and the Other section still takes up an unnecessarily large amount of space, it leaves a complete reset, a radical way that removes all data from your smartphone, including apps, photos and settings, and only use it if:

• 📉 Free space is critically small (less than 1 GB).
• 🔄 The smartphone is slowing down and overheating.
• 🚫 You've tried all the other ways.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The smartphone will return to the state of “out of the box».
• 📥 Restore data from the backup (but don’t copy old system files!).
• 🛡️ Install only the necessary applications to avoid repeated clogging.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro) a folder may remain after the reset MIUI/Backup Remove it manually through the Explorer.

If even after a reset, the Other partition grows rapidly, the problem may be a hardware memory failure (flash drive wear), in which case only replacing the memory module in the service center will help.

Method 7: Preventing future memory clogging

To prevent the “Other” section from growing again, follow these rules:

• 📵 Limit the cache for social networks: Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Warehouse → Clear the cache.On Instagram: Profile → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Set up automatic cleaning: In Settings → Memory. → Autocleaning Enable the Option and Set a Schedule.
• 🚫 Turn off autoload media in messengers: WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot Media (turn off for mobile data).
• 🗑️ Clean Downloads regularly – the Download folder is often clogged with unnecessary files.
• 📱 Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI fixing cache cleanup bugs.

It is also useful to use cloud storage for photos and videos:

• 🖼️ Google Photos – Automatic uploading of images with the ability to delete local copies.
• 📁 Mi Cloud – Xiaomi Cloud with 5 GB of free space.

If you install/delete games frequently, use a memory card (if your smartphone supports microSD). Move heavy games to it via Settings → Apps → [game name] → Storage → Change.

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Regular cache cleaning and monitoring of media autoload reduces the growth of the Other section by 60-70%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's "Other" section