How to Clean Other Files on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Understanding the Reasons

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi store and seen the mysterious category of “Other Files” that takes up gigabytes of space? It’s not just numbers, it’s real trash that slows down your smartphone, eats up your battery power and prevents you from installing new apps. Unlike cache or downloads, these files don’t have a clear description, and the system doesn’t suggest you delete them in a single click.

The problem is that the Other Files on Redmi, POCO or Mi are a hoard of remnants of deleted applications, temporary data, system logs and even hidden messenger files. Normal cleaning through Settings → Storage won’t help here: you need special tools and knowledge of what you can touch and what you can’t touch. In this article, we’ll break down unique cleaning methods that work even on MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14, including hidden features and third-party utilities.

What are Xiaomi’s “Other Files” and Why Do They Take So Much Space?

Xiaomi’s Others category is the operating system’s garbage box, and it includes anything that doesn’t fit into the standard categories (Apps, Images, Videos, etc.) and unlike cache, these files aren’t automatically deleted and have been accumulating for years.

The main sources of “Other files” on Xiaomi smartphones:

• 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications: Temporary Files, Settings, and Databases that Remain After Uninstallation of Programs (especially relevant for games and social networks).
• 📜 System Logs and Errors:.log and.tmp files that create MIUI They accumulate over time and can weigh up to 1-2 GB.
• 🔄 Update cache: Update packs downloaded but not installed MIUI or.
• 📎 Hidden messaging files: Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store media files, stickers and databases that are not displayed in the gallery.
• 🖼️ Miniatures and previews: the system creates reduced copies of images and videos for quick viewing (folder.thumbnails).

For example, when you delete Genshin Impact, you can have up to 500MB of garbage left in Other Files, which are saves, shaders and cache that the system didn't think you should remove. And if you're actively using Telegram, the Telegram/Telegram Documents folder can weigh several gigabytes, even though the application itself doesn't display these files.

⚠️ Note: Some files in the Other category are critical to the job MIUI. Deleting system logs or configuration files can cause smartphone malfunctions, including network connection issues or errors when running apps.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools (no root)

The safest method is to use standard MIUI features, which will not delete critical data, but will help to get rid of some of the debris.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Click on Other Files (may be called Others on older versions of MIUI).
3. The system will scan the storage and show you a list of files that can be deleted: 🗑️ Temporary files (.tmp,.temp) 📄 Error logs (.log) 📦 Remains of updates

"Delete"

Xiaomi has a Deep Cleanup feature on Android 12+ and MIUI 13+ to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the "Cleaning" tab.
3. Click on “Deep Clean” and wait for the scan to be completed.
4. Delete the proposed files (usually the cache of system applications and the remnants of uninstalled programs).

This method will remove up to 30-40% of the garbage from Other Files, but will not affect hidden messenger folders or system logs.

Method 2: Manual deletion through file manager (for experienced)

If you're willing to dig through system folders, you can manually find and delete unnecessary files, a method that requires caution, but allows you to clean up to 1-3 GB of garbage.

What folders can be manually cleaned:

How to delete:

1. Use a file manager with access to system folders (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go through these paths and delete unnecessary files. Don't touch folders called com.android, miui or system, which can disrupt your smartphone.

How to use:

1. Install SD Maid from Google Play.
2. Run the scan (CorpseFinder for application residues, SystemCleaner for system debris).
3. Delete the proposed files (exclude the folders with important data).

2. Files by Google

• 📂 Can find large and unnecessary files, including hidden files.
• 🔄 Offers to clear duplicates and unused applications.
• 📱 It works without root rights.

Instructions:

1. Open the app and go to the “Cleanup” tab.
2. Select “Other Files” and wait for analysis.
3. Remove unnecessary data (the app will tell you what is safe to touch).

💡

Before using root-righted SD Maid, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help restore the system if something goes wrong.

The advantage of these tools is that they analyze files deeper than standard MIUI tools and can find garbage that takes up space for years. For example, SD Maid often finds remnants of older versions of applications that weigh 100-200 MB each.

Method 4: Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If you’re not afraid of the command line, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help remove system debris that is not available through conventional methods, which requires connecting your smartphone to a PC, but allows you to clear up to 1-2 GB of hidden files.

What can be done through ADB:

• 🗑️ Delete the cache of all applications at once (including system cache).
• 📦 Clear the folders. /data/local/tmp and /cache, where temporary files are stored.
• 🔄 Reset the settings MIUI without data loss (if the debris is associated with system errors).

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on "Debugging by" USB» on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and type in the command line: Adb devices (should display your device).
4. Follow the instructions to clean: adb shell pm trim-caches 256m # Cache cleanup of all adb shell rm applications -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files adb shell rm -rf /cache/* # Clean up the system cache (requires root)
5. Reboot your smartphone.

💡

The adb shell pm trim-caches 256m command clears the cache of all applications except system applications. This is secure and does not require root rights, but can slow down the first download of some programs after restarting.

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf They delete files irreversibly. If you go wrong (e.g., type in rm). -rf /data/ instead /data/local/tmp/), This can lead to a complete reset of the smartphone.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the Other Files take up more than 5GB and no methods help, the last option is hard reset. This will completely clean the smartphone, including all system logs, cache and hidden files. SD-map or cloud.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup copy: 📱 Contacts, SMS, Notes - through Settings → Google → Backup. 📷 Photos and videos – transfer to PC or Google Photos. 🎮 Save games – use built-in sync features (e.g. Mi Account for the game) MIUI-game).

Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Resetting settings

"Erase all data."

After the reboot, set up your smartphone as new.

What the dumping does:

• ✅ Complete removal of “Other Files” (including system debris).
• ✅ Correction of errors MIUI, which may have caused the accumulation of waste.
• ✅ Increased space by 3-10 GB (depending on the model).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of all local data (applications, settings, files).
• ❌ It will take time to restore backup copies.

💡

After reset, do not restore backup via Mi Cloud if you want to avoid re-accumulation of garbage, it is better to selectively transfer only the necessary files (photos, contacts) and install applications manually.

How to prevent the re-accumulation of “Other Files”

Cleaning Other Files is a one-off solution, so that the problem doesn't come back, follow these tips:

1.Tune in automatic cleaning

• 🤖 Include “Autocleaning” in Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning (available on MIUI 12+).
• 📱 Use Files by Google with the “Schedule Cleanup” feature».

2.Control the messengers

• 📎 In Telegram: Turn off “Save to the Gallery” in the chat settings and clean the folder regularly Telegram/Telegram Documents.
• 💬 On WhatsApp: Limit Automatic Media Downloads to Settings → Warehouse and data.

3. Remove the apps correctly

• 🗑️ Before removing the game or program, clear its cache in Settings. → Annexes → [Name of name] → Warehouse.
• 🔄 Use it. SD Maid to search for residues after uninstallation.

4. Update MIUI

• 🔄 In the new versions MIUI 14/15 Optimized garbage management. Regularly check for updates to Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI.

5. Avoid "cleaners" from Google Play

Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often add to the problem by creating additional temporary files. Use only proven tools (SD Maid, Files by Google).

FAQ: Frequent Questions About Xiaomi's "Other Files"