How to Clean Up “Other Files” on Xiaomi Redmi 7: 7 Proven Ways

Xiaomi Redmi 7 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even its 32 or 64 GB of memory is eventually clogged with mysterious “other files.” This data takes up gigabytes, but does not apply to photos, videos, or applications. Where do they come from? Can they be safely deleted? And most importantly, how to make room without breaking the system?

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods for cleaning “other files” on Redmi 7, including hidden folders, app cache and update remnants. You will learn which data can be safely deleted and which should not be touched – even if it takes up a lot of space. All instructions are tested on MIUI 10-14 and do not require root rights.

Before you start, check how much space is occupied by “other files”: Settings → About phone → Storage → Other files.

If the volume exceeds 5-10 GB, it is time to act.

1.What are the "other files" on Redmi 7 and why do they take up so much space

The term “other files” in MIUI is a “junk bin” for data that the system cannot categorize as standard.

• 📁 Application and system process cache – temporary files that must be deleted automatically but often remain.
• 🔄 Remains of updates MIUI — Firmware packages that have downloaded but not installed (especially relevant for Redmi 7, where updates weigh 1-2 GB).
• 🗃️ Logs and dumps of the system – debugging files that are created when failures or for diagnostics.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, downloads and cache (for example, from PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
• 📥 Downloads from browsers and instant messengers – files that you downloaded but forgot to delete.

On Redmi 7, “other files” often grow because of the way MIUI works with the Dalvik/ART cache, the Android virtual machine. When you upgrade the system, old files are not always cleaned, and new ones are written on top, resulting in a year of use, “garbage” can take 15-20 GB.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to delete “other files” manually through the file manager, choosing everything. MIUI (for example, files /data/dalvik-cache). Use only the proven methods from this article.

To understand what exactly takes up space, install Files by Google or SD Maid (available in the Play Market) app, which will show the folder structure and highlight the heaviest files.

2. Cleaning the cache of applications is the safest way

App cache is temporary data that is created to speed up programs. On Redmi 7, it can take 3 to 8 GB, especially if you are actively using social networks, games or streaming services.

Cleaning the cache can be done in two ways:

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select an app with a large cache (such as Facebook, YouTube, Telegram) and click Clear Cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Click the app cache and confirm the deletion.

This method is completely secure – the cache will recover the next time the applications are launched, but it does not delete user data (for example, save games or set up accounts).

Remember passwords from accounts (cache may contain sessions)

Close all applications (cleaning works more efficiently)

Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 5-10 minutes)

Check the vacant space after cleaning-->

⚠️ Warning: If the app starts to slow down after cleaning the cache, it's okay. Give it time to reassemble the data (usually 1-2 runs are enough).

3. Removal of residual MIUI updates

Xiaomi regularly releases updates for Redmi 7, but firmware files often remain in the memory of the device. One firmware weighs 1.5-2 GB, and if there are several of them accumulated, it is already 5-10 GB of garbage.

To remove them:

1. Open Files → Categories → Installation (or Downloads).
2. Find files with names like this: miui_HMNote7_...zip update.zip fw_onclite_...zip (for Redmi 7 coder name - onclite)

Remove them manually.

If the files are not in the Downloads folder, check the hidden directory: /data/ota_package (available only through root or through ADB).

The updates can also be stored in /cache/ota.

To clean it up:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume Up to Enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select Wipe Cache Partition (Manage volume buttons, confirmation – power button).

To clean it up:

1. Open the Files app (or any other file manager).
2. Go to the Inner Memory → Download.
3. Sort files by date or size and delete unnecessary ones.

Pay special attention to files with extensions:.apk (installation packages),.tmp (temporary files),.log (logs).

They can be removed without risk to the system.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when memory ends

Never clean.-->

5. Delete Games and Heavy Application Data

Games like Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact or PUBG can take up to 10GB on Redmi 7 - and that's just cache!

Step 1: Cleaning up the game cache

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Find the game (like Genshin Impact) and tap the Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: This Will Reset Progress!).

Step 2: Removal of loaded resources

Some games (such as Genshin Impact) allow you to remove downloaded textures or voices of characters.

1. Start the game.
2. Go to Settings. → Data management.
3. Choose Clear the cache of resources.

For PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty, use the built-in cleanup function: Game Settings → Basic → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Warning: If a game offers to "optimize" or "compress" data, it doesn't always reduce its size. Sometimes these features simply archive files without freeing up space.

💡

Games on Redmi 7 often create duplicate cache files. For example, PUBG Mobile can store the same textures in multiple folders. Use SD Maid to find duplicates.

6 Hidden folders and system debris: what can be deleted

MIUI has hidden folders that take up space but don’t appear in the standard file manager. Use Root Explorer or FX File Explorer to see them (with the “Show Hidden Files” option enabled).

Here's what can be safely removed:

• 🗑️ /data/local/tmp — template.
• 📥 /data/media/0/Android/data — cache of some applications (remove folders of games that have already been deleted).
• 🔄 /cache — System cache (cleaned through Recovery Mode).
• 📁 /data/log — System logs (can be deleted, but they will appear again).

What can't be removed:

• ❌ /data/dalvik-cache — critical for Android.
• ❌ /system — System files (will cause a failure).
• ❌ /data/data — Here are the application settings stored.

To clean hidden folders without root rights, use the ADB command:

adb shell pm clear --user 0 {name packet}

For example, to clean the cache of Google Play Services:

adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.google.android.gms

💡

If you don't know what ADB is, use SD Maid, which will automatically find files that are safe to delete.

7. Resetting to factory settings is a last resort

If the other files take up more than 15GB and no methods help, then hard reset remains, which will completely clean the phone, returning it to the “out of the box” state.

How to reset on Redmi 7:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Reset and confirm.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The phone will restart and start setting up from scratch.
• 📱 Install only the necessary applications (don’t clog up memory right away).
• 🔒 Turn off automatic update downloads in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

⚠️ Note: Redmi 7 resets do not delete files from SD-Check the card (if installed) separately!

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up “other files” on Redmi 7