Previous articleOther files on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: what it is, how to clean them and free up memory

Why Xiaomi Redmi 4X is clogged with “other files” and what to do about it

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) often encounter the mysterious category of “Other Files” in the Storage section, which can take anywhere from 5 to 20 GB — and this despite the fact that the user has not installed as many apps or downloaded heavy media.

The fact is that under the “other files” MIUI hides the cache of system applications, remnants of deleted programs, log files, temporary update data and even firmware fragments. On the Redmi 4X with its modest 16/32 GB of memory, this becomes a critical problem: the phone starts to slow down, applications fly out, and the system warns about the lack of space, but just remove these files can not — you risk breaking MIUI.

In this article, we will discuss safe cleaning methods (including hidden MIUI features), explain which files can be touched and which can not, and give a checklist for prevention, and answer frequent questions: why after cleaning, memory is refilled, how to distinguish system debris from important data, and what to do if “Other files” return every other day.

What is “Other files” on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: analysis by shelves

In MIUI, the term "Other Files" is a basket for anything the system has failed to classify.

• 📁 Cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home or com.android.systemui): temporary data to speed up work that grows over time to giant sizes.
• 🗑️ Remnants of Remote Applications: Folders in /data/data or /sdcard/Android/obb, who have not completely retired.
• 📄 Log files (.log,.tmp): error logs, memory dumps and debugging information that MIUI diagnostics.
• 🔄 Update files: downloaded packages OTA, leftover /cache or /data/ota_package.
• 🖼️ Miniatures and previews: gallery cache (.thumbnail) and media files generated automatically.

The Redmi 4X is particularly littered by the Snapdragon 435 processor architecture and older MIUI (if not updated) and uses the cache to compensate for poor performance, but doesn’t always clean it properly.

It's important to understand that not all "other files" are garbage, for example, in this category, you can hide:

• 🎵 Downloads from instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) that are not saved to standard folders.
• 📂 Backups (e.g. from Mi Cloud or Titanium Backup).
• 📱 Game data (saves, configs) that developers hid in non-obvious folders.

💡

Before cleaning, check the /sdcard/Download folder – often there are forgotten archives or installers (.apk) that the system refers to as “other files.”

How to see what exactly ranks in the “Other Files” on Redmi 4X

MIUI doesn't show you the exact composition of the category, but there are workarounds. Here are 3 ways to analyze the garbage:

1. Through the built-in storage analyzer

Go to Settings → Storage → Other files. MIUI will show the total volume, but without detail. However, if you click on the category, the system will prompt you to clear the cache of applications - this will reduce the volume by 1-3 GB.

2. With the help of the file manager (advanced method)

Install Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer (they show hidden folders). Open the root directory (/) and check:

/data/log - log files of the system


/cache – Temporary update files




/sdcard/Android/obb – Remains of games




/sdcard/.thumbnails - miniatures

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from /system or /vendor — This will cause the phone to crash. /sdcard (internal memory; and /cache.

3. via ADB (for power users)

Connect Redmi 4X to your PC, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the build number) and execute the command:

adb shell du -sh /data/log


adb shell du -sh /cache

This will show the size of the logs and the cache, and if the values are greater than 500MB, they can be cleared.

Step-by-step: how to clean “Other files” on Xiaomi Redmi 4X

So we're going to practice. Here are 4 proven methods, from the safest to the riskiest, start with the first and move on to the next one if your memory isn't free.

Method 1: Clearing the application cache (safe)

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Sort by size.
3. Select applications with large cache (e.g. Gallery, Browser, Facebook) → Storage → Clear cache.

This method will free up 1-4 GB without affecting personal data.

Method 2: Delete unnecessary logs and temporary files

Use the built-in MIUI utility:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory (or Storage).
2. Click Clean in the "Junk" section.
3. Check Log Files, Temporary Files and Application Residues → Clear.

Method 3: Manual cleaning through file manager

Manually delete the following folders (only if you are sure they are not needed!):

• 🗃️ /sdcard/.thumbnails — Image miniatures (free up to the 1 GB).
• 🗃️ /sdcard/Android/obb — Game data (if games are deleted).
• 🗃️ /sdcard/Download — arch-load.
• 🗃️ /cache — Temporary files (root rights required).

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /sdcard/DCIM (photo), /sdcard/MIUI (systemic themes) or /sdcard/Android/data (Application data, if you still need it).

Method 4: Resetting cache via Recovery (advanced)

If the previous methods did not help, do wipe cache partition:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
3. Choose a language → Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart.

This will delete all temporary system files, including update residues, but will not affect personal data.

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the vacant space (should be available) ≥1GB)|Close all applications|Disable automatic update of applications-->

What to do if the “Other Files” are returned after cleaning

This is a common problem on the Redmi 4X.

1. Auto-Update MIUI: The system downloads OTA packets in the background.
2. Garbage apps: Some programs (like Clean Master) create their own cache files.
3. File system errors: If the phone is not properly turned off, “broken” files appear.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Turn off auto-update in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings → Auto-update (off).
• 🚫 Remove memory optimizers (they often create more trash than they clean).
• 🔧 Check the file system through Reccovery (Mount) → Check FS).

If the problem persists, try rolling back the firmware to an older version of MIUI (for example, 11 to 10) – memory management bugs are sometimes found in new builds.

💡

On Redmi 4X with MIUI 9-10, Other Files are often swelled by a bug in the com.miui.analytics service. Disable it in your app settings if you don't use Xiaomi statistics.

Table: What can be removed and what can not

Prevention: How to prevent memory from being filled with “other files”

To prevent the problem from returning, follow these rules:

• 📵 Limit background activity: in Settings → Battery → Power Management Disable Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications.
• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly: once a week use a built-in cleaner MIUI.
• 📥 Control downloads: Configure messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) to save media to the cloud, not to the phone.
• 🛡️ Use light firmware: if the phone is on MIUI 11-12, try switching to custom firmware (like LineageOS) where there are no unnecessary Xiaomi services.

For Redmi 4X, the analytics shutdown is especially important:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Privacy → Analytics.
2. Turn off Send Usage Data and Improve MIUI.

This will reduce the number of log files created.

💡

If you install/remove games frequently, use the SD-Card as internal memory (c Settings) → Warehouse → SD-map → Format it as an internal drive. This will transfer some of the other files to an external medium.

FAQ: Frequent questions about “other files” on Xiaomi Redmi 4X