How to Clean Up “Other Files” on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: The Complete Guide

Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 will sooner or later face the mysterious category of “other files” in the Storage section. These gray strips take up gigabytes of memory, but do not lend themselves to standard cleaning through Optimization. Unlike app cache or downloads, “other files” are a mixture of temporary data, system logs, remnants of deleted applications and fragmented data that MIUI cannot automatically classify.

Compounding the problem, Redmi Note 4 (especially with 16/32 GB of memory) has every megabyte in its account, the system starts to slow down, applications fly out, and the notification “Not enough memory” appears even at 2-3 GB of free space. In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to clean “other files” – from built-in MIUI tools to manual removal through ADB, with an explanation of what exactly can be deleted without risk to the system.

What are the “Other Files” on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and Why Do They Take So Much Space?

The MIUI category of "other files" is the garbage can of the operating system, and it includes anything that you can't categorize as standard: photos, videos, audio, or documents.

• 📁 Remnants of Remote Applications: Folders /data/data and /data/app-lib, which are not cleared after uninstallation of programs through Settings → Annexes.
• 📜 System and kernel logs:.log,.tmp files and memory dumps (/data/anr, /data/tombstones), clutter-producing.
• 🗑️ Cash updates. MIUI: Uploaded but not installed update packages (/cache and /data/ota_package).
• 🔄 Fragmented data: scraps of files left over after interrupted downloads or improper mounting SD-map.
• 📱 Virtual machine data: Dalvik-cache files (/data/dalvik-cache), which regenerate when rebooted, but sometimes remain as garbage.

On the Redmi Note 4 with MIUI 8-12, the problem is compounded by the F2FS file system that Xiaomi used to optimize its flash memory experience, which is prone to fragmentation, and the standard Cleanup tool in Settings can’t work with deep /data layers. As a result, “other files” can take up 1 to 5 GB – even if you’ve never installed heavy games.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse “other files” with system data (/system). The latest critical to the work of the Redmi Note 4, and their removal will lead to a "brick" of the device (completely inoperable). /data.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

Before resorting to manual methods, try standard MIUI tools. They will not remove everything, but will help to get rid of 30-50% of garbage.

Open Settings → Storage and tap the "other files" section. The system will suggest:

• 🧹 Clear App Cache: Deletes Temporary Files but Does Not Influence Deep Layers /data.
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary APK: Finds the remaining installer packages (.apk) in folders /download and /data/app.
• 📂 Optimize files: Moves rarely used data to cold storage (effective only on the dataset) MIUI 11+).

The Redmi Note 4 is especially useful with the Deep Clean option (available in MIUI 10-12).

1. Go to Settings → About phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times to turn on the developer mode.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Then, in Warehouse → Other files, the Deep Clean button will appear. Press it and confirm the action.

Enable the developer mode (7 taps according to MIUI)

Activate debugging over USB in the developer settings

Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 10-15 minutes)

Do not interrupt the cleaning even if the screen goes out-->

This method removes up to 1-2 GB of debris, but does not touch critical files, but it requires a reboot of the device.

Method 2: Manually delete via file manager (no root)

If the built-in tools don't work, try manually finding and removing unnecessary files, and any file manager with access to system folders, such as Mi File Explorer (built-in) or Solid Explorer, will do.

Open the file manager and go to the following folders (look for files with.log,.tmp,.bak extensions):

For safe disposal:

1. Sort files by date of change – old (more than 6 months) can be deleted safely.
2. Do not touch /Android/obb and /Android/media if you are not sure that the files are not being used.
3. Before removing, check the folder size: if it weighs less than 10MB, cleaning will not give a noticeable effect.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders /data/data or /data/app without root permission, this will cause malfunctions in applications. 4 (through ADB).

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Before mass deletion, back up your important data via Settings → Additional → Backup. This will take 5-10 minutes, but save your photos and contacts if the wrong files are accidentally deleted.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (CCleaner, SD Maid)

Third-party utilities can find garbage where built-in MIUI tools are powerless. The most effective ones for Redmi Note 4 are:

• 🧹 SD Maid (paid version): analyzes application residues, empty folders and duplicate files. Especially useful is the option "CorpseFinder" - it finds "dead" files left after uninstalling programs.
• 🔍 CCleaner: Clears cache, call history and SMS, But deep cleaning requires root.
• 📊 Files by Google: A Free Cleanup Tool That Finds Large and Unnecessary Files.

Instructions for SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run the analysis in the "CorpseFinder" section (find the remnants of remote applications).
3. Go to AppControl and remove the cache for system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery or com.android.providers.media).
4. In the “Duplicates” section, find and delete duplicate files (especially for photos).

Example of the result after cleaning SD Maid on Redmi Note 4:

--- Analysis complete ---




Application Remains: 1.2 GB (871 files deleted)




Empty folders: 45 (removed 45)




Duplicates: 300 MB (120 files deleted)




Total volume released: 1.8 GB

⚠️ Note: Do not use the “deep optimization” features in CCleaner without root rights – they can delete critical files. MIUI, This will cause a cyclical reboot of the device.

Method 4: Cleaning through ADB (for power users)

If previous methods didn’t work and “other files” still take up gigabytes, it’s time to connect to Redmi Note 4 via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that allows you to remove debris from protected /data folders without root rights, but requires care.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Redmi Note 4 with Debugging enabled USB (see method 1).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Steps for cleaning:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your Redmi Note 4.
3. Launch the ADB: Adb shell shell shell
4. Remove the update cache (if any): rm -rf /data/ota_package/* rm -rf /cache/*
5. Clear the system logs: rm -rf /data/anr/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/log/*
6. Remove the remnants of the deleted applications (replace package.name with the real name of the package): pm uninstall -k --user 0 package.name To find the names of the packages, use: pm list packages -u (will show all applications with the "remote" flag).

After completing the commands, restart the device:

adb reboot

Critical: Don't follow the rm command -rf /data/* — This will completely erase user data, including photos and apps, and require resetting to factory settings.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If none of the methods worked, and the “other files” take up more than 3-4 GB, then only hard reset remains, which will return the Redmi Note 4 to its original state, removing all user data, but also getting rid of garbage.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup or manually copy files to your PC.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select “Resetting” and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, the phone will prompt you to restore data from the backup – select only the ones you need (such as contacts and SMS, but not “other files”).

What will be removed:

• ✅ All “Other Files” (including Hidden System Garbage Data).
• ✅ Installed applications and their data.
• ✅ System settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wallpaper).
• ❌ Will not be deleted: files on SD-card (if it is installed as an external storage facility).

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 4 s MIUI 9 and below the discharge may take up to 20 Don't interrupt the process, even if the screen goes out for a long time, that's okay. /data and the need to reflash through Fastboot.

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Factory reset is the only way to get rid of "other files" 100%, but it requires a full data recovery from the backup. Use it only if other methods have failed.

How to prevent the re-accumulation of “other files”

To prevent the problem from returning in a month, follow these recommendations:

• 📵 Clean the cache regularly: Once a week, run Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
• 🚫 Don’t use Google Play’s “optimizers”: Most of them create garbage and show false scan results.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI: In new versions (e.g, MIUI 12.5) Improved work with fragmented files.
• 📥 Delete. APK After installation: Installation files (.apk) are often left in the /Download And it takes hundreds of megabytes.
• 📁 Transferring heavy files to SD-Map: Keep photos, videos and music on external media (if supported).

For automatic control, install MacroDroid and create a rule:

Trigger: "Device Memory < 1 GB"




Action: Clear cache + Delete old files from /Download

This will help keep the Redmi Note 4 clean without manual intervention.

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