How to Clean the “Other” Section on Xiaomi Redmi 8: A Step-by-Step Guide

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 8 smartphones often face an unpleasant situation: the device’s memory suddenly runs out, and the lion’s part of it is occupied by a mysterious section called “The Other.” Android system does not always correctly classify files, creating this buffer from temporary data, remnants of remote applications and system logs.

There are several proven ways to combat bloating in this section, from standard cleaning tools to deep file system analysis, and in this article we will explore why the problem is on the MIUI shell, and what actions will help to safely return gigabytes of free space without losing personal data.

Before we start taking drastic measures, it is important to understand the nature of garbage accumulation. Most often, the Other is the cache of streaming services, old update files and tails from long-deleted games. Manual cleaning is more effective than automatic utilities, which are often afraid to touch system folders.

Analysis of the contents of the storage through standard means

The first step is always diagnostics. Xiaomi's built-in tools allow you to see the big picture, although they don't always detail the composition of the "Other" section. First, you need to go to the device settings and find the memory item. Usually the path is: Settings → About phone → Storage.

Here you'll see a color diagram where gray is often the partition you're looking for. Clicking on it can suggest clearing the cache, but that's just a superficial measure. A deeper analysis is available through the built-in Security app. Run it and select the Cleanup tab. The scanner will find obvious debris, but the hidden files will remain intact.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t use questionable apps from the Play Market with titles like “Super Clean Master” that promise instant vacancy, often creating additional trash and displaying intrusive ads, slowing down the Redmi 8.

For more detailed viewing, use the File Manager. In the Explorer app, go to the display settings and turn on the hidden files to show you folders with a dot at the beginning of the name, which often take up a significant amount of space. Folder analysis helps identify the culprit, whether it is Telegram, YouTube or the system process.

📊 How much memory is your Xiaomi Redmi 8?
32GB
64GB
128GB
I don't know / I don't remember

Cleaning up app cache and social media trash

The main memory eaters in the Other section are social networks and instant messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store all the photos and videos viewed in a hidden cache, which the system classifies as other, and to clear this data, you need to go to the settings of a particular application through the smartphone menu.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the right messenger, such as Telegram, in the list. Select Storage within the app menu. Here you will see two buttons: Clear and Delete Data. Clicking Clear will only delete temporary files without affecting correspondence.

  • 📱 For Telegram: inside the application go to “Settings» → «Data and memory» → «Memory usage" and click "Clear Cache" This will safely delete downloaded media files from the phone's memory, but leave them available in the cloud.
  • 💬 For WhatsApp: open a chat with any contact, click on the contact name, select Media, Links and Documents. Delete old heavy videos that are automatically copied to the gallery and take up space.
  • 🎵 For YouTube and streaming, go to the app's settings and find "Clear History" or "Clear Cache." Downloaded videos for offline viewing also need to be manually deleted through the library.

Once the heavy app cache is cleared, the Other partition size can decrease by a few gigabytes, but if you are actively using these services, the volume will start to grow again, and it is recommended to perform this procedure regularly, at least once a month, to monitor occupancy.

☑️ Checklist of fast cleaning of messengers

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Using Developer Mode and Debugging over USB

A more advanced method available to Xiaomi Redmi 8 owners involves enabling developer mode, which allows you to access hidden memory and process management functions. To activate, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times.

After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu and find the “More” section» → «For developers. Here we are interested in the item "Debugging by USB». Enabling this feature is necessary to connect the smartphone to the computer and use special slits for deep cleaning, such as: ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

adb shell pm clear com.android.cache

This command, entered in the computer command line with the phone connected, clears the system cache. However, using ADB requires caution. Incorrect commands can lead to the deletion of important system files. Debugging mode also allows you to force the processes that hang in memory and prevent the system from correctly recalculating free space.

⚠️ Attention: Including debugging by USB Makes the device visible to computers. Don't keep it active all the time if you connect your phone to someone else's charger in public, to avoid data theft.

There is also the option to reset app settings through this menu, but this is an extreme measure: If you decide to go for it, make sure that important data is synced with your Google or Mi Cloud account.Resetting app settings will return them to a "as after installation" state, guaranteed to clear their cache and data.

Finding and Deleting Hidden System Files

Often, the Other section hides error logs and crash reports that the system automatically generates, and can be found through the built-in MIUI Explorer. Turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings (usually a three-dot button or a slider on the menu).

Note folders called.MIUI,.android, or log. Inside, files with the.log or.tmp extension can be safely deleted if they take up a lot of space. However, don't delete the folders themselves, only their contents, so that the system can create a new log if necessary.

File typeLocation.Can I remove it?Risk
Temporary files (.tmp)/storage/emulated/0/Yes.Minimum
Error logs (.log)/data/log/ (requires root)Yes.Medium.
Cash miniprograms/Android/data/Carefully.High (setting reset)
Tumbnails (.thumbnails)/DCIM/.thumbnailsYes.Low (recreated)

The.thumbnails folder in DCIM directory is a special feature, and it stores thumbnails of your photos. If you've taken thousands of pictures, this folder can grow to a few gigabytes. Cleaning it up will speed up the gallery, but the next time you open the albums, the phone will re-create the preview, which will temporarily load the processor.

What's a folder? Android/data And whether it's worth touching?
folder /Android/data Deleting the contents of this folder is like reinstalling an application: you lose progress in games, settings and offline maps, and you only clean it if you know that the application is not working correctly or you have deleted the program itself, but the folder is still there.> Resetting and radical cleaning methods If no methods help and the "Other" section continues to occupy an absurd volume (for example, 20 GB 64 The only reliable option is a full reset.This action will return Xiaomi Redmi 8 Before you do that, make sure to back up all the important data. → The phone. → Select "Erase all data." The phone will reboot and begin the cleaning process that may take from 10 before 30 minute. After you turn on, you will get a clean system, where the “Other” section will occupy the minimum necessary volume. 🔄 Full Backup: Use Mi Cloud or Google Drive to save contacts, photos and app lists. 🔋 Battery charge: Make sure your phone is charged at least 50-60% before the procedure, so that it does not turn off during the process. 🔑 Accounts: Remember the password from your Mi Account and Google, as after a reset, the system will require them to confirm ownership (protection against theft). There is also a method of cleaning through Recovery Mode. In the menu that appears (manage volume buttons, select power button) select Wipe Data. This method is useful if the phone does not load in normal mode due to memory overflow. Preventing memory overflow in the future To have a problem with the "Other" section on Redmi 8 If you don't come back too quickly, you need to change your smartphone habits, especially when you set up automatic media saving, and if you turn off auto-save in messengers, you don't want photos and videos duplicated in the gallery. Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Set up Google Photos sync with Free Space, which automatically removes photos from your device that are already securely stored in the cloud. Xiaomi also has a synchronization with Mi Cloud, which can optimize storage. ⚠️ Attention: Regular reboot of the smartphone (once in a week) 3-4 • helps the system to clean temporary files and complete freeze-driven processes that may block memory release. You should also check Downloads periodically, and browsers and apps often download installation files. APK, documents and pictures that you no longer need, but which continue to lie dead weight. APK-Installers are one of the easiest ways to instantly free up 100 to 500 MB of space. 💡The main reason for the growth of the “Other” section on Xiaomi is the cache of messengers and mini-programs. Regular manual cleaning of the cache inside the applications themselves (Telegram, WhatsApp) is more effective than any third-party clinchers. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can you delete the.thumbnails folder without any consequences? Yes, you can delete the.thumbnails folder. It stores thumbnails of images for quick display in the gallery. After deleting the photo, the system will automatically re-create it the next time you view the photo, which can temporarily slow down the gallery and load the processor, but there will be no critical errors. Why did the "Other" partition size change after cleaning the cache? This may be because the system did not have time to recalculate the file index. Try to restart the smartphone. If this does not help, perhaps the junk files are blocked by active processes. In this case, cleaning through safe mode or resetting the settings will help. Is it safe to use the Xiaomi clinder applications? The built-in cleaner in MIUI ("Safeasible cleaner can easily force them to shut down the system again, besides, they can often enough to use them for the necessary resources. "Secure the system to run them again. What if the Other partition takes up more than 50% of the memory? If the partition takes up more than half of the memory, standard methods may not help. It is recommended to make a full backup of data to the computer or the cloud and perform a reset to the factory settings (Wipe Data). This is the only guaranteed way to remove system errors of garbage accumulation. Does overflowing the Other partition affect the speed of Redmi 8? Yes, it affects significantly. When the memory is full, the system does not have enough space for temporary files and swaps, which leads to friezes, long application launches and possible departures. Maintaining at least 10-15% of free memory is critical for Android.