Xiaomi Redmi's 'Other' Eats Memory?: How to Clean Up Without Harming Your Phone

You open your storage settings on your Xiaomi Redmi, and there's dozens of gigabytes occupied by the mysterious "Other" section. App cache cleared, unnecessary photos deleted, and there's no free space anyway. Familiar situation? This problem haunts owners of Redmi Note smartphones. 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models MIUI — Especially after long-term use or updates to the system.

Unlike the obvious junk files, Other is not just cache or temporary data, but it hides system log files, remnants of deleted apps, backups of updates, and even snippets of data from Google Play Services. You can't just delete them: you risk breaking your phone. But there are proven ways to safely reduce the volume of the Other by 30-70% – from manual cleaning to hidden features. MIUI.

In this article - step-by-step instructions for different versions MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS, explaining why The Other returns, and what to do if the memory is filled again after cleaning, and a table with normal Other values for popular Redmi models, so you know when to sound the alarm.

What is the “Other” in Xiaomi Redmi memory and why it takes up so much space

The “Other” section of Xiaomi Redmi is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photos, videos, apps, etc.) and includes:

• 📁 System Logs and Dumps: Error logs, crash reports (/data/tombstones, /data/anr). This is especially true after beta testing. MIUI Frequent use of Developer Options.
• 🔄 Remnants of Remote Applications: Unremoved Folders in /data/data, Google Play and Mi App Store cache that are not cleaned by standard means.
• 📥 Update files: backups of firmware (MIUI_OTA), Uploaded but not installed update packages.
• 🔒 Encrypted data: files DRM (for streaming services, Mi Account encryption keys.
• 🤖 Android system data: cache ART/Dalvik (Speed up application launches, Android Runtime files.

On new phones, the Other usually takes 1-3 GB, but over time, it grows to 10-20 GB – especially if:

• 📲 You often install/remove apps (leaves “tails” in your app). /data/app-lib).
• 🔄 Update. MIUI «over the air" (the system saves old versions in case of rollback).
• 🎮 Play heavy games (Unity or Unreal Engine log files can weigh gigabytes).
• 📊 Use functions MIUI Second Space or Dual Apps (which create duplicate files).

⚠️ Note: If the Other takes up more than 30% of the total memory (e.g. 15GB out of 64GB), this may indicate file system damage or a virus.In that case, first check the phone with an antivirus (Mi Security or Dr.Web), and then try the methods from this article.

How to Check What’s in the Other: Hidden Tools MIUI

Before you clean, you need to understand which files eat up the memory. MIUI There are hidden tools for analysis:

Method 1: Built-in storage analyzer

Open the Settings. → The phone. → Memory (or Settings) → Memory in new versions. Stick to the "Other" graph, and the system will show the categorization:

• 📄 System data (logs, dumps).
• 🔄 Cash updates.
• 📦 Remains of annexes.

If there is no detail here, use it. ADB (see method 2).

Method 2: ADB-deep-analysis teams

For advanced users: connect your phone to a PC with ADB and do it:

adb shell


df -h /data

This team will show how much space is occupied in the section /data (where most of the other files are stored, to see the largest folders:

adb shell


du -sh /data/* | sort -rh | head -n 10

Usually the culprits are folders. /data/log, /data/tombstones or /data/dalvik-cache.

💡

If you have Redmi on Android 12+, Use the adb shell sm list-disks command to see the memory distribution across the disks, which will help to identify hidden partitions that do not show up. MIUI.

Method 3: Third-party applications (with caution!)

Apps like Files by Google or SD Maids can show hidden files, but:

• ✅ Files by Google is secure – it doesn’t delete system files.
• ❌ Clean Master, CCleaner and the like are risky! They often delete critical data. MIUI.

5 Ways to Clean Up the Other on Xiaomi Redmi without root rights

If the Other is more than 5GB, it's time to act. Start with the safest methods available:

1. Clean up the update cache and temporary files MIUI

The system saves old firmware and update logs to remove them:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Slap three points (⋮) → «Remove downloaded packages».
3. Back to Settings → Memory. → Other → System data and clear the cache.

This method frees up 1-3 GB on Redmi models with frequent updates.

2. Delete log files through the engineering menu

Error logs (tombstones, anr) can weigh up to 5GB.

1. Enter the dialer: ##4636##.
2. Select "Usage statistics» → «Storage».
3. Find the Log Files section and clean it up.

⚠️ Warning: Don't delete files manually through Root Explorer! this can lead to bootloop (locked phone turn on.

3. Cache dumping Dalvik/ART (data-free)

Cash. ART (Android Runtime speeds up applications, but it grows over time to clean it up:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Select "Wipe cache partition" (not Wipe data!).
4. Reboot the phone.

This will free up 500 MB-1.5 GB and speed up the system.

4. Removal of duplicates and residues of annexes

Use Files by Google:

1. Open the app. → «Cleanup».
2. Select “Duplicate Files” and “Unnecessary Files” APK».
3. Delete everything you find (except files in the /system).

For deep cleaning, connect your phone to your PC and use it. ADB:

adb shell pm list packages -u | grep 'uninstalled'

This command will show the applications that have been deleted but left files.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app

5. Disconnecting unnecessary system processes

Certain services MIUI They generate extra logs. Turn them off:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap on "Version") MIUI» In Settings → The phone).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Turn it off:** 📊 «Error Reporting (reduces logs in the /data/tombstones). 🔍 «Include the journal HCI» (If you don't use Bluetooth debugging). 🎯 «Do not save actions" (reduce the size of the /data/system).

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the vacant space (should be) ≥10%)|Turn off automatic application updates|Close all background applications-->

What to do if the Other returns after cleaning

If the other one has grown again in a week, the problem is the system processes.

1. Automatic creation of log files

Some apps (especially Unity games) write logs every second, to limit this:

• 🎮 Install Game Turbo and disable “Recording game logs” in the settings.
• 📱 For regular applications, use AppOps (requires) ADB):

adb shell cmd appops set com.example.app android:write_external_storage ignore

2. File system errors

If the Other grows on its own (without installing new apps), the file system may have been damaged.

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. In Windows, open "This Computer» → PKM on the phone → «Properties» → «Service» → «Checking the disc».
3. Nana Mac/Linux use the command:

fsck -f /dev/sdX

(where sdX is the memory partition of the phone).

3. Viruses or malware

Some viruses masquerade as system files and inflate "Other." Check the phone:

• 🛡️ Run the scan in Mi Security (built-in) MIUI).
• 🔍 Use Malwarebytes to search for rootkits.
• 📌 Pay attention to applications with rights android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS — They need to be removed.

Radical methods: when nothing helps

If "The Other" takes >20 GB and not going down, you're going to have to use radical measures!

1. Reset to factory settings (with data saved)

V MIUI There is a “Resetting” function without deleting files:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset Settings (not Delete All Data!).
3. Confirm the action.

This will only remove settings and cache, but save photos, videos and apps. Frees up 3-8 GB.

2. Manual deletion of files through TWRP (advanced)

If you have a set TWRP, can be manually cleaned:

• 📂 folder /data/log (logic).
• 🗑️ folder /data/tombstones (dumping).
• 🔄 folder /data/ota_package (update-sheet).

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete: 🚫 folder /data/data (This will remove all applications). 🚫 Files in /data/system (Risk of losing your Mi Account).

3. Transition to custom firmware

If “Other” is a persistent problem, consider firmware like:

• 📱 LineageOS (minimalistic, without unnecessary logs).
• 🔥 Pixel Experience (optimized to save space).
• 🛡️ MIUI EU (chinese-free).

But remember: this voids the warranty and requires unlocking the bootloader.

💡

If the Other continues to grow after all the manipulations, the problem may be hardware wear (especially on the old Redmi with eMMCs), in which case only replacing the memory chip in the service center will help.

How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled

To prevent the Other from growing again, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings: Install updates manually to avoid accumulating temporary files.
• 🗑️ Clean the cache once a month through Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 📱 Don't install it. APK Unknown sources – they often leave garbage in the ground. /data/app-lib.
• 🎮 Limit game logs: In Game Turbo, turn off Gameplay Recording and Performance Logs».
• 🔒 Use lightweight alternatives to standard applications MIUI (For example, Nova Launcher instead of Nova Launcher. MIUI Launcher).

For Redmi models with HyperOS (starting with Redmi Note 12):

• 📊 Turn off “Smart Optimization” in Settings → Battery – it creates unnecessary logs.
• 🔄 Enable "Light Mode" in Settings → Special Opportunities to Reduce Background Activity.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi