How to Clean the “Other” on Xiaomi Mi 8: a step-by-step guide with pictures

Xiaomi Mi 8 is the legendary smartphone of 2018, which is still used by many users. However, over time, owners face a common problem: the “Other” partition in the storage takes up gigabytes of memory, but it is not clear how to clean it. In this article, we will understand what is hidden under the “Other” item in the Mi 8 settings, why it grows and how to safely free up space without harming the system.

On MIUI (especially on versions 10-12, which are most commonly found on Mi 8), the Other section can take anywhere from 5-10 GB to 20+ GB depending on how much you use your phone, and it includes app cache, temporary files, update data, remnants of deleted programs, and even firmware fragments. The main difficulty is that the system does not provide direct access to these files, so standard cleaning methods (such as through Optimization) often do not work.

We tested all the current methods on Xiaomi Mi 8 with MIUI 11 and MIUI 12.5 and only selected those that actually help reduce the volume of the Other. Importantly, some methods require root rights or a PC connection, but we will start with the simplest and safest.

What is the Other in Xiaomi Mi 8’s storage and why does it take up so much space?

The Other section** of MIUI is the garbage bin of the operating system, where files that are not explicitly categorized (photos, videos, apps) fall.

• 📁 Application cache and systems are temporary files that are created to speed up programs, such as YouTube, Telegram or Google Play Services cache can weigh several gigabytes.
• 🔄 Remnants of remote applications — not all files are erased when uninstalled, often leaving configuration data, logs, and even parts of the file behind. APK.
• 🔧 System logs and dumps are debugging files that are created when crashes or updates occur, such as logcat or tombstones.
• 📦 Update files – after installing the firmware MIUI Often leaves backup copies of older versions that take up to 1-2 GB.
• 🧹 Garbage from messengers and social networks – stickers, media files from chats, preloads.

On the Xiaomi Mi 8, the problem is compounded by the fact that the smartphone was released long ago, and over the years of use, a huge amount of unnecessary data accumulates. For example, if you often updated MIUI "over the air" (OTA), then the "Other" section could remain files of all previous firmware versions.

Another reason for the growth of the Other is the ext4 file system that Xiaomi uses, where when files are deleted, space is not always freed up immediately, but marked as available for rewriting, which over time leads to fragmentation and bloating of the partition.

Method 1: Clearing the application cache (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to remove the cache of individual applications. This does not require special knowledge and does not pose risks to the system. On the Xiaomi Mi 8, the cache can take up to 3-5 GB, especially if you are actively using social networks, messengers or streaming services.

How to clear the cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app that takes up a lot of space (like Facebook, Telegram, Google Chrome).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For a complete cleanup, also click Clear Data, but note that this will reset the app settings (you will log out of accounts).

To speed up the process, you can use the built-in tool “Optimization”**:

• 🛠️ Go to Settings. → The phone. → Memory.
• 🧹 Click Clean in the section "Junk files».
• ⚙️ Choose Deep Cleaning and confirm the action.

Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts)

Close all working applications

Connect your phone to charge (if the battery level is below 30%)

Check the vacant space before and after cleaning-->

Note that some system applications (such as MIUI Security or Google Play Services) can recover cache immediately after cleaning, in which case only a full reset or use of ADB (more on this below) will help.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of Android System applications, MIUI System or Settings – This can cause interface failures.

Method 2: Delete temporary files via File Manager (MIUI)

MIUI has a built-in File Manager that allows you to find and delete some files from the Other section, which does not require root rights, but is only effective for surface cleaning.

Instructions:

1. Open the File Manager application (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Category section → Garbage files.
3. Select all the files found and click Delete.
4. Then go to the internal storage. → MIUI → debug_log Delete all files with the.log or.txt extension.

You should also check the following folders (if any):

• 📂 Android/obb/ — Here are stored game caches (may weigh several gigabytes).
• 📂 Android/data/ — Application data (can only be deleted for uninstalled programs).
• 📂 MIUI/backup/ — backup.
• 📂 Download/ — Uploaded files that you may have forgotten.

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If File Manager does not have a “Junk Files” section, update the app via Google Play or clear its cache in the settings.

Be careful: deleting files from Android/data/ or Android/obb/ folders for installed applications can cause them to fail.

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning (no root)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to remove system debris without superuser rights, which is suitable for power users, but we'll give you a step-by-step guide.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on Mi 8 (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Steps for cleaning:

1. Connect the Mi 8 to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster #Cache cleanup MIUI Optimizer




pm clear com.android.providers.downloads # Clean up downloads




rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files




rm -rf /data/log/* # Delete logs (requires root rights, but sometimes works without them)




exit

If the commands are executed without errors, restart the phone, which helps to delete up to 1-3 GB of unnecessary files, but does not affect deep system data.

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf rootless may not work for some folders. /system/ or /vendor/ — This will cause a phone to crash.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the Other takes more than 10GB and other methods have failed, then all that remains is hard reset, which is a complete factory reset, a radical method that deletes all data, including photos, messages and installed apps.

• 🔄 The phone's slowing down a lot.
• 📉 Free memory less than 1 GB.
• 🔧 You are ready to re-set your smartphone.

How to reset:

1. Back up your important data (via Mi Cloud, Google Drive or PC).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, the phone will look like new.

Important: on Xiaomi Mi 8 after reset, the “Other” section can still take 2-3 GB – this is normal, since it stores system files necessary for MIUI to work.

Method 5: Cleaning with TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi Mi 8 has custom TWRP recavators installed, you can manually remove unnecessary files from the /data partition.This method requires caution, but allows you to clean up to 5-10 GB of garbage.

Instructions:

1. Load the phone into TWRP mode (turn off, then press Power + Volume up).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Open the /data folder and delete the following directories (if any):

• 📁 log/ — logistic.
• 📁 local/tmp/ — time-file.
• 📁 system_update/ — update-sheet.
• 📁 lost+found/ — Recovered files after failures.

Do not delete the app/, data/ or system/ folders, this will cause your phone to fail!

On the Xiaomi Mi 8, the /data/dalvik-cache/ folder often accumulates up to 1-2 GB of unnecessary files, but cleaning it requires a restart and can slow down the first system boot.

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Using TWRP is the most efficient way to clean the Other, but it is only suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and a recovery installed.

How can we prevent the “Other” from growing in the future?

To prevent the “Other” section from taking up gigabytes of memory, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Regularly (every 1-2 months) clean the app cache through Settings → Annexes.
• 🚫 Don’t install apps from unverified sources – they often leave debris behind.
• 📥 Use Lite versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).
• 🔧 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
• 📁 Transfer photos and videos to SD-map.

You can also limit the background activity of applications:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select the application and set a Background activity limit → Limit.

This will reduce the number of temporary files that are created.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the “Other” on Xiaomi Mi 8