How to Clean Up “Other” on Xiaomi 8T: A Complete Memory Freeing Guide

Xiaomi Mi 8T (codename platina) is still a popular smartphone even after years, but many users are faced with a problem: the “Other” section in the memory settings takes up gigabytes of space, although there are no explicit files there. This is not a bug, but a feature of MIUI - the system hides temporary files, application cache and service data in this category. In this article, we will discuss what is stored in the “Other”, how to clean it without harming the system and why standard methods often do not work.

It is important to understand: on Xiaomi 8T with 64/128 GB of memory, the “Other” section can grow to 10-15 GB – this is critical if you actively use messengers, games or shoot videos in 4K. We tested all methods on MIUI 12-14 firmware (including the Global and European versions) and highlighted those that really work. Without the “magic buttons” – only proven actions with explanations.

What is the “Other” in Xiaomi 8T memory and why it grows

The “Other” section of MIUI is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (Photos, Videos, Audio, etc.) and includes:

📁 App cache (including Google Play Services cache, which can weigh up to 1-2 GB).
🗑️ Temporary files from messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and social networks (TikTok, Instagram).
🔄 Remnants of Remote Applications (Folders) /data/app-lib and /data/dalvik-cache).
📱 System Logs (/data/log) and error dumps (/data/tombstones).
🔒 Encrypted data (such as the Mi Account cache or Google Drive).

On Xiaomi 8T, the problem is compounded by the fact that the Released smartphone in 2018 with Android 8.1 Oreo on board, and modern versions of MIUI (even adapted ones) do not always properly clean up garbage. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, many users complain about the growth of the Other due to the incompatibility of new services with old hardware.

Another nuance: Xiaomi 8T does not support separate storage (as on flagships with UFS 3.0), so all temporary files are written into internal memory, clogging it. For comparison, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with the same firmware, “Other” takes up 2-3 times less space.

📊 How often do you clear your memory on Xiaomi? 8T?

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never cleaned.

Method 1: Clear cache of all applications (without root)

The safest method is to remove the cache of all installed programs, which will not affect personal data, but will free up to 3-5 GB (depending on the number of applications).

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Sort by Size” (this will show the “heaviest” programs).
Turn around to each app and click Clear cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will delete accounts and settings!).

Pay particular attention to:

📱 Google Play Services (Cache can weigh 1)+ GB).
💬 Telegram/WhatsApp (Store media files in cache even after being deleted from chat).
🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact – their cache reaches 2-3 GB).

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache of com.android.systemui and com.miui.home system applications – this can cause interface failures MIUI.

After cleaning, reboot your smartphone, which will allow the system to recalculate the occupied space in "Other." If the partition has decreased slightly, move to the next method.

Method 2: Delete temporary files through Storage

MIUI has a built-in garbage cleaner, but it often skips large files to activate it:

Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
Click "Clean" in the "Junk Files" section.
Select all categories (App Cache, Downloads, Unused Files) and confirm deletion.

If the Clean button is inactive or the cleanup is not working, use an alternative path:

Open the Security app (shield icon).
Go to the Cleanup» → «Deep cleaning».
Wait for the scan and delete everything except System Logs (not recommended).

On Xiaomi 8T, this method is unstable due to the limitations of Android 8.1.If the size of the Other has not changed after cleaning, the reason may be:

🔍 Hidden folders from root rights (if previously rooted).
📦 Remains of firmware after updates (/cache and /data/ota).
🔒 Encrypted data from Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

💡

If the memory is not free after cleaning, check the /sdcard/Android/obb folder - there may be heavy files of games (up to 4-5 GB), which the system does not refer to as “Other”, but they take up space.

Method 3: Manually clean through file manager (for experienced)

If standard methods don’t work, you’ll have to manually search and delete unnecessary files, and any file manager with access to system folders (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) will do.

Here are the folders you should check out on Xiaomi 8T:

Folder/path	What it keeps.	Can I remove it?
/data/log	Logs of system and applications	Yeah (except) last_kmsg)
/data/tombstones	Error dumps (created when applications are painted)	Yes.
/cache	Temporary update files and recovery cache	Yeah (except recovery)
/sdcard/Android/data	Cache and application data (for example, downloads from Telegram)	Partially (remove the folders of remote applications)
/data/app-lib	Remnants of Remote Applications	Yes.

To access these folders:

Install Solid Explorer from Google Play.
Enable “Show hidden files” in the manager settings.
Go to /data or /cache (root may be required, but on Xiaomi 8T, some folders are available without it).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders /system, /vendor or /efs — This will lead to a device brik (the smartphone will stop turning on).

If you are not sure that the file can be deleted, transfer it to another folder (for example, to the file). SD-check the stability of the smartphone throughout the day. If there are no problems, safely delete.

How to recover deleted system files?

If after manual cleaning the smartphone began to glittle, try: 1. Reset the settings to factory (Settings → About the phone → Reset settings). 2. Refuse the device through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions for Xiaomi 8T is on 4PDA). 3. Restore files from the backup TWRP (if it was made before cleaning).

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the Other takes up more than 10GB and no methods help, it will only be a complete reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and accounts, but return the smartphone to a “clean” state.

How to reset on Xiaomi 8T:

Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Additional → Backup or manually copy files to your PC.
Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
Select “Erase all data” and confirm the action.
After the reboot, set your smartphone up as new (don’t recover data from the backup – it can bring back garbage!).

On the Xiaomi 8T, the reset takes 5-10 minutes, after which the “Other” is usually reduced to 1-2 GB (this is a normal size for the system).

⚠️ Note: If the Other section starts to grow again after the reset, the problem may be in the firmware. Try to upgrade to custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), but this will require unlocking the bootloader and root.

💡

Factory reset is the only way to completely clear the Other if other methods don't work, but it's an extreme measure, since all user data is deleted.

Method 5: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If you’re familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can manually delete unnecessary files via the command line, a method that works for the Xiaomi 8T, as it allows you to bypass the limitations of MIUI.

What you need:

🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools (you can download from the official Android website).
📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.media # Cleaning up media cache


adb shell rm -rf /data/log/* # Deletion of logs




adb shell rm -rf /data/tombstones/* # Removal of error dumps




adb shell rm -rf /cache/* # Cleaning the cache system

After completing the commands, restart the smartphone:

adb reboot

This method frees up to 2-4 GB in the Other, but it requires caution. Don't use commands unless you understand their purpose!

💡

Before working with ADB, make a backup of data via adb backup or TWRP. This will help restore the smartphone if something goes wrong.

How to Prevent the Growth of the Other in the Future

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

📵 Clean the cache of messengers and social networks once a week (especially Telegram and WhatsApp).
🚫 Do not store heavy files (video, games) in internal memory – use it. SD-map.
🔄 Update your firmware regularly (but not through the OTA, And by hand, there's less trash).
🛡️ Turn off automatic media download in messengers (Settings) → Data and storage → Autoboot media).
🗑️ Use the lighter versions of apps (Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).

You should also disable unnecessary system services:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser and turn them off (disable button).
For Google Play Services, limit background activity (Settings → Apps → Google Play Services → Battery → Limit background activity).

These measures will reduce the burden on memory and reduce the growth of the Other by 30-50%.

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

❓ Why does the “Other” grow again after cleaning?

This is normal MIUI behavior, and it's constantly creating temporary files to speed up your work. To slow down growth: Limit the background activity of applications. Turn off automatic synchronization of Mi Cloud and Google Drive. Clean your cache regularly through Settings → Storage.

❓ Can you remove the "Other" completely?

No, it's impossible. The other one will always take at least 1-2 GB -- these are the necessary system files -- the goal is not to be completely removed, but to be reduced to a reasonable size.

❓ Why Xiaomi? 8T «Others are more than on new smartphones?

It's about the memory architecture and the Android version: Xiaomi 8T Released with Android 8.1, which is less cache control. Modern smartphones (like Redmi Note 12) use Android 12+ with improved optimization. On the 8T there is no /data/media/0 partition, so all temporary files are written into the main memory.

❓ What to do if the “other” has not decreased after the reset?

Probably the problem is the firmware. Try: Flash your smartphone on the Global Stable version of MIUI via the Mi Flash Tool. Install custom recovery (TWRP) and manually clean the /data and /cache partitions. Try alternative firmware (like the Pixel Experience), but this will require unlocking the bootloader.

❓ How to Transfer “Other” to the SD-map?

Technically, that's not possible -- "Other" is made up of system files that need to be stored in internal memory. SD-map (Settings) → Annexes → Move it to SD). Save media files (photos, videos) directly to the memory card. SD-The card is like internal storage (format as Adoptable Storage), but this will slow down the smartphone.