How to Clean the Other section on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: The Complete Guide

The “Other” section in Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 memory is one of the most puzzling and annoying issues for smartphone owners, and it grows to a few gigabytes over time, taking up precious space, even though you’ve long since deleted unnecessary photos, videos, and apps. Unlike the obvious files, “Other” hides the cache of system processes, remnants of deleted programs, log files, and temporary data that MIUI doesn’t always clean automatically correctly.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to free up memory from the Other on the Redmi Note 7 — from standard system tools to hidden features and third-party utilities. You’ll learn which files are safe to delete and which ones not to touch so as not to disrupt the smartphone, and we’ll analyze why the Other appears again, and how to minimize its growth in the future.

What is the “Other” section and why does it take up so much space?

In MIUI, the Other section is a collective name for all files that the system cannot categorize as standard (photo, video, audio, documents, applications).

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems are temporary files that are created to speed up programs but are often not deleted after they are closed.
• 📜 Log files – records of errors, system events, and applications (e.g. logcat, last_kmsg).
• 🧹 Remnants of Remote Applications – folders and files that remain after uninstallation of programs through standard means.
• 🔄 System Updates – Built but not installed packets OTA, firmware.
• 📁 Hidden folders – for example,.thumbnails (image miniatures),.data (application data).

On the Redmi Note 7, the problem is compounded by the fact that the smartphone was released with 64 GB of memory (of which the user is available ~ 53 GB), and also had restrictions on the use of adoptable storage (extension of memory through a microSD card), as a result, the “Other” can take from 5 to 15 GB, which is critical for a device with a small storage capacity.

🔍 How to check the size of the "Other»?

Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution. Click on the Other section and the system will show the exact volume (the screenshots below are an example for MIUI 12).

Method 1: Cleaning up cache and debris through built-in MIUI tools

The first and most secure method is to use standard MIUI features that do not require superuser rights and do not risk damaging system files.

Step 1. Clean up the app cache

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Select applications with a large cache volume (for example, YouTube, Facebook, Google Play Services).
4. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will remove the app settings!).

Step 2: Use of the Security App

The Security app in MIUI has a built-in garbage disposal tool:

1. Launch the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab.
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for analysis.
4. Check all categories (cache, residual files, advertising data) and click Clear.

Step 3: Delete downloaded update files

The system often saves packages OTA-updates, even if they're already installed, to remove them:

1. Open File Manager → Categories → Downloads.
2. Find the files with the name update.zip or miui_*.zip and remove them.
3. Also check the folder. Downloaded_rom memory-root.

Close all applications

Connect charging (in case of long-term cleaning)

Backup of important data

Check the vacant space before and after cleaning-->

⚠️ Note: Do not use the Clear Data for system applications (e.g. Settings, Phone, Google Services Framework) feature.This may cause smartphone malfunctions, including loss of network connection or login errors in your Xiaomi account.

Method 2: Manually clean hidden folders through file manager

If the built-in tools didn’t help, you can manually delete unnecessary files from hidden folders, which requires a file manager with root access (such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer) or activation of hidden files in a standard manager.

Which folders can be cleaned:

Step-by-step:

1. Install MiXplorer from XDA Developers (requires permission to install from unknown sources).
2. Start the manager, turn on the display of hidden files in the settings (Settings → Show hidden files).
3. Follow the paths from the table above and delete the contents of the folders (not the folders themselves!).
4. Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders /system, /vendor or /data/data/com.android.* This can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable) or malfunction. MIUI. If you are not sure, skip this step.

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

If previous methods failed, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to remove system debris without obtaining root rights, which is suitable for users who do not want to risk the stability of the system.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Installed drivers ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official Android website).

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi Note 7: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.

platform-tools

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed)

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster

(cleaning the security app cache)

adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.downloads

(Download Manager cleaning)

adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log/*

(deletion of log files)

📌 Additional commands for experienced users:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep 'miui' | awk '{print $2}' | xargs adb shell pm clear

This command clears the cache of all MIUI applications, which can free up to 1-2 GB of memory.

💡

If the smartphone is slower after performing ADB commands, restart it. This is due to the rearrangement of the Dalvik cache, which occurs automatically the next time you turn on.

Method 4: Recovery Mode cache reset (without data loss)

One of the most effective ways to clean up the Other is to reset the cache through Recovery, which does not affect user data (photos, contacts, messages), but deletes temporary system files that have been accumulating for years.

How to Sign In to Recovery on Redmi Note 7:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the buttons Power + Volume up at the same time.
3. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then let them go.
4. Choose a language (if required) and go to the menu.

Next:

1. Select Wipe & Reset (on some versions of Wipe Cache).
2. Tap Wipe Cache (Do not choose Wipe All Data – it is a complete reset!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-3 minutes).
4. Reboot your smartphone (Reboot → System)

✅ Result: This method frees up 500MB to 3GB of memory by removing:

• 🗃️ Dalvik cache (optimized application files).
• 📝 Temporary update files.
• 🔄 Log files of the kernel and system.

⚠️ Warning: If the smartphone takes longer to load after the cache is reset (more than 10 minutes), do not interrupt the process. This is normal - the system restores the cache of the applications. If the screen is out, press the power button to wake the device.

Method 5: Radical measures - Factory reset

If all previous methods failed, and the Other still takes up more than 10 GB, the last option is a full reset, which will delete all data on the device, including apps, accounts and settings, but return the smartphone to a “clean” state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Backup: Copy photos and videos to your PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud). Export contacts to your PC or cloud. VCF-File (via Contacts) → Settings → Exports: Save the list of installed apps (via Google Play) → Library).

Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings

Erase all data

Mi Cloud

🔄 What to do after a reset:

• 📱 Install only the necessary applications (avoid junk programs).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
• 🔄 Regularly (once a month) clear the cache through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.

💡

Complete reset is a last resort, only use it if other methods have not worked, and the Other takes up more than 30% of the device's memory.

How to prevent the memory from being “other” again

Cleaning up the Other is a temporary solution, so that the problem doesn't come back, follow these guidelines:

• 📵 Limit the background activity of applications: Go to Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery management: Select Background Limitation for unnecessary applications (such as games or social media).
• 🗑️ Set up automatic cleaning: In the Security app, enable Auto Cleanup (Cleanup tab) → Set a schedule (e.g. once a week).
• 📥 Control Downloads: Check Download folder regularly and delete unnecessary files (especially those that are not available). APK). Use Google Drive, Yandex Disk to store large files.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI: New firmware versions have optimized cache work. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

📊 Comparison of methods for efficiency:

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the "Other" on the Redmi Note 7