“Other” on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 128GB: what it is and how to clean without harming the system

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro with 128 GB of memory sooner or later face the mysterious category “Other” in the “Storage” section. This gray stripe takes up gigabytes of space, but has no explicit description — no photos, no apps, no downloads. Where does this garbage come from? Why does the system not allow you to remove it in one click? And most importantly — how to safely clean the “Other” on the Redmi Note 10 Pro without risking the stability of the smartphone?

Complicating the problem is that MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) actively caches data to speed up work, but often forgets to delete it. As a result, after a year of use, even on a 128 GB model, free space melts away. In this article, we will analyze what exactly is hidden under the label “Other”, which cleaning methods really work and which can harm. Spoiler: Redmi Note 10 Pro can take up to 30% of the volume of the “Other” can take up residual files from MIUI updates that the system does not delete automatically.

What is the Other in Xiaomi’s Storage and Why Does It Take So Much Space?

MIUI's Other category is a collection of files that the system cannot uniquely classify as standard partitions (photos, videos, apps).

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems are temporary files that should be deleted automatically, but often remain “hang” for years.
• 📦 Residual data from remote programs are tails from applications you have long uninstalled, but their settings and files are left behind.
• 🔄 Update files MIUI — firmware packages that are downloaded for installation, but are not removed after upgrade.
• 📂 Hidden Android folders – system directories like /data/log or /cache, log-dumping.
• 🎮 Game data – saves, cache textures and other files that games create in non-obvious folders.

On the Redmi Note 10 Pro with 128 GB of memory, the Other can take up from 5 to 20 GB — and that’s not the limit. For example, after a major MIUI update (for example, from the 12th to the 13th version), up to 3-4 GB of unnecessary files can hang in this category.

🔍 How do you check what exactly takes up space? Go to Settings → Warehouse → The vault analysis is here. MIUI It will show the memory distribution, but without detailing "The Other." It will require third-party utilities for deep analysis (about them in the next section).

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to manually delete files from folders /system or /vendor It can cause a smartphone to crash, and even experienced users can only use those directories through a file manager. ADB or TWRP.

Ways to Clean the Other Without Root Rights: From Simple to Complex

If you're not technically savvy, start with safe methods that don't require superuser rights or risk system stability.

1. Cleaning the application cache and system

• 🧹 Cache of individual applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management, select a program (like YouTube or Facebook) and click Clear Cache. Repeat for all commonly used apps.
• 🗃️ System cache: In the same section "Applications" find "All applications» → three dots in the upper right corner → «Show system. Clear the cache for Google Play Services, MIUI System and Android System.

2. Delete residual MIUI update files

Xiaomi is known for keeping its old packages in the form of junk after the updates.

1. Open a file manager (such as Mi File Manager).
2. Go to the root folder of the storage and find the directory MIUI → downloaded_rom.
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension – these are firmware archives.
4. Also check the Download folder for files like update.zip.

3.Using the built-in utility "Cleaning"

MIUI has a hidden tool for deep cleaning:

1. Launch the Security app (shield icon).
2. Select “Cleaning” → “Deep Cleaning”.
3. Wait for analysis and delete the proposed files (especially pay attention to the items “Residual files” and “Large files”).

Backup of important data

Close all background applications

Connect your smartphone to charging (the process can take 10-15 minutes)

Do not interrupt cleaning until completed-->

These methods will free up 1 to 5 GB of space, but more radical steps will be needed to make the sweeping clean.

Advanced methods: ADB and third-party utilities

If the built-in tools didn’t work, it’s time to move to “heavy artillery,” which takes more time and care, but allows you to remove up to 10-15 GB of hidden debris.

1. Cleaning through ADB (no root)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a debugging tool that allows you to control your smartphone from a computer, which can remove the cache of system applications and unnecessary update files.

Instructions:

1. Download Platform Tools from Google and unpack the archive.
2. On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode (7 times click on MIUI Version in Settings → About Phone) and enable USB Debugging in the Developer section.
3. Connect the Redmi Note 10 Pro to your PC and in the command line (in the folder with adb) do:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep -E 'com\.miui\.|com\.android\.|com\.google\.android' | cut -f2 -d= | xargs -n1 adb shell pm clear

This command will clear the cache of all MIUI and Google system applications. Once executed, restart the smartphone.

Applications for storage analysis

The side of the utility helps visualize what exactly occupies space in "The Other." The best options for the Redmi Note 10 Pro:

• 📊 Files by Google – Shows large and unnecessary files, suggests to delete them.
• 🔍 SD Maid (requires root for full functionality) – looks for residual files, duplicates and garbage in system folders.
• 🗂️ Storage Analyzer – builds memory usage diagrams with folder detail.

💡 Council: B SD Maid pay attention to the “CorpseFinder” section – it finds “dead” files from remote applications.

💡

Before using ADB or third-party utilities, check to see if the antivirus on your PC is blocking them. For example, Avast or Kaspersky may interrupt the connection to adb, considering it suspicious.

What to do if the Other returns: prevention

Cleaning up The Other is not a one-off thing, it's a regular process, so that the garbage doesn't accumulate again.

• 🔄 Update. MIUI timely – new firmware versions often optimize memory management.
• 🚫 Avoid cleaners like Clean Master – they often delete useful files and slow down the system.
• 📱 Remove unused applications through Settings → Apps, not just a swipe from the home screen.
• 🔍 Check the storage once a month with the built-in Cleanup utility or Files by Google.

📌 Key point: On the Redmi Note 10 Pro after every major update MIUI launch:

adb shell pm trim-caches 1000G

It forcibly clears the cache of all applications, including system ones.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when memory ends

Never clean.

I don't know what that is.-->

Dangerous Methods: What NOT to Do

In pursuit of free space, users often resort to risky ways that can permanently disable the smartphone.

• ⚠️ Deletion of folders /system or /data manually – this will lead to a “brick”** (inability to boot the system).
• ⚠️ Use of rm commands -rf without understanding – one typo and you will delete critical files.
• ⚠️ Reverse the firmware to the old version MIUI — This can block the bootloader and make the phone a brick».
• ⚠️ Install custom firmware without experience – Redmi Note 10 Pro has anti-rollback protection, and incorrect firmware will lead to loss of warranty.

🔴 Example of a dangerous command: some "gurus" advise to perform adb shell su rm -rf /data/*, But it will delete all user data, including photos, contacts and settings, without the possibility of recovery.

⚠️ Warning: If you see tips like “format the section” /data through TWRP», Know that it will cause a total reset of your smartphone, and all data will be erased, including your accounts and passwords, only if other methods fail, and you're prepared to lose information.

Table: Comparison of cleaning methods of the "Other" on the Redmi Note 10 Pro

📢 Bottom Line: Start with secure methods (cache, update files, built-in utility). If they don't help, go to the next one. ADB. Use root and custom firmware only as a last resort.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the "Other" on Xiaomi