Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where the device’s internal memory is rapidly filling up, and the lion’s share of free space is occupied by the mysterious “Other” category, which is a repository for temporary files, app cache, residual data after deleting programs and system logs. The accumulation of such digital debris not only reduces the amount of memory available, but can significantly slow down the MIUI or HyperOS operating system.
Understanding the structure of the Android file system is key to solving memory overflow. Standard cleaning tools often fail to see hidden caches or files marked as system, leaving them in the Other section. In this article, we will look at proven methods for safely removing excess content without affecting important user data.
It should be noted that blindly removing files from system folders can lead to unstable operation of the device. The file system of the smartphone is more complex than it seems at first glance, and some elements occupying space are necessary for the correct functioning of installed applications.
The first thing to do is figure out what exactly is hidden under the label “Other” in your particular case, most often it is social network cache, stuck update files or error logs. About 80% of the volume of the folder Other on Xiaomi is usually occupied by cached data of messengers and streaming services. Knowing the source of the problem, it is easier to find an effective method of solving it.
Analysis of the contents of the storage through standard settings
The first step for any Xiaomi user is to use a built-in storage analyzer. MIUI provides enough detail about which apps consume the most space. To access this data, go to the Settings menu → About Phone → Storage. Here you will see a color diagram, where the “Other” section will be highlighted by a separate segment.
Clicking on this segment often reveals a detailed list of files that the system classifies as miscellaneous. However, it is worth considering that a standard analyzer does not always show the real structure of folders. It can combine browser cache, temporary bootloader files and remote application data into one common pile. For a deeper understanding of the processes, it is worth paying attention to the leading applications for memory consumption.
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Use the built-in Security app for primary cleaning, but don’t rely on it entirely – it often leaves a hidden messenger cache.
If standard analysis shows that the Other folder is larger than 10-15 GB, it is a signal to manually check. In some cases, the system may not properly display data by assigning files to the Other that are actually part of the system partitions. Rebooting the device before analyzing helps update file indexing and get a more accurate picture.
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
The main source of the Other section’s growth is messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Viber, which store every image, video, and voice message viewed into a device’s local memory, and over time, this archive can reach tens of gigabytes, occupying the space the system flags as other.
To clean up, you need to go to the settings of the app itself, not just the settings of the smartphone. For example, in Telegram, the path looks like Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you can safely clear the cache without deleting correspondence. It is important to understand the difference between cleaning the cache and deleting data: the first will free up space, the second will delete the account from the device.
☑️ Checking messengers
WhatsApp is similar, but there's a nuance about backups. Often, the Other section contains old backup databases that are no longer needed. Before removing them, make sure the current copy is saved to Google Drive. It's also worth checking the Android/media folder, where heavy files exported from chat rooms can lie.
⚠️ Note: Clearing the application data (not to be confused with cache) will result in the complete removal of correspondence and settings within this application.
Social networks like Instagram and TikTok also use caching to quickly load your feed. Watching short videos can quietly create gigabytes of temporary files. Regularly cleaning the cache of these apps through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps help keep the size of the Other folder under control.
Working with file manager and hidden folders
The standard MIUI Explorer has limited functionality for viewing system files. For deep cleaning, it is recommended to use more advanced tools, such as Total Commander or Files by Google. These applications allow you to see hidden folders that start from a dot and system directories that are hidden from the average user.
Special attention should be paid to the Android/data folder, which stores game and heavy-duty applications data, sometimes when you delete a game, the folder stays and continues to take up space, manually deleting the contents of this directory, you can free up a significant amount of memory, but you only need to delete folders that you know exactly belong to.
What folders in Android/data can be removed safely?
Another often overlooked area is the Download and Bluetooth folder. Files received via Bluetooth are often not clearly categorized and fall into the Other.A check of these directories can reveal old APK installation files, documents and media files that have long since lost their relevance.
When working with a file manager, it is important to be careful: deleting system files can lead to a bootloop.If you are not sure about the purpose of the file, it is better to skip it or pre-copy it to your computer.
Using Developer Mode and ADB for Deep Cleaning
For advanced users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of cleaning through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to delete files that are not available through the normal interface, and clear the system cache more efficiently.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version number 7 times. After that, a new option will appear in the settings menu “Additional” or “Extended settings”, where you need to turn on “Debugging by USB”.
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999999This command forces the system to delete all cached data that exceeds the specified value (in this case, the limit is almost removed) This is a secure command, it does not delete the user’s personal data, but can significantly reduce the size of the “Other” folder.
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Use of the ADB-commands are the most efficient way to clean the system cache without losing user data, but require a connection to a PC.
Also through ADB You can remove pre-installed system applications (bloatware), which often occupy space in the "Other" section with their data and updates. However, this step requires careful study of the list of packages, so as not to remove critical components of the system.
Resetting and cleaning through Recovery
If the software methods don't help and the Other folder continues to grow, it's possible that the system has accumulated indexing errors or corrupted system files, in which case the effective solution is to clean the Cache partition through the Recovery menu, which is available even when the smartphone is turned off.
To enter Recovery mode on Xiaomi, you need to turn off your phone and then press the power and volume buttons at the same time. In the menu that appears, you need to select Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe Data!), which is safe for personal files, photos and contacts.
| Cleaning method | Security of data | Efficiency | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard cleaner | Tall. | Low. | Low. |
| Cleaning up the app cache | Tall. | Medium | Medium |
| ADB team | Tall. | Tall. | Tall. |
| Wipe Cache (Recovery) | Tall. | Tall. | Medium |
| Full reset (Wipe Data) | Low (removal of everything) | Maximum | Tall. |
The cardinal, but most effective method is a complete reset to factory settings (Wipe Data / Factory Reset). Before that, make sure to make a full backup of all important data to the computer or to the cloud. Once reset, the Other folder will be minimal in size, as the system will return to its original state.
⚠️ Note: When you run Wipe Data in Recovery mode, all your photos, contacts and apps will be permanently deleted.
Preventing memory overflow in the future
To prevent the problem with the folder “Other” from returning regularly, you need to change your smartphone usage habits, first of all, you need to disable the auto-save media files in messengers, this will prevent duplication of images and videos in the gallery and system folders.
Regularly, at least once a month, audit installed applications. Unused apps often continue to accumulate background data, and removing such programs is the best prevention of memory clogging.
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Turn on the Memory Cleanup feature in the Scheduled Security app — for example, every Sunday at 3 a.m. when the phone is not in use.
Using cloud storage, such as Google Photos or Yandex.Disk, with the function of freeing up space allows you to store original photos and videos in the cloud, leaving only compressed copies on the device or completely removing them from local memory, which significantly reduces the load on internal storage.
Watch for updates to the MIUI system. Xiaomi engineers periodically release patches that optimize the file system and correct errors that lead to the proliferation of system logs. The current version of the software is the key to stable operation.