How to Free Up Space in the Other section of Xiaomi Phone: The Complete Guide

The “Other” section in Xiaomi’s smartphone memory is a real black hole for free space, which can take up from 5 to 30 GB, but users do not see what files are stored there. The MIUI system includes app cache, temporary update files, messenger data, remnants of deleted programs and even firmware fragments, as a result, the phone begins to slow down, and the notification “Memory is full” appears every 5 minutes.

Complicating the problem is that standard cleaning methods (via Settings → Memory) often don’t work: the Other section remains intact or shrinks by just a few megabytes. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to clean up the space, from secure embedded tools to advanced methods using ADB and third-party utilities. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Xiaomi 11T/12/13).

Before you start, consider that some methods require developer rights or unlock the bootloader. If you're not risk-averse, start with the first three, which don't require any deep technical knowledge.

1. Clearing the cache of applications and system data through MIUI

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which won’t delete critical files, but will help free up 1 to 5 GB of space.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Sort by size”**.
3. Open each app at the top of the list (usually Facebook, Telegram, YouTube) and click Clear Cache.
4. For system applications (such as Mi Video or Gallery), you may need to click Storage → Clear Data.

Then clean the system cache:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Cleaning (or “Dumpster Cleaning”** in older versions).
• 🧹 Click on “Deep Clean”** and wait for the scan to be completed.
• 🔍 Check the Big Files section** – there may be old videos or backups.

This method rarely frees up more than 2-3 GB, but it's absolutely safe. If the Other section still takes up too much space, move on to the next one.

2. Delete temporary update files and APKs

Xiaomi likes to download updates in advance, even if you don't install them, and these files can weigh 1 to 3 GB and lie in memory for years under the guise of "The Other" to delete them:

1. Open the file manager (standard or MiXplorer).
2. Go to /sdcard/Download/rom, where the downloaded firmware is stored.
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension or names like miui_*.zip.
4. Then check the folder. /sdcard/Download old-fashioned APK-Files (application installation packages).

Temporary update files can also be hidden here:

• 📁 /sdcard/.OTA — firmware OTA-update.
• 📁 /sdcard/MIUI/backup — backup.
• 📁 /data/local/tmp (root rights are required or ADB).

💡

If the.OTA folder is not visible, turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings (usually in the View or Settings menu).

Once cleaned, restart your phone, and if the Other section has shrunk slightly, the problem may lie in the remnants of the remote applications, as discussed in the next section.

3. Cleaning up the remnants of remote applications and “junk” folders

When you delete an application through Settings, MIUI often leaves behind folders with data in /sdcard/Android/data or /sdcard/Android/obb. These files can weigh hundreds of megabytes, but do not appear in the standard memory manager.

To remove them:

1. Open the File Manager and go to /sdcard/Android/data.
2. Find folders with names of remote applications (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
3. Delete these folders manually. If the system doesn't work, use MiXplorer with root mode enabled (if you have permissions).

Also check the following “junk” folders:

After cleaning, check the “Other” section in Settings → Memory. If it still takes up more than 10 GB, the problem could be system logs or bloated databases — read on.

Advanced cleaning: logs, databases and ADB-team

This method is suitable for advanced users, and it allows you to delete system logs, memory dumps and other hidden files that are not available. MIUI It doesn't show in the interface. ADB It can cause malfunctions in the phone!

First, connect your phone to your PC and execute these commands via ADB (the setup instructions are here):

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cleaning the built-in cleaner


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




adb shell rm -rf /data/log/* # Cleaning up logs (requires root)




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

If you have root rights, do the following:

su


rm -rf /data/system/package_cache/*




rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/*

To clean up databases of messengers (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) that can weigh gigabytes:

• 🗑️ Delete the folder. /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases (backups).
• 🗑️ In Telegram, clear the cache through Settings → Data and memory → Clear the cache.
• 🗑️ For VK Or OK, delete the folders. /sdcard/Android/data/ru.mail.mailapp.

Enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)

Install Xiaomi USB Drivers on PC

Download Platform Tools from Android Developers

Connect your phone to USB in File Transfer mode**

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Once you've done the commands, restart the phone, and if the Other partition is still big, the last method is factory reset.

5.Extreme measure: reset to factory settings

If neither method worked and the Other partition takes 15+GB, it may have accumulated corrupt files or file system errors, in which case only a full reset will help.

Before reset, save all data (photos, contacts, messages) to your PC or cloud. Use Mi Cloud, Google Drive or a physical copy via the Mi PC Suite.

⚠️ Warning: Reset will delete all apps, settings and files in internal memory. If the phone is linked to a Mi Account account, you will need to enter your username and password after the reset.

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”**.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 5-10 minutes).
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

If the Other section starts to grow again after the reset, the problem may be a corrupted file system or incorrect firmware, in which case only flashing through Fastboot will help.

💡

Factory reset is the only way to remove system errors, but it should be a last resort.

How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled

To prevent the “Other” section from growing again, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Regularly (every 1-2 months) clean the cache through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 📥 Turn off automatic update downloads in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Downloading.
• 🗑️ Use Files by Google or SD Maid to find large and unnecessary files.
• 📵 Limit the background activity of messengers (for example, Telegram can download gigabytes of media files in the background).

It is also helpful to disable automatic backup in Mi Cloud if you are not using it:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Turn off the option of "Automatic backup"**.
3. Remove old backups manually.

If you install and uninstall applications frequently, consider using a memory card (for microSD-enabled models) or cloud storage for media files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's "Other" section