How to Clean the “Other Files” Folder on Xiaomi Smartphones: The Complete Guide

Why Xiaomi’s Other Files folder is growing to gigabytes – and how to fix it

Have you ever looked into your Xiaomi store and found that the mysterious “Other Files” folder is 10, 20, or even 30 GB? It’s not a system glitch or a virus – this is how MIUI classifies data that doesn’t fall into the standard categories (“Photos”, “Video”, “Audio”).

The problem is that Other Files don’t automatically clear when you optimize your memory — you have to delete them manually or with hidden MIUI features. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways, including little-known tricks for advanced users. But first, why does it happen at all?

What’s Hiding in the “Other Files” folder on Xiaomi

If you think it's just garbage, you're wrong. The Other Files folder on Xiaomi (and other Android smartphones) contains:

• 🗑️ App cache – temporary data that programs save for fast work (for example, miniature videos on YouTube or maps in Google Maps).
• 📦 Remnants of Remote Applications – Files that were not completely erased when uninstalled (especially relevant for games like Genshin Impact or Remote Apps). PUBG Mobile).
• 🔄 Update files MIUI — firmware packages that have downloaded but have not been installed (can weigh up to 2-3 GB each!).
• 📄 System logs and dumps – error reports that are generated when crashes occur (for example, if an application suddenly closes).
• 🔍 Hidden messaging files – Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store media here that you “delete” only in chat, but not from memory.

The worst part is that some of these files are not visible through the standard MIUI file manager, and can only be detected through ADB or third-party utilities like Files by Google. But don't rush to delete everything in a row - some data is critical to the system!

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with.odex,.vdex or folder extensions /data/dalvik-cache — These are Android components, without which the smartphone will not boot.

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

The easiest and safest method is to reset cache for all installed programs, which will not delete your data (photos, messages, save in games), but will free up 1 to 5 GB of space.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show System Processes (this is important!).
3. Click on any app (like Chrome), then select Storage → Clear cache.
4. Repeat for all applications manually or use the ** Clear cache for all button (not available on all versions of MIUI).

If there is no “Clear for All” button, use the automatic script:

adb shell pm list packages -f | sed 's/package://' | while read -r line; do adb shell pm clear "$line"; done

This command will clear the cache of all applications in 2-3 minutes via ADB. Read more about setting up ADB in the next section.

Method 2: Remove MIUI update files (releases up to 10GB!)

Xiaomi likes to download firmware updates in the background — and often forgets to delete them after installation. These files can take up from 1.5 to 3 GB each, and in the “Other Files” folder they accumulate 3-4 pieces.

How to find and delete:

1. Open a file manager (e.g. Files by Google or standard MI File Manager).
2. Move to the /storage/emulated/0/Download/rom or /data/ota_package (The last folder may be hidden).
3. Delete all files with the.zip extension and names like miui_*.zip.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

If the folder /data/ota_package Not visible, use it. ADB:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/ota_package/*




exit




exit

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the folder /system or /vendor — If you're in doubt, check the file extension: it's safe to erase only.zip,.tmp and.log.

Method 3: Manual cleaning through hidden folders (for experienced)

If the first two methods didn't work, it's time to dig deeper. Android has hidden folders that store "forgotten" data, and you can clean them without rooting, but with caution.

Where to look for garbage:

To see these folders:

1. Install a file manager with root access support (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Follow these paths and delete the content (but not the folders themselves!).

💡

Before deleting files from hidden folders, back up your files via adb backup or Titanium Backup (requires root), which will save your data if you accidentally delete something important.

Method 4: Using ADB for deep cleaning

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a tool for advanced users that allows you to control your smartphone through a computer, with which you can delete files that are not available through standard menus.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔗 Installed drivers ADB (You can download from the site XDA Developers).

Cleanup commands:

adb shell


su



Removing the cache of all user applications



pm clear --user 0 $(pm list packages -3 -f | sed 's/package://' | cut -d= -f1)



Cleaning the log folder



rm -rf /data/log/*




rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/debug_log/*



Delete temporary update files



rm -rf /data/ota_package/*




exit




exit

If the su command is not working, then your device has no root rights, in which case use an alternative method:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep -Eo 'package:.=com\.|package:.=org\.' | sed 's/package://' | cut -d= -f1 | while read -r pkg; do adb shell pm clear "$pkg"; done

💡

ADB is the most powerful tool for cleaning Other Files, but it requires caution. One wrong command can disrupt the system. Always check the paths before deleting!

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If all previous methods failed, and the Other Files folder still takes tens of gigabytes, it's time to consider a hard reset, which will delete all the data on the phone, including apps, photos and settings, but return the storage to its original state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Transfer the copy to your computer or cloud (like Google Drive).
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from the backup immediately – first check if the problem with Other Files has returned».
• 📱 Install only the necessary applications (excess programs will clog the cache again).
• 🔍 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after reset, you may need to re-link your Mi Account!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the folder “Other files” on Xiaomi