How to Clean the Other folder on Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC: A Complete Guide with Proven Methods

Why the Poco X3 NFC’s Other folder takes up gigabytes and how to fix it

The Other folder in Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC storage is one of the most mysterious to users, it can take anywhere from 5-10 GB to 30+ GB, but it does not display specific files in a standard file manager. Unlike downloads, DCIM or WhatsApp folders, the content of the Other is hidden from view, which raises suspicions: whether it is system garbage, or cache of applications, or the remnants of deleted files.

On the Poco X3 NFC, the problem is compounded by the features of MIUI firmware: the system actively caches data to speed up work, but does not always clean it correctly. For example, after updating applications or resetting settings, some temporary files remain in the /data folder, which the user can not see without root rights. In addition, many applications (especially messengers and social networks) store their data here, masking them as “system files”.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to clean the Other folder, from simple (via built-in MIUI tools) to advanced (using ADB and third-party utilities).

📊 How often do you clean your memory on Xiaomi?

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never cleaned.

What exactly is stored in the folder “Other” on the Poco X3 NFC

The Other folder is a container for files that MIUI cannot classify as photos, videos, music or documents.

📁 App cache (including data from Google Play Services, Facebook, TikTok and other social networks).
🔄 Remnants of remote applications (lib, odex, configuration files).
📱 System logs and dumps (.log,.dump files created when crashes).
🔒 Encrypted data (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram cache in encrypted form).
🗑️ Temporary update files (firmware residues downloaded through Updater).

The Poco X3 NFC has a lot of space:

🎮 Cache games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) can leave up to 5-7 GB of garbage»).
📸 Miniatures and previews from the gallery (folder.thumbnails, which is not always cleaned automatically).
🔄 Dalvik-cache files (optimized data to speed up application launches).

How do you check what exactly takes up space? Install Files by Google or SD Maid (requires root for full analysis) and these utilities will show the memory allocation in more detail than the standard MIUI file manager.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from the Other folder manually through Root Explorer unless you are sure of their purpose. Deleting system logs or cache of critical applications (such as Google Services Framework) can lead to a cyclical reboot of the phone.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

The safest method is to use the standard MIUI 12/13/14 features on the Poco X3 NFC. These do not require root rights and rarely cause crashes.

Step 1. Clean up the app cache

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
Select apps with large cache (such as YouTube, Chrome, Facebook) and click Clear Cache.

Step 2: Using “Memory Cleanup”

Go to Settings. → Memory.
Click Clear (the system will scan unnecessary files).
Check the boxes for App Cash, Downloads (if not needed) and Unnecessary APK files.

Step 3: Delete duplicates and large files

In the same section, tap files → Categories.
Select Duplicates or Large Files and delete the unnecessary.

Make a backup copy of important data|Close all applications|Connect the phone to charging|Check the vacant space (should be available) ≥1GB)-->

Method limitations: Built-in tools MIUI Do not clean deep system files (such as Dalvik-cache or update residues) and require third-party utilities or ADB.

Method 2: Cleaning with Safe Mode

If the Other folder is inflated due to a malfunction of third-party applications, Safe Mode will help. In this mode, only system services are loaded, which allows you to identify the problem.

How to Sign in to Safe Mode on Poco X3 NFC:

Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
Press the Turn Off (or Reboot) icon before a Safe Mode login request appears.

What to do next:

🔍 Check the free space in the Settings → Memory. If it's increased, there's a problem in one of the apps installed.
📱 Remove suspicious programs (especially memory optimizers or Chinese utilities).
🔄 Restart your phone to normal mode and repeat the check.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode disabled all third-party apps, including Google Play Services. Do not try to update or install programs in this mode - this may lead to account sync errors.

💡

If the Other folder is inflated again after leaving Safe Mode, check the applications for viruses using Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light. Some Trojans masquerade as system files and take up gigabytes of memory.

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

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to delete system cache and temporary files without obtaining root permissions, a method suitable for advanced users, since it requires working with the command line.

Step 1: Install ADB on PC

🖥️ Download Platform Tools from the official Android website.
📂 Unpack the archive into the root of the disk C:\ (for example, C:\platform-tools).
🔧 Add the path to the platform-tools to the environment variable PATH (Windows instruction here).

Step 2: Connecting Poco X3 NFC

Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging request.
Open the Command Prompt (Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb devices

(A device with a serial number must appear.)

Step 3: Cleaning commands

Take turns:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Cleaning up the standard MIUI cleaner


adb shell pm trim-caches -1 # Cache removal of all user applications




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




adb shell rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/* # Cleaning up Dalvik cache (requires a reboot!)

After the last command, the phone can restart longer than usual (up to 5-10 minutes).

ADB Team Team	What cleanses	Risk
pm clear [package]	Data from a specific application	Low (loss of application settings)
pm trim-caches	Cache of all user applications	Medium (possible to freeze when you first start applications)
rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache	Optimized files to speed up application launches	High (long reboot, possible failures)

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/* If you're forced to reassemble the cache the next time you start, if you're rebooting the phone, it's stuck on the logo. POCO longer 15 Fastboot Reboot (Fastboot Reboot Recovery).

Method 4: Third-party cleaning applications (with caution!)

Apps like SD Maid, CCleaner or Files by Google promise to free up memory, but on the Poco X3, NFC is limited by MIUI policies: Some require root, others simply delete the cache that the system will recover in a day.

Top.-3 Applications for Cleaning the Other»:

📊 SD Maid (requires root) – analyzes folders /data and /cache, Finds duplicates and remnants of remote applications.
🗑️ Files by Google — scans large and unnecessary files for free.
🔍 Storage Analyzer shows the distribution of memory by folder. Minus: it doesn't clean, it just analyzes.

How to use SD Maid (if you have root):

Open the app and give it Superuser rights.
Go to CorpseFinder and see the remnants of the remote applications.
Run SystemCleaner to clean up your cache and logs.
In the AppControl section, remove unnecessary APK-file-cache.

What happens if you give root rights to an unnecessary application?

Root-access applications can delete critical system files, leading to brick (turning your phone into a brick) such as deleting the /system/priv-app folder will make it impossible to download MIUI. Always check the reputation of the program on forums (such as XDA Developers) before granting root rights.

Alternative without root: Files by Google → Cleanup → Unnecessary files. It will find up to 1-3 GB of garbage (mainly cache and duplicates), but will not affect system data.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If the Other folder takes 20+GB and previous methods didn't work, then Hard Reset is left, which erases all the data, but returns the phone to its "clean" state.

How to reset to Poco X3 NFC:

Back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset (or use Mi Cloud).
Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
Choose to erase all data and confirm.
After restarting, set your phone as new.

What to do after the discharge:

🔄 Don't restore data from the backup right away - check the space available. Sometimes the garbage is carried along with the backup.
📱 Install applications one at a time and watch for the resize of the folder “Other».
🔧 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play (this will reduce the number of temporary files).

⚠️ Attention: On Poco X3 NFC firmware MIUI 12.5+ Resetting may not clear the folder /data/app-lib, Where the application libraries are stored. If the problem persists after the reset, use ADB for manual cleaning (see Method) 3).

💡

Factory reset is the only way to completely remove system debris, but it erases all user data. Use it only if other methods have failed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the "Other" folder on the Poco X3 NFC

Why does the “Other” folder fill up again after cleaning?

This is normal MIUI behavior. System and applications are constantly creating temporary files (cache, logs, thumbnails).To slow down the process: Turn off background activity for unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery → Application Selection. Limit cache for individual programs through Settings → Applications → [Application Name] → Memory.

Can I delete the “Other” folder completely?

No. It's a system partition that Android can't work without, you can only clean up the contents of the partition (cache, logs, app residues), and completely deleting it will cause the phone to fail.

How to clean the “Other” if the phone is not turned on?

If the Poco X3 NFC doesn't boot due to memory shortage: Boot in Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume up when the phone is off). Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache. If it didn't work, run Wipe Data (erase all data!). After that, the phone should boot, but all files will be deleted.

Does flashing your phone help you with garbage in The Other?

Installing new firmware through Fastboot or Recovery clears system partitions, but: If you're using it, OTA-Update (through Settings) → Software update, debris will remain. Full Fastboot Flash erases everything, including the Other folder, but requires unlocking the bootloader. Instructions for unlocking the bootloader for Poco X3 NFC: official website of Xiaomi.

Which apps are most likely to clog up the “Other”?

Top.-5 «junk apps on Poco X3 NFC: Facebook and Messenger - up to 5 GB of cache. TikTok saves video to cache even after watching. Google Play Services creates logs and temporary files. MIUI Cleaner - sometimes doesn't clear its own cache (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire – leave update files. Solution: regularly clean the cache of these applications manually or limit their background activity.