How to Clean the Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi 8: A Complete Guide with Proven Methods

The Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi 8 is a real headache for many users, it can take up 5 to 20 GB of memory, and the system insists that there are “system files” that can not be deleted, but in practice, this folder accumulates the remnants of deleted applications, cache, temporary MIUI files, duplicate media files and even fragments of old updates, if your smartphone has started to slow down and the free space is melting before your eyes, the problem is this one.

In this article, we'll look at 5 proven cleanup methods, including hidden MIUI features, working with ADB, and even manually removing debris through a file manager. Importantly, not all methods are equally safe. For example, cleaning through storage/emulated/0 can cause failures if critical files are deleted. So we'll explain in detail what you can touch and what's best to leave intact.

Warn in advance: some operations require root or PC access. If you're a beginner, start with the simplest ways (sections 2 and 3). ADB-command-and-hand.

Why is the Other folder growing on Redmi 8?

On Redmi 8 (and other Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 11-14), the Other folder is a prefabricated dump for files that the system cannot classify.

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems – residues from.apk, temporary.tmp files, error logs (.log).
• 📁 Remnants of remote programs – folders lib, cache and configs that did not disappear with the application.
• 🔄 Duplicates of media files – photo miniatures (.thumbdata), copies of videos from instant messengers.
• 📦 Fragments of updates MIUI — packet-less update.zip post-fix.
• 🔒 Hidden file systems services, such as Google Play Services or Mi Cloud.

The main problem is that MIUI doesn't show the contents of this folder in a standard file manager, and even if you connect your smartphone to your PC, some files will be hidden, and the system actively recovers some data after rebooting (for example, the Google Play cache or Mi Video).

On Redmi 8, the Other folder can take up to 30 percent of the internal memory, and 70 percent of the content is garbage that can be safely removed, but you need to know where to look.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

Start with the safest method, the standard MIUI tools, which do not require root rights and do not risk damaging system files.

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Slip on "Other" (may be called "Other Files").
3. The system will scan the memory and show categories of garbage: 🧹 App cache - you can delete everything. 📂 Downloads – Check manually as there may be important files. 🗑️ Unnecessary files – temporary data, log files.

Click “Clear” and confirm the action.

This method will remove up to 2-4 GB of garbage, but will not affect deep system files.

⚠️ Note: If the Other folder fills up quickly after cleaning, check the Mi Cloud and Google Photo settings. These services can create duplicate media files in the background.

Method 2: Manually remove garbage through file manager

If the built-in tools didn’t work, try manually finding and removing unnecessary files, and any file manager with access to root folders, such as Mi File Manager (turn on hidden files) or Solid Explorer, will do.

Follow the following steps and delete anything that is not critical data:

Once you delete, reboot your phone, and if some files are not deleted, they're occupied by the system, and the ADB method will help.

💡

Before deleting folders in /Android/data, check if the app is in the background. For example, Facebook can store the cache there even after removing the main APK.

Method 3: Cleaning through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool to manage your smartphone via PC, which allows you to delete files that are not available through the file manager.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Redmi 8 with enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Steps:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your Redmi 8.
3. Get a folder list in "The Other": adb shell ls -la /storage/emulated/0/ | grep -E '^d'
4. For example, to clean up the thumbnail cache, adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/*

Commands for safe cleaning:

# Delete the Google Play Services cache


adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms




Clearing temporary MIUI files



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




Removing old APKs from downloads



adb shell find /storage/emulated/0/Download -name "*.apk" -delete

⚠️ Note: Do not use the rm command. -rf / rm -rf /* — It will delete all the data on the phone without any recovery capability.

Method 4: Using Deep Cleaning Applications

If you don't want to mess with ADB, use specialized apps that automatically find and remove garbage, including hidden files in the Other folder.

• 🧹 SD Maid (requires root for full functionality) – clears cache, duplicates, application residues.
• 🗑️ Files by Google – a free tool from Google with the function “Clean up».
• 🔍 CCleaner – Deletes temporary files and cache, but be careful with settings.

Instructions for SD Maid:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run the scan (CorpseFinder for application residues, SystemCleaner for system debris).
3. Select files to delete and confirm the action.

Files by Google are easier to use:

1. Open the app and go to the Cleanup tab**.
2. Click “Free space”** and select categories to delete.
3. Confirm the cleanup.

These apps will remove up to 5-7GB of garbage, but not all of them can handle deep system files.

💡

Apps like SD Maid or Files by Google are safer than ADB, but less effective at cleaning system partitions. Use them with manual methods to clean up the system partitions.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If the Other folder takes up more than 10GB and previous methods didn't work, the last option is a complete reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, but return the phone to its "clean" state.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data” and confirm.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

This method is guaranteed to clean the folder “Other”, but has serious disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of all user data.
• ❌ The need to reconfigure the phone.
• ❌ Some system files (e.g. updates) MIUI) They may reappear in time.

⚠️ Note: Redmi 8 may require re-authorization to Mi Account after reset. If you forget the password, restore it before reset, otherwise the phone will be locked!

How to prevent the “Other” folder from being refilled?

Cleaning is only half the battle, so that the Other folder doesn't grow back, follow these tips:

• 📵 Limit the background activity of applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start and disable unnecessary programs. → Battery → Power saving mode add resource-intensive applications (for example, Facebook, TikTok).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic app updates: Go to Settings on Google Play → Auto-Update Apps and select “Never»**.
• 📂 Clean the cache regularly: Open Settings once a week → Memory. → Clean up.
• 🔄 Use cloud services for media files: Set up an automatic photo upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, and then delete the originals from your phone.

It is also worth turning off automatic downloading of files in messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).

1. On WhatsApp: Settings → Storage → Autoupload Media → Disable for Mobile Data.
2. In Telegram: Settings → Data and Memory → Autoboot Media → Select “Never”**.

These measures will reduce memory load and reduce the amount of garbage in the “Other” folder by 40-60%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the "Other" folder on Redmi 8