Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a mysterious situation: the internal memory is full, but on detailed analysis it turns out that the lion’s share is occupied by a sector called “Other”. This category can inflate to tens of gigabytes, occupying up to 40-50% of all available space, which causes a serious slowdown of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. The user begins to notice interface lags, long launch of applications and the inability to install new updates or take photos.
The nature of this “junk” lies in the peculiarities of the Android file system, which does not always correctly classify temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and messenger cache. The system simply throws all the data it does not understand into one common pile, labeling them as other. Ignoring the problem leads to the fact that the phone ceases to function properly, and standard cleaning methods are often powerless front files.
In this article, we will discuss safe and effective ways to clean the Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi, returning the device to its previous speed and freeing up precious gigabytes. We will look at both built-in tools and more advanced methods that require attention, but give maximum results.
⚠️ Before you start any manipulation of system files or complete data cleanup, we strongly advise you to back up important information on a cloud service or computer.
Reasons for the growth of the category of other
To effectively combat a problem, you need to understand the source of the problem. The Other category is not a virus or an error, but rather a feature of the logical structure of the repository. First of all, it accumulates cached application data. Social networks like Telegram or WhatsApp save the photos and videos they've viewed so that they can be uploaded faster when they're reopened, but over time, this archive becomes huge.
The second reason is residual files after you delete the software, and when you delete a game or utility, some of the configs and time data may remain in the back of the system, and you also get the firmware update files that the system didn't delete automatically, and the error logs that are kept by the background processes.
A third factor is often media files that the system cannot recognize as standard photos or music, which can be files with unusual extensions downloaded from a browser, or data streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, running offline.
- 📱 Social network and messenger cache that takes up gigabytes.
- 🗑️ Residual files of remote applications and games.
- 🔄 Unloaded or interrupted system update files.
- 🎵 Offline cache of music and video services.
Using the built-in Xiaomi cleaner
The easiest and safest first step is to use the regular Security app, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi device. This tool can find obvious garbage, but to clean it deep, you need to set it up correctly. Launch the app and select Cleanup.
After scanning, the system will suggest that you delete temporary files. However, to get to the "Other" category, you need to scroll down and find the "Deep Clean" section. Here the algorithm analyzes large files, rarely used applications and duplicates. Be careful: do not delete files that you are not sure about, especially if they have the extensions.obb or.apk.
Inside the deep cleaning, there's also a tab called "Storage Analyzer," which visualizes memory as colored blocks. Find the largest block, often labeled "Other" or "System Files," and click on it, and that allows you to go to the file list and delete what takes up the most space.
☑️ Checklist for quick cleaning
Manual cleaning through File Manager
If the automatic tools don't work, you'll have to manually use standard Explorer, which requires more care, because you'll delete files directly. Go to Internal Memory and look at the folders carefully.
Pay special attention to the Android/data and Android/obb folders. This is where the app data is stored. Inside the data folder, find the com.whatsapp or com.telegram.messenger directory, which often contain Media or Cache folders, which can be safely cleaned if you have already saved important photos.
Also check the MIUI → gallery → cloud folder. It can store thumbnails and deleted photos that have not yet synced with the cloud or been permanently erased. Deleting the contents of this folder will free up space, but make sure that the desired pictures are saved in the Xiaomi Cloud or Google Photos cloud.
| folder | Location. | What can be removed | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cache | Android/data/[application name]/cache | All contents | Low (cache data will recover) |
| Temp | The root of inner memory | All contents | Low (temporary files) |
| Download | The root of inner memory | Old installers, PDF | Medium (can be removed) |
| MIUI/Gallery/Cloud | MIUI/gallery/cloud | Miniatures and remote | Medium (check the cloud) |
⚠️ Warning: Never delete files with the.xml or.ini extension in system folders, and do not touch folders with system process names unless you know exactly what they are intended.
What is a folder.thumbnails?
Clearing messenger cache
Messengers deserve special attention, as they are the main “generators” of garbage. In Telegram, cleaning is most efficiently done through the settings of the application itself. Go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use.
Here you will see the Cash in Memory slider. By clicking Clear Cache, you will delete all downloaded media files that are stored on the device for quick access. This will not delete your correspondence, photos and videos will disappear only from your phone, but will remain in the Telegram cloud and re-download if necessary.
WhatsApp is more complicated. It stores files in a shared structure. Go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. Here you can select the chat rooms that occupy the most space and remove attachments selectively, which allows you to save text messages but remove heavy videos.
- 🚀 Telegram: clears the cache completely through the settings of the application.
- 💬 WhatsApp: Requires manual sampling of heavy files in storage management.
- 📹 Viber: has a separate tab "Memory" in the settings for cleaning the cache.
- 📷 Instagram: Cache is only cleared through phone settings (Applications) → Instagram → Warehouse).
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Tip: Install automatic cache cleaning on Telegram (Settings → Data and Memory → Media Autodelete) to prevent the accumulation of gigabytes of garbage in the future.
Use of third-party utilities and ADB
If standard methods fail, you can use specialized utilities like Clean Master or Files by Google, which have more advanced algorithms for finding duplicates and hidden files, but be careful with the permissions you give to such programs.
For advanced users, there is an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) cleaning method that removes system debris that is not available to the average user, by enabling debugging via USB in the Developer menu and connecting the phone to the computer.
With the adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999 command, you can force the cache of all applications at once, even those that wouldn't normally let you do it. It's a powerful command that can instantly free up a few gigabytes.
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Introducing the wrong command can lead to the removal of system components or unstable operation of the smartphone. Use this method only if you understand what you are doing.
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The safest way to free up space is to combine manually cleaning the messenger cache and using the built-in MIUI storage analyzer.
Prevention and optimization of storage
To keep the problem of overflowing the category "Other" from returning, it is important to introduce the habit of regular prevention. Do not allow the memory to be filled "to the end". Android operating system needs free space (minimum space). 10-15%) normal-working_swap_ and temporary operations.
Use cloud services to store photos and videos. Set up automatic sync with Google Photos or Yandex.Disk with Free Space, which will remove the originals from your phone, leaving them in the cloud in high quality.
Also keep an eye out for system updates. Newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS often fix file system errors that lead to incorrect calculation of occupied space. Regular resets (every 1-2 years) also help keep the system clean.
- 📅 Check the storage regularly (once a month.
- ☁️ Set up autoload photos to the cloud.
- 🗑️ Remove unnecessary apps immediately after use.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone at least once a week.
To sum up, cleaning the Other folder is a process that requires a comprehensive approach: Start with simple steps like clearing the messenger cache, and gradually move on to deeper analysis if necessary. Your smartphone will thank you for your new life and fast work.