How to Clean the Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete 2026 Guide

The Other folder on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is one of the most mysterious and annoying features of MIUI firmware, which can take up from 500 MB to 10+ GB of memory, and the system does not give a clear explanation of what is stored inside. Users often face a situation where free space is melting in front of their eyes, and memory analysis shows that this folder is to blame. What is the catch?

In fact, the Other is a hoard of cache applications, temporary files, remnants of deleted programs, system logs, and even MIUI update fragments. Unlike Downloads or DCIM folders, its contents are not designed for manual control. But that doesn't mean that cleaning is impossible. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to reduce the size of the Other folder on Redmi root without rights and the risk of damaging the system, including hidden MIUI functions and third-party tools.

It is important to understand that not all contents of the folder can be deleted without consequences. For example, cache of some system applications (com.miui.home, com.android.systemui) when cleaned can lead to short-term interface lags, but if you follow our recommendations, you can free up 2-5 GB of memory in 10-15 minutes.

What is the “Other” folder on Xiaomi Redmi and why is it growing?

In MIUI firmware, the Other folder** is a container for files that the system cannot categorize as standard (Images, Videos, Audio, etc.) that fall into:

• 🗃️ App cache – temporary data that programs save to speed up work (for example, thumbnails of YouTube videos or cache maps in Google Maps).
• 📝 System logs are files with information about errors, reboots and operation of the Android kernel, and many of them accumulate after updates. MIUI.

The problem is that MIUI doesn't provide built-in tools to deep-clean this folder, and even the Cleanup feature in the settings only removes the tip of the iceberg, which is surface debris, but the deep cache and system logs remain intact, gradually inflating the folder to critical sizes.

The growth rate of the “Other” folder** depends on several factors:

• 📱 Smartphone model: on the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 s MIUI 14 litter accumulates more than on old Redmi 9s due to active use of cache for animations.
• 🎮 Games and heavy apps: Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile or TikTok can leave behind gigabytes of temporary files.
• 🔄 Update frequency: if you install beta versions regularly MIUI, The system saves old firmware files "just in case».

Method 1: Cleaning the application cache through MIUI settings

The safest and most obvious method is to manually clean the cache for each application, which requires no root rights and is suitable even for beginners, but it has a downside: you have to repeat the process for dozens of programs.

How to clear the cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Click on an app with a large cache (like Facebook, Telegram, or Google Play Services).
4. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Pay special attention to these applications – they often accumulate garbage:

• 📱 Google Play Services – can take up to 1-2 GB of cache.
• 💬 Telegram – Stores media files in cache even after viewing them.
• 🎵 Spotify/YouTube Music – caching songs for offline listening.
• 🗺️ Google Maps/Yandex.Maps – save maps and routes.

Google Play Services|Telegram|Facebook/Instagram|YouTube|Google Chrome|MIUI System Apps (Subject, Security)-->

⚠️ Note: Do not clear data (Clear data) for system applications (com.miui.home, com.android.settings) – this can reset launcher or Wi-Fi settings.

If you want to automate the process, use the built-in Cleanup function:

1. Go to Settings → Cleaning.
2. Press Deep Clean and wait for analysis.
3. Select App Cache and Garbage Files, then tap Clean.

This method will remove 500MB-1.5GB of debris, but will not affect deep system files.

Method 2: Delete temporary files via Recovery Mode

If standard cleaning didn’t work, try removing Dalvik-cache and residual update files via Recovery Mode.This method doesn’t require root rights, but resets application optimization (after the reboot, the system will restore the cache, but it will be “clean”).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the MI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for selection).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
5. Reboot the device (Reboot → System)

What removes this method:

⚠️ Note: Do not choose Wipe Data in Recovery – this will lead to a complete reset of the smartphone before the factory settings!

After cleaning through Recovery, the first launch of the smartphone can take 5-10 minutes, which is normal, since the system restores the cache of applications, but you will free up to 1-2 GB of memory.

💡

If after cleaning through Recovery, the smartphone began to slow down, restart it again - this will help the system optimize the applications again.

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

For advanced users who are ready to work with the command line, there is a way to remove garbage through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which will allow you to clean files that are not available through the standard MIUI interface.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb shell


pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster #Cache cleaning standard cleaner




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




rm -rf /cache/* # Cleaning up the cache folder (not to be confused with Dalvik-cache!)

To remove the system logs, do:

adb shell su -c "logcat -c" # Log cleanup (requires root, but sometimes works without it)


adb shell rm -rf /data/log/*

These commands delete:

• 🗑️ Temporary files from /data/local/tmp (Remains of installers, update cache).
• 📜 Logs of the system that take up to 500 MB.
• 🧹 Standard cleaner cache MIUI, Which by itself can weigh 100-300 MB.

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf without root, only delete files that the user has access to. /system or /vendor — It's going to crash the system!

If after completing the commands, free space is not added, check the folder size. /data/log through a root file manager (such as Root Explorer), sometimes logs take up gigabytes due to errors in the work. MIUI.

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

There are hundreds of apps on Google Play that promise to clear the Other folder in one click, but most of them are either useless or dangerous. We tested the top solutions and selected the ones that actually work on MIUI 13/14.

The best cleaning applications:

How to use SD Maid (the most effective option):

1. Install the app and provide root access (if any).
2. Launch CorpseFinder – this tool will find the residual files of remote applications.
3. Go to SystemCleaner and select Dalvik-cache and Empty Folders cleanup.
4. Press Run and wait until it is completed.

Without root SD, Maid will only clean up surface debris, but even that is enough to free up 1-2 GB. With root access, you can delete up to 5 GB of unnecessary files.