Xiaomi and POCO smartphone owners often face a mysterious category in storage called “Other” that can grow to tens of gigabytes, taking up a critical place to install apps or save photos. In the POCO X3 NFC model, which has a popular 120Hz screen and a powerful processor, the problem of overflowing memory is especially acute due to the high resolution of images and the volume of system logs.
Understanding the nature of these files is the first step to freeing up space. System debris accumulated over months of use is not vital to the operation of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. However, mindlessly deleting data can lead to messaging or loss of progress in games. In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe cleaning methods that will help restore the performance of your device.
It is worth noting that standard cleaning tools are not always effective against deeply preserved cache. Many users mistakenly believe that cleaning through the standard Security app removes everything superfluous, but in practice it is often only a superficial procedure. Deep cleaning requires more advanced methods, which we will discuss below, starting with analyzing the contents of the storage.
Analysis of the contents of the folder Other
Before we take any action, we need to understand what exactly is under the label "Other." In the Android operating system, this category is a collection of all files that do not fall into standard sections like "Photos", "Video", "Music" or "Apps": this includes app cache, temporary update files, offline navigator maps and remnants of remote programs.
Special attention should be paid to messengers such as Telegram or WhatsApp, which are often the culprits inflating this section. Media files received in chats can be stored in hidden cached folders that the system does not identify as a gallery. Log files of the system can also occupy a significant amount, especially if some application constantly generates error reports.
For a detailed view of the file structure on POCO X3 NFC It's better to use advanced file managers. Standard Explorer can hide some system directories. Storage visualization helps you quickly find the heaviest files, which are often hidden deep in system folders. /Android/data or /Android/obb.
- 📁 Social network and instant messenger cache – often takes up to 70% of the volume.
- 📦 Residual files of remote games and applications.
- 🗺️ Offline maps of navigation systems and geodata.
- 📝 Temporary System and Application Update Files.
⚠️ Note: Before deleting files from system folders, make sure they don't contain important data, such as game saves or work documents. Deleting system libraries can lead to unstable smartphone operation.
Use of built-in MIUI cleaning tools
The first and most secure method is to use the regular Security app preinstalled on all Xiaomi and POCO smartphones. This tool is designed specifically for working with the MIUI shell and knows which files can be deleted without risk to the system. Launch the application and select Clean up for the system to perform the initial analysis.
Once scanned, click the clean button, but don't stop there. The cleaner menu often has additional tabs like Deep Clean or Storage Analysis. You can find large files, duplicates, and rarely used applications. Deep Clean allows you to selectively delete the contents of folders that the system considers to be potential garbage.
It is important to do this routine regularly to prevent a critical mass of debris from accumulating. Automated cleaning can be configured in the application settings, which will save you from having to do it manually. However, for a really deep cleaning, this may not be enough and manual intervention will be required.
☑️ Standard cleaning algorithm
Manual cleaning through the file manager
For more advanced users, manual cleaning through the file manager is available. On POCO X3 NFC, it is recommended to use Xiaomi's File Manager or third-party solutions like Google Files. Go to the root directory and pay attention to folders with application names that you haven't used in a long time.
Pay special attention to the Android folder, which contains data and obb subfolders, which store cache and game data, and deleting the folder with the name of the remote game is safe and frees up space, but be careful: removing active application folders will reset their settings and delete saves if they are not synced with the cloud.
Also worth checking is the messenger folders. Android/media/com.whatsapp or similar directory for Telegram can contain old videos and images. You can delete them if they are not valuable. Using file size sorting will help you quickly find heavyweights.
The path to Telegram's cache:
/internal_storage/Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/cache- 🗑️ Removing Remote Applications in /Android/data.
- 🎞️ Cleaning Video and Image folders inside messenger directories.
- 📂 Find files with.tmp and.log extensions at the root of memory.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.obb extension for games you continue to play, which will result in the need to re-upload gigabyte data when you start the game.
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Use the file manager's Sort by Size feature to instantly see the largest files hidden in the Other folder, saving you time to search for garbage.
Clearing the cache of specific applications
The most effective way to reduce the size of the “Other” folder is to work with the cache of individual applications. Messengers and social networks tend to accumulate gigabytes of temporary data. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, select the desired application (for example, Telegram) and go to the “Memory” section.
Here you'll see the Clear Cache button. Clicking on it will delete temporary files, but it won't affect your personal correspondence or accounts. For some apps like YouTube or Spotify, clearing the cache can even speed up their work by eliminating fragmented temporary data. Cache is a buffer zone, and cleaning it regularly is useful.
In the case of Telegram, there is a built-in memory management tool that is often more efficient than the system one. In the settings of the app itself, look for the Data and Memory section → Memory Use, where you can set up automatic cache cleanup, such as deleting files older than 3 days or weeks.
| Annex | Location of cleaning settings | Security of removal | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings → Data and memory | High (keeps chat rooms) | Once a week. |
| Settings → Data and Storage | Tall. | Once a month | |
| YouTube | Phone settings → Applications | Tall. | As necessary |
| Phone settings → Applications | Medium (may require entry) | Once a month |
Why does the cache take up so much space?
Use of third-party utilities and ADB
If standard methods did not give the desired result, you can resort to the help of specialized software. Applications like Clean Master (with caution) or SD Maid are able to find "orphaned" files left after removing programs. SD Maid is especially recommended by experienced users for transparency of actions and the absence of intrusive advertising.
For advanced users, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) cleaning method is available, which allows you to remove system debris that is hidden from the average user. By connecting your phone to your computer and enabling USB debugging, you can execute commands to clean specific cache partitions. It's a powerful tool that requires care.
Using ADB commands allows you to clear dalvik cache and other system temporary files without superuser rights. However, misuse of commands can lead to the removal of important system components. Always check commands before entering them into the terminal.
adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999- 💻 Connection through USB and activation of debugging USB.
- 📲 Installation of drivers ADB computer.
- ⌨️ Input of commands to clean the system cache.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Introducing the wrong command can lead to the deletion of system files and disrupt the Android operating system.
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Third-party utilities and ADB-Commands are "heavy artillery." Use them only if embedded means. MIUI They can’t clean the “other” folder».
Prevention and optimization of storage
To keep the problem of overflowing the Other folder from returning, it is important to maintain digital hygiene. Regularly check the settings for auto-save media in instant messengers. Disabling auto-upload videos to WhatsApp and Telegram will significantly reduce the rate of cache growth.
Use cloud storage to archive old files. Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or MI Cloud allow you to free up local space by saving access to media files over the Internet. POCO X3 NFC also allows you to use a microSD card to store photos and music, unloading internal memory.
Resetting your phone periodically is also helpful, helping the system reset temporary files and complete the hanging processes that can generate debris. The simple habit of rebooting your phone once a week can extend the life of its memory.