How to completely clean the folder “Other” on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 without harming the system

The Other folder on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is a real black hole for internal memory, which takes up gigabytes of space, but does not display specific files that can be manually deleted. Users often face a situation where the smartphone shows “Memory is full”, even though photos, videos and applications occupy only half the available volume. Everything else is a mysterious “Other” section, which MIUI stubbornly hides from the owner’s eyes.

In this article, we’ll look at what’s stored in the Other folder on Redmi Note 8, which files can be deleted without risk to the system, and which cannot be touched. You’ll learn about 5 working cleaning methods, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party utilities, and we’ll analyze why The Other is being filled up so quickly again, and how to prevent this problem in the future.

Important: the cleaning methods described below, tested specifically on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (models M1908C3JG, M1908C3JH, M1908C3JE) with firmware MIUI 12-14. on other Xiaomi devices, the paths to system folders and available options may vary.

What is the “Other” folder and why does it take up so much space?

The “Other” section of MIUI is a collective name for all files that the system cannot categorize as standard (Images, Videos, Audio, etc.).

• 🗑️ Application cache and systems are temporary files that are created to speed up programs, such as thumbnails of images in a gallery or autocomplete data in a browser.
• 📄 Logs and dumps are error reporting files (.log,.dmp) that MIUI malfunction.
• 🔄 Remnants of remote applications – folders and settings of programs that you have long uninstalled, but their “tails” remained in the system.
• 📁 Hidden Android folders – system directories like /data/dalvik-cache or /data/app-lib, which are not displayed in the standard file manager.
• 🔒 Encrypted data – files that are protected DRM (For example, streaming video cache from Netflix or Disney+).

On the Redmi Note 8, the Other folder can grow to 5-15GB — which is normal for a device that has been in use for more than a year.

On the Redmi Note. 8 before 30% The "Other" folder can be duplicated by cache that MIUI It does not automatically delete after system updates, for example, after switching from MIUI 12 on MIUI 13 Old optimization files remain in the folder /data/system/package_cache, though they are no longer in use.

Method 1: Clearing the cache through MIUI settings

The safest method is to use built-in tools, which are suitable for beginners and do not require root rights.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Scroll down the list, the heaviest apps will be at the top, and tap any of them.
4. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
5. For complete cleaning, click Space Management → Clear all data (⚠️ This will remove the application settings!).

Pay special attention to the following programs – they often accumulate unnecessary cache:

• 📷 Gallery (miniatures and previews)
• 🌐 Browser (including) MIUI Browser and Chrome)
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp – cache of stickers and media)
• 🎮 Games (especially with 3D-graphics, such as Genshin Impact or PUBG)

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications like com.android.systemui or com.miui.home – this can cause interface failures. MIUI. If after cleaning the launcher stopped working, restart the phone.

Clear the Gallery cache|Delete the data MIUI Browser|Check Telegram for unnecessary media|Clear the cache of Google Play Services|Remove the old ones APK from the Download folder-->

Method 2: Removing garbage through Security App

The Security app (the shield icon) in MIUI has a built-in cleaner that can find files from the Other section.

1. Launch the Security app.
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (or Boost in newer versions).
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for the scan.
4. In the section Garbage files mark: 🗑️ Residual files (remainders of remote programs) 📝 Journals (logs of the system) 🔍 Cash miniatures (from the Gallery)

Clean up

The advantage of this method is that Security analyzes files deeper than a standard application manager and can find up to 1-3 GB of hidden debris. However, it does not apply to system folders, so additional steps will be required to completely clean up.

⚠️ Warning: If you lose your browser passwords or call history after deep cleaning, you can't restore them. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 3: Manually clean through file manager (with or without root rights)

For advanced users who are ready to dig through system folders, there is a way to manually remove garbage. You will need a file manager with access to root directories, such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer.

If you don’t have root permissions, you can still clear some of the folders:

1. Install MiXplorer and enable the display of hidden files in the settings.
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ This is where the application data is stored. Delete folders of programs you have deleted long ago (such as game remnants or test versions of instant messengers).
3. Check the folder: /storage/emulated/0/Download/ Remove old APKs, archives and unnecessary downloads.

Method 4: Resetting cache via Recovery Mode

If standard methods didn’t work and the Other folder still takes gigabytes, try resetting the cache through Restore Mode.This won’t delete your data, but will clear the system partition.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the Redmi Note 8.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10 seconds until the MIUI logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons to navigate and select Wipe & Reset.
4. Then select Wipe Cache (Do not choose Wipe Data – it will erase all your files!).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-3 minutes).
6. Restart your phone through Reboot → System.

This method cleanses:

• 🔄 Cash. Dalvik/ART (Speeds up the system after restarting).
• 🗑️ Temporary update files MIUI.
• 📝 Failure logs and dumps.

⚠️ Warning: After a cache is reset, the first turn on of the Redmi Note 8 can take up to 5-10 minutes - this is normal. MIUI.

💡

If after cleaning the cache through Recovery, the phone began to work faster, but the memory is still busy, check the /data/media/0/MIUI/backup/ folder - there may be old backups up to several gigabytes.

Method 5: Using ADB for deep cleaning (for the experienced)

If you're familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can delete junk files via the command line.This method requires connecting your phone to your PC and installing ADB Tools.

Steps:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
2. Connect Redmi Note 8 to your PC and open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter commands in turn: adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery # Clear Gallery cache pm clear com.android.providers.media # Reset media storage rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files rm -rf /data/log/* # Clear logs

To remove the cache of a particular application, use the command:

adb shell pm clear name.packet

You can find out the name of the package through the App Inspector app or the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

💡

ADB-commands allow you to clear files that are not available through standard settings, but their improper use can disrupt the work MIUI. Always check the commands before executing.

How to Prevent Filling in the “Other” Folder in the Future

To prevent the “Other” folder from growing again, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Regular cleaning: Set a cache cleanup reminder once every 2 weeks. Use automatic cleaning in the Security app (included in the settings).
• 🚫 Limit the cache of messengers: In Telegram and WhatsApp, set a limit on downloading media files: → Data and memory → Autoboot media.
• 📱 Use lighter versions of apps: For example, Facebook Lite instead of the main client or Chrome Go instead of the standard Chrome.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI: New firmware versions have optimized cache cleanup mechanisms. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📁 Transfer files to memory card: If you have a Redmi Note 8 with microSD support, set up photo and video saving to an external drive.

On the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 14 and later, there is a hidden Smart Clean feature that automatically deletes unnecessary files when memory is scarce. To activate it, type ##3646633## in the Security app and select Storage → Auto Clean.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the "Other" folder