How to Clean the Others section on Xiaomi Redmi 7A: The Complete Guide

Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 7A face an inexorable shortage of space. Despite the modest amount of internal memory initially, the situation is made worse by the fact that a significant part of the storage begins to occupy the mysterious “Other” or “Other” section of the system analyzer, which often grows to 5-10 gigabytes, turning the device into an agonizing experience due to constant notifications of space shortage.

The nature of these files is rooted in the way the Android-based MIUI works. The system accumulates temporary data, error logs, remnants of remote applications and multimedia messenger cache, not counting them as important to the user, but not deleting them automatically. Clearing the Other section requires a comprehensive approach, since the standard Cleanup button in the security menu is often powerless against deeply hidden system files.

In this article, we will take a closer look at secure memory freeup methods that don’t require superuser (Root) rights, learn how to find hidden junk folders, clean the cache of popular apps, and use system tools to optimize your Redmi 7A’s storage.

The Anatomy of the Other: What’s Hiding There

Before taking drastic action to delete data, you need to understand what the volume of the Other partition actually consists of. In the terminology of the MIUI shell, this partition is not a separate physical disk, but a logical grouping of files that the system cannot uniquely classify as Photos, Applications or Documents.

A significant portion of the volume is occupied by so-called “orphaned” files, which belonged to remote applications but were not properly cleaned from the system, and also stores logs, error reports and temporary files created during the installation of updates. Social media cache and messengers are often disguised as this section, especially if the files were viewed but not saved to the gallery.

Another reason for the partition bloat may be the remnants of system updates. When you update the Xiaomi Redmi 7A firmware “over the air”, the installation package can remain in memory even after the successful installation of a new version of the OS. Sometimes there are data streaming services that caches video for smooth playback, but do not mark these files as user.

• 📂 Residual files of remote applications and games that take up gigabytes.
• 📝 System logs and error reports that accumulate over months.
• 🎞️ Video cache from YouTube, TikTok and Instagram not visible in the gallery.
• 🔄 Backup files and residues of previous firmware versions.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to delete files from system folders through third-party root file managers without knowing exactly what they are for. Deleting critical libraries can lead to a "bootloop" (cyclical reboot) of your Redmi 7A.

Understanding the structure of this data allows for point-by-point action. Blindly removing all the contents of the Android folder or system directories can disrupt installed programs, so the first step to cleaning up is always analyzing what exactly occupies space, not just formatting partitions.

Basic cleaning through standard MIUI tools

The first step in the fight for space is always to build tools, because they are the safest tools for system stability. The MIUI shell has a Security app that contains the Cleanup module. Although it often doesn't see the entire scope of the Other section, the correct usage algorithm allows you to remove a significant amount of debris.

To start a deep cleanup, open the Security app and select Cleanup. After the initial scan, click on the Garbage icon to run a more detailed analysis. The system will suggest removing temporary files, but often hides larger files under the Clean All button only after you re-click or go to Extended Mode. It is important not to miss the Big Files tab, where forgotten video archives may be hiding.

Special attention should be paid to the Deep Clean feature in the same application, which analyzes the contents of application folders and suggests removing unused installer packages (APKs), duplicate photos and empty folders. Auto-cleaning in the settings of the same application will help maintain order in the future if you set up a schedule.

However, it is worth remembering that standard tools often bypass the cache of messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, considering them user data. Therefore, after the work of the standard utility, the volume of “Other” may decrease slightly, which is the norm and requires a transition to manual methods.

Manual cleaning of the cache of messengers and social networks

The biggest memory eater on a modern smartphone is messengers, apps like Telegram, Viber and WhatsApp store every image and video viewed in a special cache, which the system often refers to as “other” section, and this data should be cleaned directly inside the settings of the applications themselves, since the standard file manager does not always correctly process their structure.

In the case of Telegram, which is famous for its unlimited cloud storage, the cache can grow to tens of gigabytes. To clear it, go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use. Here you will see the “Clear Cache” button. Importantly, this action will not remove your correspondence or media files from the cloud, they will be re-downloaded the next time you browse, but will free up space on the Redmi 7A drive.

For WhatsApp, the situation is a little different, as it stores backups and media files locally. Go to Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. The system will suggest removing files larger than 5 MB or clearing the entire cache. Be careful: deleting media files on WhatsApp can delete them from chats permanently if you don't make a backup.

Regularly checking these settings once a month will help avoid critical overflows. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7A with their limited storage capacity is especially important, as even a couple of gigabytes of free space significantly speed up the system.

Using Developer Mode and Debugging

One of the hidden sources of debris in the Others section is the debugging logs and logs that the system keeps for developers.Developer mode is disabled by default on Redmi 7A, but if you've ever turned it on for file transfer or debugging, those logs could have accumulated.

To activate the developer menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on MIUI Version. Once activation notification appears, go back to Advanced Settings → For Developers. Find Debugging and select Selective Cleanup or Clear Logs (the name may vary depending on the Android version).

Also on the developer menu, check the settings for the background limit. If there is a "No Limits" limit, applications can create many temporary files. Setting a "No More than 2-3 Processes" value will help the system to more aggressively unload background tasks and clear their temporary data, which indirectly affects the size of the "Other" partition.

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Periodically reboot your smartphone to Safe Mode to check if a third-party application is creating an excessive amount of temporary files. If the Other is not growing in Safe Mode, the problem is in the particular application.

Remember that after using the debugging functions, it is better to disable the developer mode itself to avoid accidental changes in system parameters that can affect the stability of MIUI. This is especially important for less experienced users.

Analysis of storage by third-party utilities

When embedded tools are powerless, specialized disk space analysis applications come to the rescue, programs like DiskUsage or Files by Google allow you to visualize memory in diagrams, showing which folders and files are taking up space, which gives you an idea of what is hidden under the label “Other”.

When using these slits, it's important to be careful. The app will show you all the files, including the system files. Your task is to find large files with extensions.tmp,.log or folders with names of remote applications. Data visualization helps you quickly identify anomalies, such as a 2 GB folder left over from a game you deleted a week ago.

However, be careful when deleting files through third-party analyzers. Only delete what is 100% sure. System files are better not to touch, even if they seem large. After removing the debris found, be sure to restart the device so that the system recalculates the file index and the space displayed correctly.

• 🔍 DiskUsage is the best tool for visual analysis of folder structure.
• 🧹 Files by Google – a safe cleaner with smart duplicate detection.
• 📊 Storage Analyzer – shows memory filling graphs by file type.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid accelerators and cleaners of dubious origin, which promise to increase memory at times. Often they are virus writers or miners who will even more clog your Redmi. 7A junk.

Using proven tools from well-known developers (Google, developers with a good rating in the Play Market) ensures that you do not harm the file system of your smartphone.

Radical measures: Resetting and reflashing

If none of the above methods worked, and the Others section continues to grow, occupying a critical volume, the last, but most effective method is a complete factory reset. This action completely cleans the user partition, removing all accumulated system debris, file system errors and remnants of remote programs.

Before you reset, it is critical to back up all your important data. Use Mi Cloud, Google Photos, or copy files to your computer. The reset process will delete everything: contacts, photos, apps, and settings. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Restore and Reset → Reset.

Once reset, the phone will go back to the box-like state, the Other section will be minimal. To keep the problem from coming back right away, don't restore the app backup wholesale. Install the apps you really need, and that will help you avoid returning old junk with the programs.

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A complete reset is not a panacea if you immediately restore a full copy of the system with all the errors, but it is better to set the phone as new by installing the applications selectively.

In rare cases, when even a reset does not help (which happens when the eMMC file system itself is damaged), it may be necessary to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility. This is a more complex procedure that requires unlocking the bootloader, and it is recommended only for advanced users.

Memory Filling Prevention on Redmi 7A

To avoid the problem of crowded “Other” in the future, you need to implement simple habits of using a smartphone. Xiaomi Redmi 7A is a device with limited memory resources, so it requires more attention than flagship models. Regular maintenance is more important than emergency cleaning.

First of all, disable auto-save statuses on WhatsApp and auto-upload media to Telegram. Configure messengers to ask permission before uploading heavy videos, which will prevent gigabytes of unnecessary cache from accumulating in the background.

Second, make it a rule to check the Downloads and Recycle Bin folder in the gallery once a week, removing unnecessary screenshots, memes and saved documents will prevent them from migrating to the Others section when the system algorithms are running, and regularly delete applications that you have stopped using.

Finally, keep an eye out for system updates. Xiaomi periodically releases patches that optimize the file system and fix bugs that cause memory leaks. Up-to-date firmware is key to stable operation and less system debris.

Compliance with these simple guidelines will allow your Redmi 7A to work quickly and responsively even after years of use. Memory is a valuable resource, and competent management of it prolongs the life of a budget smartphone.