How to Clean the Other tab on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with Instructions and Warnings

The Other tab on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most mysterious to users, which can take up gigabytes of memory, but does not clearly understand what files are hidden behind this section, most often it accumulates cache of system applications, temporary data, remnants of deleted programs and utility files that MIUI does not classify as standard categories (photos, videos, documents).

The problem is that standard cleaning tools (e.g., Settings → Memory) often don’t work well with this section, and users are faced with a situation where the free space on the device runs out and the Other tab takes 10, 20 or even 30 GB — and it’s not clear how to reduce it. In this article, we’ll discuss unique cleaning methods, including hidden MIUI features and third-party tools that do not cause system failures.

What is the “Other” tab on Xiaomi and why is it clogged?

The Other tab is the garbage bin of MIUI, which contains files that do not fit into the standard categories.

• 🗑️ Cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home, com.android.systemui)
• 📁 Temporary update files (firmware residues, packages) OTA)
• 🔄 Remnants of Remote Applications (Incorrectly Uninstalled) APK, data)
• 📊 Logs and dumps of the system (debugging files created in case of failures)
• 🎮 Game data (save, cache) Unity/Unreal Engines that are not recognized as “Applications»)

The main reason for the growth of this partition is the peculiarities of MIUI working with memory. Unlike “pure” Android, the shell Xiaomi aggressively caches data to speed up work, but does not always delete it correctly. For example, after updating the firmware, temporary files can remain in memory for months, taking up to several gigabytes.

Another nuance: some apps (especially games and social networks) store data in non-standard folders, which MIUI classifies as “Other” – for example, TikTok or Facebook cache can take up to 5 GB, but it does not appear in the “Apps” section.

Method 1: Cleaning through the built-in MIUI storage

The safest method is to use standard MIUI tools, which are suitable for users who do not want to risk data or install third-party programs.

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Tap on the “Other” section (may be called “Other Files” in older versions of MIUI).
3. Wait for the analysis (may take 1-2 minutes).
4. Click on “Clean” or select specific file categories (such as “Cache” or “Downloads”).

🔹 Method limitation: The built-in utility often cleans only surface files, leaving the deep data intact. If the Other partition takes more than 5 GB, this method will help to free up no more than 1-2 GB.

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Before cleaning, restart your smartphone – this will help MIUI analyze unnecessary files more accurately.

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager

Deeper cleaning requires access to hidden folders, using a standard Files by Xiaomi or a third-party manager (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).

📌 Key folders for cleaning:

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ — Remnants of remote applications (folders with names like com.example.app)
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/ — game cache (.obb files)
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ — temporary shell files (e.g., temporary shell files, debug_log)
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Download/ — Old downloads (especially.apk files)
• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — photo and video miniatures

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete folders with names com.android. or com.google. - this can cause system failures. Android/secure and Android/media, unless you are sure of their contents.

Delete the folders of remote applications in /Android/data/

Clean up the game cache in /Android/obb/

Check the /Download/ folder for unnecessary files

Remove the thumbnails in /DCIM/.thumbnails

Reboot the smartphone after cleaning-->

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a low-level device management tool that requires connecting your smartphone to your PC and basic command line knowledge.

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB-tools and execute the command:

adb shell pm trim-caches -d 1000000000

This command compulsorily clears the cache of all applications, including system applications (the number 1000000000 is the limit in bytes, here ~ 1 GB).

To clean up temporary update files, use:

adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*


adb shell rm -rf /cache/*

⚠️ Note: Do not use the rm commands. -rf /data/ rm -rf /system/ — This will result in a complete reset of the device or its “bricking».

Method 4: Third-party cleaning applications

If manual methods seem complicated, you can use specialized utilities, but be careful: many Google Play cleaners contain ads or collect data.

🔹 Tip: Before using third-party utilities, back up important data. Some applications (e.g, SD Maids may delete files that MIUI sees it as critical.

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Apps from Google Play cannot clean MIUI system files without root rights. Use ADB or manual methods for deep cleaning.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If the Other tab is more than 10 to 15 GB and is not cleared by any means, the last option is a complete reset of the device, a radical method that will delete all data, including photos, messages and installed applications.

📌 How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data”.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: after discharge MIUI It can take up to 5GB of storage to store system files. That's okay -- don't try to manually clean them.

🔹 Alternative: If you don't want to lose data, try updating your firmware through Fastboot.This method reinstalls the system but saves user files. Instructions for your model can be found on the Xiaomi.eu forum.

How to prevent the “Other” tab from being refilled?

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

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Clean the cache (do it once every 1-2 weeks).
• 🚫 Avoid cleaners with aggressive ads – they often create more trash than they remove.
• 📱 Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI Optimized memory management (e.g., in MIUI 14 improved cache cleanup).
• 🎮 Transfer the game cache to SD-card (if supported) Use the settings of a particular game or file manager to do this.
• 📁 Check the Download folder – many files (e.g, APK) They are automatically stored there and forgotten.

🔹 Hidden function MIUI: In some versions of the shell there is “Light mode” (Settings) → Special facilities → Light mode. It limits the background activity of applications, which reduces the amount of cache generated.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up the "Other" on Xiaomi