Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face a situation where internal storage suddenly becomes crowded. MIUI or HyperOS shows that a significant portion of the category is designated as “Other”, which becomes a repository for temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and messenger cache, which grows to tens of gigabytes.
Cleaning this partition requires not just deleting files, but understanding the structure of the Android file system. Standard cleaning tools often can’t get to deep system logs or buffered updates. You’ll have to become a digital plumber to eliminate the clog that’s slowing down your device.
In this article, we'll look at proven ways to free up space, learn how to safely remove excess without damaging the operating system's performance, and deep cleaning will bring your gadget back to speed.
Anatomy of the “Other” section in the Android system
The Other section is not a specific folder where files are folded, but rather a data aggregator that the system cannot classify as photos, videos, music or documents, including app cache, temporary installer files, error logs and residues after a firmware update. Often, messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp occupy the lion’s share of this space, storing the media files viewed in hidden directories.
System processes also contribute. Android backs up and temporary files to quickly download frequently used programs. Over time, this data is no longer useful, but continues to take up space. Understanding the nature of these files helps avoid removing critical components.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete files from system folders manually through the file manager unless you are sure of their purpose.
Analysis shows that update files that are not automatically deleted are the most heavyweight, and streaming services that cache videos for smoother playback are also included, and without regular cleaning, this snowball can absorb all free memory.
Why doesn't the system delete it itself?
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The first and safest step is to use a regular tool from Xiaomi. Security has access to system partitions that are closed to ordinary file managers. It can find duplicates, remnants of deleted programs and bloated cache.
Run the scan through the app menu. Once the analysis is complete, the system will suggest clearing the threats and debris found. However, standard cleaning is often superficial. For a deeper analysis, you need to go to the Cleanup section and carefully study the proposed categories.
- 🧹 Click on the “Clean” button to delete temporary system files.
- 📱 Select the "Applications" section to search for heavy social media cache.
- 🗑️ Use the Deep Clean feature to find large forgotten files.
- 📸 Check out the album "Recently Deleted" in the gallery through the cleaning menu.
It's important to note that cleaning up your app cache doesn't delete your personal correspondence or game progress, but it can reset some of the settings inside apps, such as themes or saved logins. Be prepared to re-sign in to some services. This is normal behavior when you deep-clean data.
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For maximum efficiency, clean up through the Security app after each major game installation or system update.
Manual cleaning through the file manager
If the automatic tools don't work, you'll have to use the manual method, you'll need a built-in Explorer or a more advanced analog, like Files by Google, to find and delete folders with temporary data that are often hidden in the root of internal memory.
Note folders called MIUI, Android (caution!), DCIM (basics only) and Download. Download often accumulates.apk installation files that are no longer needed once you install programs, and deleting them is safe and frees up considerable volume.
☑️ Checking hand folders
Pay special attention to messenger folders. Inside the Android/media directory or at the root of the memory, you can find folders Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber. Inside these folders are Cache or Images folders that grow to giant sizes. Deletion of the contents of the Cache folder is safe, Sent files can also be cleaned, because they are stored in the cloud or chat.
⚠️ Attention: In the folder Android/data You can find application data. Deleting folders from specific programs can reset their settings or progress.
After manually deleting files, remember to clear the bin in the file manager itself. Often users forget this step, wondering why the space didn't vacate. Only completely removing it from the bin permanently erases the data from the drive.
Cleaning cache and data of specific applications
Social networks and navigators are usually the most voracious. Telegram, Instagram, Yandex.Maps and YouTube create huge amounts of temporary data, and they are most effectively managed through the system settings menu, rather than through the file manager.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find a heavy app on the list. Inside the program menu, you're interested in two items: "Memory" or "Storage," where you'll see a clear separation between the size of the application, user data and cache.
Click Clear Cache. This is a secure operation that deletes temporary files, speeding up the application and freeing up space. If you choose Clear All Data, the application will return to a post-installing state: all accounts will be logged out, settings will be reset, offline maps and downloads will disappear.
| Annex | Type of data | Is it safe to remove? | Effects of consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Cash. | Yes. | Photos in chat rooms will be uploaded again |
| Google Maps | Cash cart. | Yes. | Map downloads will speed up, but you need the internet |
| Cash. | Yes. | Resetting of time tape data | |
| Chrome | History and cash | Yes. | You will need to re-enter the sites. |
Specifics of cleaning messengers Telegram and WhatsApp
Messengers deserve special attention, as they are often the main reason for filling in the “Other” section. Unlike a regular cache, it stores media files that the user may not even open, but they are already downloaded to the device’s memory.
Telegram has a built-in and very powerful memory management tool. Go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use. Not only can you clear the cache with a single button, but you can also set up automatic file deletion. Set a limit, for example, "3 days" or "1 week", and the messenger will delete old files, freeing up space in real time.
On WhatsApp, the situation is similar, but the menu is in Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. The system will show a list of chats sorted by location. You can go into a specific dialog and selectively delete heavy videos or documents, leaving text messages intact.
⚠️ Note: When clearing the Telegram cache, make sure you have access to the phone number for re-authorization, in case the app decides it needs to be reinstalled.
It is also recommended to disable auto-save media in the gallery, which will prevent duplicate files: they will lie in the messenger cache, but will not be copied to the shared DCIM folder, which is also often considered as “Other” or just superfluous photos.
Radical methods: Resetting and flashing
If none of the soft methods helped to free up space and the Other section continues to inflate, there may have been errors in the file system or accumulated system debris that cannot be removed, in which case the last resort is a complete reset to factory settings.
Before the Hard Reset procedure, be sure to back up all important data to the Google or Mi Cloud cloud, and copy photos and documents to your computer. The process will completely destroy all information on the device, returning it to the “out of the box” state.
Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all dataOnce reset, the system will be clean, without the accumulated debris over the years, the Other section will take up the smallest possible amount. It's the most efficient way, but it takes time to reset the phone and install the apps. Use this method if other options have run out.
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A complete reset is the only guaranteed solution to remove file system errors that cause the Other partition to inflate.