The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still popular years later for its balanced performance and reliability. However, over time, many users are faced with the mysterious category of “Other Files” in the “Storage” section, which takes up gigabytes of memory and is not amenable to standard cleaning. What are these files? Can they be deleted without risk to the system? And why do they reappear after cleaning?
In this article, we will discuss all types of “other files” on the Redmi Note. 7 — from the app cache to the update residues MIUI, We will also show you safe and dangerous ways to remove them, learn how to distinguish system debris from important data, what tools to use (including hidden features). MIUI), And how to prevent re-clogging of memory, and we'll focus on the unique problems of this model, like partition errors. /data/miui After updates or conflicts with Google Services.
If your smartphone shows that Other Files take up 10+GB and standard Settings → Storage cleaning doesn’t help, you’re not alone. Statistically, up to 40% of Redmi Note 7 users are experiencing this problem due to the eMMC 5.1 memory architecture and Xiaomi’s storage policy. But the good news is that 90% of this garbage can be manually removed without having to reset.
What are the “Other Files” on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7?
The Others category in the storage menu is a container for all the data that the system has failed to classify.
- 🗑️ Remains of remote applications (cache, settings, temporary files).
- 🔄 Update files MIUI (zip packages, installation logs).
- 📁 System dumps and logs (created when failures or diagnostics occur).
- 🤖 Google Services and other system processes.
- 🎮 Game data (saves, downloaded resources).
On the Redmi Note 7, this category is often inflated for two key reasons:
- EMMC 5.1 memory architecture: Slower than UFS, it does worse at cleaning temporary files.
A critical nuance: on the Redmi Note 7, up to 30% of the “other files” can be occupied by hidden /data/app-asec and /data/dalvik-cache folders, which are not visible without root rights.
Safe cleaning methods without root rights
If you don’t have superuser rights, start with standard methods that won’t harm the system.
1. Cleaning the app cache
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 Sort by size and select the heaviest apps (e.g. Facebook, Google Play Services).
- 🧹 Click on “Clear Cache” (not data!).
2. Delete downloaded update files
MIUI saves service packs in /sdcard/Download/rom. These can be manually removed through any file manager (e.g. Mi File Explorer).
3.Use of built-in cleaner
Run "Security" → "Cleanup" → "Deep Cleanup." This tool finds up to 1-2 GB of garbage not available through the standard storage menu.
Cleaning Hidden Folders (for Power Users)
If standard methods don't work, you'll have to work with hidden system folders.
A list of safe folders to clean (via a file manager with root access, such as FX File Explorer):
| folder | What it keeps. | Can I remove it? |
|---|---|---|
| /data/local/tmp | Temporary file systems processes | Yeah, totally. |
| /sdcard/Android/obb | Additional game data (cache, textures) | Yeah, but the games will have to be reinstalled. |
| /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log | MIUI's error logs | Yeah, unless there's a problem with the system. |
| /data/dalvik-cache | Android virtual machine cache | Only when reset to factory settings! |
☑️ Preparation for manual cleaning
⚠️ Attention: Folder /data/app-asec It contains encrypted application data, and if it's cleaned without root rights, it'll lead to errors like, "Application not installed».
Using ADB for deep cleaning
If you are ready to work with the command line, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help remove garbage that is not available through the GUI.
Step-by-step:
- Install ADB Tools on your PC.
- Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the version number → return to Additional → For developers).
- Connect Redmi Note 7 to your PC and execute commands: adb shell pm clear com.miui.cleanmaster # Clean up the standard rm -rf /data/local/tmp/* # Delete temporary files
💡
Before using ADB, check that Settings → Additional → For developers, the option “Allow debugging over USB” is enabled (in some firmware, it is hidden behind additional confirmation).
⚠️ Note: pm clear will reset the settings of the app that is being cleaned, for example, pm clear com.android.vending will delete the Google Play Market data and you will have to log in again.
Cleaning through TWRP (for users with unlocked bootloader)
If your Redmi Note 7 has a custom TWRP recap, you can use it to deep-clean system partitions.
- 🗃️ Firmware residues in /cache and /data/dalvik-cache.
- 🔄 Incorrectly installed updates.
- 🧹 Artifacts after resetting settings.
Instructions:
- Load to TWRP (clip Power + Volume Up).
- Select "Advanced» → «File Manager».
- Move to the /data and delete the folders: /data/system/package_cache /data/local/tmp /data/log
- Return to the main menu and run "Wipe" → "Advanced Wipe" by marking Dalvik/ART Cache and Cache.
What if TWRP doesn’t see a folder in /data?
How to prevent re-clogging of memory
To prevent Other Files from taking up gigabytes again, follow these guidelines:
1.Tune in automatic cleaning
- 🤖 Include “Autocleaning” in Security → Cleanup → Settings (set a schedule, for example, once a week).
- 📊 Limit cache for individual applications: Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Warehouse → Limit the cache.
2.Controll MIUI updates
Turn off automatic download of updates:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Slip on the three dots in the top right corner → “Update settings” → turn off “Download over Wi-Fi”.
3. Use lightweight alternatives to heavy applications
| Annex | The alternative | Saving memory |
|---|---|---|
| Hermit Lite or Frost | Up to 500MB | |
| Google Chrome | Bromite or Firefox Lite | Up to 300MB |
| Google Maps | OsmAnd~ (with offline maps) | Up to 1GB |
💡
Regular cache cleaning and disabling MIUI auto-updates reduce the volume of “other files” by 40-60% in a month.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many Redmi Note 7 users make critical cleaning errors that cause failures.
1. Delete /data/dalvik-cache folder without resetting
This will lead to a cyclical reboot of the phone, and if you've already done that, the only way out is to reset via Fastboot.
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot reboot2. Clean /data/app-lib manually
This folder contains application libraries, and deleting it will cause "App has stopped" errors when you run any software.
3.Using "cleaners" from the Play Market
Applications like Clean Master or CCleaner often delete important MIUI files, which results in:
- 🚫 Loss of design themes.
- 🔕 Failures in Google Services.
- 📵 Problems with connecting to the mobile network.