How to Clean the Other in Xiaomi Smartphone Memory: A Complete 2026 Guide

Why does the Other section take up gigabytes of memory on Xiaomi?

Have you ever gone to Settings → Memory on your Xiaomi and seen the Other partition take 10, 20, or even 30 GB? This is not a system bug — this is how Android classifies files that don’t fall into the standard categories (“Photos”, “Video”, “Apps”). This section includes system process cache, temporary update files, log files, remnants of deleted applications and even hidden messenger data.

The problem is that MIUI doesn't always clean up the garbage automatically, for example, after a major system update (MIUI 14 → MIUI 15), there may be gigabytes of unnecessary files in the Other section, or apps like Telegram and WhatsApp store media files in hidden folders that aren't visible in the gallery, but take up space. In this article, we'll discuss how to safely reduce the volume of the Other without the risk of breaking the smartphone.

⚠️ Important: Not all files in the Other section can be deleted, such as system log files (/data/log) We need to diagnose errors, and some of the services' cache will recover automatically when deleted, but this will temporarily slow down the phone, and we'll show you what you can clean and what you can leave.

Method 1: Integrated cleaning of MIUI (the safest method)

Start with the official tool that every Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone has, which is root-free and suitable even for beginners. Open Settings → Memory and click on the Clean button at the bottom of the screen. The system will scan the device and show how much space can be freed up in the Garbage Files section (some of which is just the Other).

However, the built-in cleanup does not delete all possible files, for example, it does not touch:

• 📁 Update cache MIUI (folder /cache)
• 📄 Log files of system applications (/data/log)
• 🖼️ Image and video miniatures (folder.thumbnails)
• 📱 Remnants of Remote Applications (Folders in the /data/data)

To clean these files, use Security (application from Xiaomi). Go to it, select Cleanup → Deep Cleanup and check boxes against System cache and Garbage files. After deep cleaning, the smartphone can reboot — that's normal, so MIUI recovers critical system files.

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager

If the built-in tools don't work, you can manually delete unnecessary files, and any file manager with access to hidden folders, such as Mi File Manager (pre-installed on Xiaomi) or Solid Explorer, will do this, and your task is to find and delete the following folders:

⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders called com.android., com.xiaomi. or com.google. - this is system data. /data/data without root rights, otherwise applications may stop working.

Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails|Remove old files from Download|Clear the cache in /Android/data/*/cache|Delete the log files in MIUI/debug_log (if there are no errors)-->

Method 3: Cleaning through ADB (for advanced users)

If you’re ready to use a computer, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help you delete files that aren’t available through the standard file manager.This method requires you to enable USB Debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).

Connect your smartphone to your PC, open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep 'apk$'

This command will show all the installed apps. To remove the cache of a particular app (like Facebook), use:

adb shell pm clear com.facebook.katana

To clean the system cache (folder /cache):

adb shell su -c 'rm -rf /cache/*'

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -rf It deletes files irrevocably if you go wrong (e.g., type in). /data instead /cache), This method can only be used if you are confident in your actions.

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Before using ADB, back up your important data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will take 5-10 minutes, but will save your data in case of an error.

Method 4: Resetting the cache in Recovery Mode

If previous methods didn’t work, try resetting the cache through Recovery Mode.This method doesn’t delete personal data, but clears the system cache, which can take several gigabytes. Turn off your smartphone, then press the Power button + Volume up before the Mi logo appears. In the recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation and power button for confirmation).

Once rebooted, the system will recover the necessary files and remove the unnecessary debris, a method that is especially useful after the MIUI update, when the old firmware files remain in memory.

Method 5: Use third-party apps (with caution!)

Google Play has dozens of memory cleanup apps, but most of them are either ineffective or dangerous. We've tested a few, and we can only recommend two:

• 🛡️ SD Maid (requires root for complete cleanup) – finds remnants of deleted applications and unnecessary files in system folders.
• 🧹 Files by Google – Securely clears cache and suggests removing duplicate files.

⚠️ Note: Do not use applications like Clean Master or CCleaner – they often show false “problems” to get you to buy a premium version.

If you choose to use SD Maid, turn on the “Show system files” option in your settings and manually check what you delete. For example, the /data/local/tmp folder usually contains temporary files that can be safely cleared.

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The side of memory cleanup applications often exaggerate the amount of junk they have, and always check what they suggest to delete before confirming the action.

What if the other one still takes up a lot of space?

If after all the manipulations, the Other section still occupies 10+ GB, the following reasons are possible:

1. Hidden backups – Some applications (such as Mi Cloud or Google Photos) create local copies of data in folders like /MIUI/backup.
2. MIUI error – sometimes the system misclassifies files, for example, a TikTok video may end up in “Other” instead of “Video”.
3. Viruses or malware – some programs mask their files as system. Check the device through Google Play Protect → Google → Security).

In extreme cases, you can make a complete reset (Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset) This will delete all data, but return the smartphone to a “clean” state. Before reset, be sure to transfer photos, contacts and other important data to the PC or cloud – recovery after reset does not always work correctly.

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