Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 smartphone often face a situation when the internal memory of the device suddenly runs out, and a detailed analysis of the storage reveals that the lion’s share of space is occupied by a mysterious section called “The Other”, which can grow to tens of gigabytes, sometimes occupying up to 40-50% of the total available volume, which causes serious discomfort when using the gadget.
The emergence of a large amount of data in this category is not a critical system error, but rather a consequence of the accumulation of temporary files, application cache, residual data after deleted programs and system logs. Cleaning the “Other” section on Redmi Note 7 requires a systematic approach, since standard methods of deleting files here often prove to be powerless.
Don't panic if you see a partition bloated to 10 or 20 gigabytes, which is typical of MIUI-based devices that are used to watch videos, communicate in instant messengers, and install a variety of applications, and clean up properly to get the device back to speed and avoid constant notifications of space shortages.
Analysis of the contents of the “Other” section
Before you start taking any radical action, you need to understand what exactly occupies space on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. The “Other” section is a collective image for all files that the system cannot classify as images, videos, music or documents, this includes archives, APK installation files, browser cache and instant messenger data.
Often users are unaware that social networks and video applications are the main sources of garbage. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store every photo and video they view into hidden folders that the standard memory analyzer perceives as system garbage, and streaming services that store buffered data for smooth playback also occupy a significant part.
For an accurate diagnosis, we recommend using a built-in storage analyzer that will show the big picture, but it does not always detail the contents of the Other folder.
⚠️ Note: Before you start any manipulation of system files or folders, we strongly advise you to back up important data on a cloud server or computer to eliminate the risk of accidental loss of information.
System logs and error reports can also be a big deal. If an application is not working properly and is constantly generating reports, they can stealthily eat a few gigabytes in a short time. On the Redmi Note 7, with its not-so-newest version of Android, this is especially true.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The easiest and safest way to start fighting overcrowded memory is to use Xiaomi’s standard tool, which is pre-installed on every device and contains a powerful cleaning module that automatically scans the device for temporary files and cache.
Run the app and select Clean. The system will suggest removing the debris it found. However, standard cleaning often only affects the surface layer. To do more, go to Clean and click Deep Clean, where you can find large files, duplicates, and rarely used applications.
And you should pay special attention to the Apps tab inside the cleaning tool, and you can see how much space each individual program cache takes up, and cache cleaning is a safe operation that doesn't delete your personal emails or logins, but it frees up a lot of space.
☑️ Checklist of primary cleaning
If the Other section is still large after the standard procedure, then some files are hidden deeper or have specific extensions that the MIUI analyzer does not recognize as garbage, in which case you need to move to manual methods.
Manual cleaning through the conductor
Manual requires more care, but it gives you the best results. You'll need a standard File Manager app. Go to your phone's storage settings and find the MIUI folder or root directory to assess the scale of the problem. Often, the garbage is hidden in the Download or Bluetooth folder.
First, check the messenger folders. The path usually looks like this: Internal drive → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Media. This is where all the files you receive and send are stored. The same structure in Telegram: Android → data → org.telegram.messenger → files.
Deleting the contents of Cache folders inside app directories is safe.However, be careful with Databases or Files folders, where important documents can be stored. On the Redmi Note 7, navigating the file system can be a bit confusing due to Android limitations, but the main folders are usually available.
Hidden folders in Android
It's also worth checking out the DCIM →.thumbnails folder, which is a hidden folder that stores thumbnails of your photos and videos, and over time, it can grow to incredible sizes, taking 2-3 gigabytes or more, and removing the contents of this folder is safe, and the system will recreate it if necessary.
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
Messengers are the main culprits behind the inflated “Other” section on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. Telegram’s mechanism, for example, involves caching all viewed media files for quick download when reopened. If you don’t set up auto-clean, this cache will grow indefinitely.
In Telegram itself, go to Settings → Data and Memory → Memory Use. You can see the amount of cache you have occupied and clear it with a single button. You should also set a cache autodelete timer, such as “3 days” or “1 week”, which will prevent the accumulation of garbage in the future.
WhatsApp is similar, but memory management is in Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Management. Here you can select the chats that take up the most space and remove attachments. Often users forget about the groups where they constantly send videos, and they occupy the bulk.
| Annex | Path to cache (example) | Is it safe to remove? | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Settings within the application | Yes. | Once a week. |
| Settings → Data and Storage | Yeah (investment) | Once a month | |
| Viber | Settings → Memory | Yes. | Once a month |
| Phone settings → Applications | Yeah (cash) | If necessary, |
Remember that cleaning the cache inside apps doesn’t delete your correspondence if it’s stored on a server (like Telegram), but it’s important to have a backup in Google Drive before any manipulation of the application files.
Use of third-party utilities for analysis
If the built-in MIUI doesn't give you the full picture, Google Play's specialized apps come to the rescue, and one of the most effective tools is DiskUsage, which visualizes the file system as a graphics card, where each rectangle is the size of a file or folder.
DiskUsage can instantly show which file occupies the most space in the Other section, often a forgotten movie that was mistakenly downloaded to the system folder, or a log file that is several gigabytes in size, and the program works without root rights, although they are more functional.
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Use the DiskUsage app in Memory Map mode to visually find the largest files, which is much more efficient than snooping through folders manually in a standard Explorer.
Another useful utility is Files by Google, which has a built-in algorithm for finding garbage and duplicates that often works more accurately than Xiaomi's standard analyzer. The app securely deletes temporary files and suggests clearing the app cache.
When using third-party software, always check what exactly you are going to delete.Delete system files through third-party utilities on the Redmi Note 7 root-free is usually blocked by the system, which is a good security mechanism, but it is always worth checking the path to the file before you can get it back_CONFIRM_removal.
Radical methods: Resetting and flashing
In cases where the Other partition takes up an unrealistically large volume (for example, 40-50 GB out of 64 GB) and nothing helps, the last option is a complete reset, which is guaranteed to clear all partitions, including hidden system errors and logs.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. Importantly, this operation will delete ALL data from the phone, including photos, contacts and apps. So pre-backup is critical.
⚠️ Before performing a full reset, make sure that the battery charge of the Redmi Note 7 is at least 60%, and that you remember the password from your Mi Account and Google account, otherwise after the reset, the device may be blocked.
An alternative to a complete reset is to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool, a more complex method that requires downloading the official firmware, and is useful if the problem is caused by a software failure of the MIUI operating system itself.
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A complete factory reset is the most effective way to clear the Other section if other methods didn’t help, but it requires a mandatory backup of the data.
After the reset, the system will be clean and the Other section will take up as much as possible, and it is recommended to carry out regular preventive cleaning in the future so that the situation does not recur.
Prevention of memory overflow
To avoid the problem of overcrowded storage on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, you should change your smartphone usage habits, first of all, disable auto-save media files in the gallery for instant messengers, this will prevent duplication of files into system memory.
Check the Downloads and Recycle Bin folder in the gallery regularly, at least once a month. Deleting deleted photos from the shopping cart often frees up unexpected amounts of memory. It is also useful to use cloud storage for photos and videos by enabling the Free Space feature.
Do not install apps from unknown sources. Third-party programs often contain ad modules that generate hidden debris. Use only proven software from Google Play.