How to Clean the Other in Xiaomi Redmi Memory: The Complete 2026 Guide

The “Other” section of Xiaomi Redmi’s smartphone memory is a real black hole for free space, it can take from 5-10 GB to 30+ GB, but the system does not show which files are stored there. Users often face a situation where memory is running out, and in the Settings → Memory section there are tens of gigabytes of incomprehensible “garbage”. In this article, we will analyze what the “Other” is on Xiaomi, why it grows and how to clean it safely without risking damage to the system.

The problem is relevant for all Redmi models (Redmi Note 7 to Redmi 12 Pro+) and MIUI versions (12 to 14). The main reasons for filling the partition are application cache, temporary update files, remnants of deleted programs and hidden system services data. In 80% of cases, the Other can be reduced by 30-50% without root rights using standard tools and hidden MIUI functions.

It's important to understand that not everything in the Other section is garbage, that's where critical files for Android and MIUI work, so blind deletion can cause crashes, and we've only collected proven methods that don't disrupt the stability of the system.

What is the “Other” section on Xiaomi Redmi?

In MIUI, the Other section (or Other in English) is a category of files that the system cannot classify as standard folders (Images, Videos, Audio, etc.) and includes:

• 📁 Application cache – temporary data that programs save for quick operation (for example, thumbnails in a gallery or map data in Google Maps).
• 🔄 Remnants of Remote Applications – Files that were not completely erased when uninstalled.
• 📥 Update files - firmware packages MIUI, who have not been able to do so, but have not.
• 🖥️ System Logs and Dumps – Error Reports That Android Creates When Failing.
• 🔍 Hidden data MIUI — Configuration files of themes, widgets and system services (for example, Xiaomi Cloud or Mi Account).

According to user reports, on average, 40-60% of the Other’s volume is cached, 20% is app residue, and the rest is distributed among system files. For example, after a major MIUI update, a folder with a backup of old firmware weighing 1-3 GB may appear in this section.

⚠️ Warning: If the “Other” section is filled up again quickly after cleaning, the cause may be a virus or malfunction. MIUI Storage Analyzer (memory analysis services), in this case, resetting or checking for malware will help.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of applications (without root rights)

The safest and most effective method is to remove the cache for all applications, which will not affect personal data (photos, messages, accounts), but will free up 1-5 GB of space, and this is done through the standard MIUI menu:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Scroll down the list and tap on Clear cache for each major app (start with Google Play Services, MIUI System, Gallery).

To speed up the process, the function of mass cleaning can be used:

Settings → Memory → Cleaning → Cache of applications → Clean

This will remove the cache for all programs at once, and after the procedure, some apps (like YouTube or Instagram) may slow down a little when they first run — that’s okay, because they cache data again.

Slip on three points in Application Management and select Sort by Size

Clear the cache for Google Play Services (can weigh up to 1 GB)

Remove the MIUI System and Mi Video cache

Check out apps with the word “Provider” in the title (e.g. Media Provider)

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Method 2: Remove Remnants of Remote Applications

When you delete a program through Settings or Google Play, it often leaves behind folders with data in the app. /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/. These files are not visible in the standard file manager, but they take up space in the "Other" section to find them:

1. Install a file manager with access to hidden folders, such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer.
2. Go to the root memory folder (/storage/emulated/0/).
3. Open the Android → data and Android → obb folders.
4. Delete folders with app names you deleted long ago (e.g. com.tencent.ig for PUBG Mobile).

Be careful: do not delete folders of existing applications, this will lead to their inoperability. If you are not sure that the folder is from a remote program, check its name through a search on Google Play.

⚠️ Note: If, after deleting the folders, /Android/data/ applications start to give out errors, restart your smartphone, and in most cases, the system will restore the necessary files automatically.

Method 3: Cleaning up MIUI update files

Xiaomi regularly releases updates for MIUI, which are downloaded in the background and stored in memory before installation.If the update was not installed (for example, due to low battery power), its file remains in the “Other” section and can weigh 1.5-3 GB. To remove unnecessary packets:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Update MIUI.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Remove the downloaded package.
3. Confirm the action.

If this item is missing, then there are no uninstalled updates in the memory. The alternative is to manually clean through the file manager:

Go to the folder:


/storage/emulated/0/Download/rom/





Delete files with the.zip extension (e.g. miui_*.zip)

You can also remove backups of old firmware that MIUI sometimes creates before upgrading.

/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/

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If the “Other” section has not decreased after removing the service packs, check the folder. /cache/ — Sometimes there are temporary firmware files left over, and you'll need a root-access file manager to access it. ADB-team.

Method 4: Using the Hidden MIUI Storage Function

MIUI has a hidden deep memory cleaner tool that doesn't show up in the standard menu, so you can activate it.

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Slip on the memory usage schedule (where colored sections are shown).
3. In the window that opens, select Deep Cleanup (or Deep Cleanup in English).
4. Wait for the analysis to be completed and delete the proposed files.

This tool finds:

• 🗑️ Empty folders from remote applications.
• 📄 Duplicate files (for example, copies of photos from messengers).
• 🔍 Unnecessary Logs of System Processes.

After cleaning, it is recommended to restart the smartphone, as some system processes may continue to use deleted files until restart.

Once a week.

When the place ends

Never clean.

Using automatic cleaning.

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Method 5: Resetting settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed and the Other section still takes up 10+GB, the MIUI Storage Service may be a failure, in which case a soft reset (without deleting personal data) will help:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose Reset All Settings (not to be confused with Delete All Data!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

This procedure:

• ⚙️ Reset network settings, sound, display.
• 🔄 Recreate the database MIUI Storage, which often solves the problem of incorrect display of occupied space.
• 📱 It will not affect photos, videos, messages and installed applications.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting settings, you may need to reset your Mi Account, fingerprints and app permissions. Write down your Wi-Fi and account passwords in advance.

How to prevent the “Other” from being refilled?

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

• 🔄 Clean the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🚫 Don’t use Google Play’s “memory optimizers” – they often delete important files and create new problems.
• 📥 Turn off automatic update downloads in Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI → Settings (⚙️) → Downloading.
• 🗑️ Delete. APK-files after installing applications (they remain in the folder) /Download/).
• 🔍 Check memory after removing large applications (games, social networks) – their remnants often remain in the system. /Android/data/.

It is also useful to disable unnecessary system services that generate logs:

Settings → Special features → Google Services → Disable “Automatic reporting”

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Regular cache cleaning and /Android/data/ and /Download/ folder control reduce the growth of the Other partition by 70-80%.

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